St. Francois County Commission approves consent agenda, starts property-vacation process and OKs senior center emergency funds

The St. Francois County Commission met Oct. 7 and approved several routine and nonroutine items, including the consent agenda, the start of a property-vacation petition for an alley on Mitchell Road, sale of surplus paper, a one-time emergency payment to Park Hill Senior Center and the county holiday schedule.

The commission approved the consent agenda by voice vote. Later, commissioners voted to begin the formal property-vacation process for a recorded alleyway serving properties identified in the petition at 1330 Mitchell Road and 5378 Mitchell Pass; the process requires public notice and a 90-day waiting period before final action at an upcoming meeting. The motion to start the vacation was made and seconded and carried by voice vote.

Commissioners also approved a motion to permit the county to sell surplus “drag box” paper via an online auction service (Purple Wave), and authorized the county to accept proceeds from that sale. A motion to sell was made, seconded and approved by voice vote.

The commission voted to allocate $13,830 from the county emergency reserve to the Park Hill Senior Center to cover an operational shortfall. Commissioners discussed that the county’s $50,000 annual emergency set-aside has traditionally been used for capital emergencies (freezer replacement, structural repairs) and cautioned that using it for recurring operational losses creates a precedent; the motion to approve the one-time emergency payment carried by voice vote.

The commission adopted the county holiday schedule for the coming year consistent with the state list (16 holidays), again by motion and voice vote.

Other routine business recorded at the meeting included a “no bids” report for a bridge bid opening and a motion to adjourn. Several agenda items were reported or discussed without formal action, including updates on road and bridge projects and a sheriff’s departmental report.