Commissioners approve consent agenda, vacate unused road and greenlight vehicle bids; payments for bridge and court costs authorized

St. Francois County commissioners on Jan. 7 approved the consent agenda, voted to vacate an undeveloped portion of Morris Street and an unnamed road, authorized the sheriff's office to bid four patrol vehicles and one transport van, and approved payment of bridge-related invoices and routine court remittances.

The commission voted to vacate Morris Street and an unnamed road after county staff reported no written objections. The request on the record identified three adjacent property owners as Mauer, Reynolds and Bible; Patricia Reynolds was listed as the person who filed the paperwork requesting the vacation.

The board also approved a motion allowing the sheriff's office to advertise bids for four new vehicles (including one supervisor package) and one transport van. County staff said the purchases will come from the sheriff's budget and that vehicle purchases had been budgeted for 2025.

On the Sand Creek Bridge project the commission approved payment of three invoices up to a combined maximum of $59,121.03, with the caveat that the county will accept any state (BRO program) contribution and pay only the remaining balance if reimbursement is provided. County staff said some excavation costs already had been covered by the state and that the contractor had been notified the commission might seek state reimbursement before final payment.

Commissioners also approved routine remittances for court operational costs that were previously budgeted: $18,445.10 for 24th Circuit judges, $3,692.33 for a marshal item, and $3,083.36 for the district court reporter. The commission additionally accepted a reduction of $11,918.52 on a competitive paving payment (identified as the Feeser/Caesar Road project) because the oil index had fallen since the project was bid.

Votes at a glance - Consent agenda: approved (unanimous, voice vote recorded as "aye"). - Road vacation (Morris Street and unnamed road): approved (no objections reported). - Sheriff's vehicle bids (4 vehicles + 1 transport van): authorized (motion seconded and approved). - Sand Creek Bridge invoices: approved to pay up to $59,121.03, subject to state BRO reimbursements: approved. - Remittance, 24th Circuit judges operational costs, $18,445.10: approved. - Remittance, Marshal item, $3,692.33: approved. - Remittance, district court reporter, $3,083.36: approved. - Reduction on Feeser/Caesar Road competitive-bid payment, $11,918.52: accepted.

The motions were introduced during the regular meeting following an amendment to the published agenda to add the Feeser Road/related budget change; commissioners said the amendment was posted and the item was added to the agenda prior to the vote. Several procedural clarifications were recorded on the Sand Creek Bridge payments: county staff and the road/bridge office discussed delaying payment pending state reimbursement and, as a compromise, the commission authorized payment up to the invoice total and to accept any later state contribution as a reduction.