Cole County approves DHSS child‑care inspection agreement, awards inmate‑transport contract; constitution of surplus titles approved

Cole County commissioners on Sept. 9 approved a Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) participation agreement to expand county sanitation inspections of licensed child‑care facilities into the city of Jefferson, awarded a two‑year inmate‑transport contract and approved surplus titles for sheriff’s department vehicles.

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services participation agreement

Commissioners approved the DHSS environmental child‑care sanitation inspections participation agreement, which adds child‑care facilities inside the city of Jefferson to the county’s inspection schedule. Health department staff said the new contract expands the annual inspection load from about 11 child‑care sites to roughly 45 county‑wide sites and is structured as a fee‑for‑inspection agreement.

Under the contract the department will receive $130 for each routine inspection and $75 for re‑inspections; the agreement includes additional fee categories for special circumstances. Health department staff told commissioners those per‑inspection fees may not fully cover staff time for larger facilities that require multiple inspectors, and asked the county to track hours and costs as the program proceeds.

The department said DHSS is consolidating contracts and prefers delegating inspections to local public‑health agencies rather than contracting with municipalities. Staff also noted the city’s food‑inspection fees for restaurants and lodging are typically higher than county fees (the county was described as charging in the “200‑and‑some dollar” range versus the city in the approximately $500 range per inspection), and said the county would seek a memorandum of understanding with Jefferson if the city discontinues its inspections so the county could recover appropriate fees.

Motion to approve the scope of work for the DHSS child‑care sanitation participation agreement was made, seconded and carried on an affirmative voice vote.

Inmate transport services contract (Bid 2025‑27)

The commission awarded the 2025‑27 inmate transport services contract to SMOJS, LLC (Southern Missouri Judicial Services). County staff said Southern Missouri Judicial Services submitted the lower bid and would charge $1.69 per unit in each listed category with no additional charges. A motion to award the bid and sign the contract was made and seconded; commissioners recorded affirmative votes.

Surplus titles

Commissioners approved placing four sheriff’s department vehicle titles into surplus. A motion was made and approved by voice vote.

Closed session and other procedural actions

The commission voted to go into closed session pursuant to Missouri Revised Statutes section 610.021 to discuss legal actions under subsection 1; commissioners recessed and later returned to open session. The commission also voted to stand in recess until 4:30 p.m.

What the approvals mean

County staff said the DHSS participation agreement will increase inspection workload and revenue tied to each inspection but cautioned the per‑inspection reimbursement may not cover the cost of inspections that require two or more staff. If the city of Jefferson discontinues municipal inspections, county staff said they would seek an agreement to collect higher local inspection fees to cover added staffing costs. The county will monitor hours and costs for the expanded inspection workload and report back if additional staffing or budget changes are needed.