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St. Francois County Commission approves multiple contracts, grant application and equipment purchase
Summary
The county commission voted to accept a five-year fiber services contract with Spectrum, authorized staff to apply for a Recreational Trails Program grant for Owl Creek, approved the purchase of a Kubota mini excavator using remaining ARPA funds, and entered an engagement letter for the 2024 independent audit.
The St. Francois County Commission approved several procurement and contracting items during its meeting, including a five-year internet (fiber) services contract, authorization to apply for a Recreational Trails Program grant, purchase of a mini excavator and an independent-audit engagement letter.
Commissioners voted to accept a five-year fiber-services bid from Spectrum Charter that staff said produces a slight net monthly cost reduction across county sites. A motion to accept that bid was moved and approved by voice vote.
The commission also authorized staff to apply for the Missouri Recreational Trails Program (RTP) 2025 grant for Owl Creek and set the application cap at the RTP maximum the county will seek, up to $250,000. Staff said typical matching rules would make the county responsible for roughly half of a fully funded $250,000 project (an estimated county match of about $125,000 under a standard 50% match scenario), though final match requirements will depend on RTP scoring and program rules.
Separately, the commission approved the purchase of a Kubota mini excavator at $78,531.67 to be paid from remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds; staff noted the purchase uses a Sourcewell cooperative contract and includes a factory warranty and options for dealer or county-mechanic maintenance.
Finally, the board approved an independent-audit engagement letter for the 2024 audit with Mueller Oberk Fell & Jones LLC (formerly Daniel Jones Associate Group) at $34,800 for the audit year; staff said the price matches the amount solicited and approved in 2023 and that the engagement includes single-audit work as applicable.
Votes at a glance: • Consent agenda: approved by voice vote. • Fiber services (Spectrum) five-year contract: motion passed (voice vote). • RTP grant application (Owl Creek) up to $250,000: motion passed (voice vote). • Purchase of Kubota mini excavator ($78,531.67), funded from ARPA: motion passed (voice vote). • Independent audit engagement letter (Mueller Oberk Fell & Jones LLC) for 2024 at $34,800: motion passed (voice vote).
Staff said the camera bids opened earlier in the meeting (two bidders, Freedom and Roberts) will be considered at a later date; that item was presented as a public bid opening and not acted on at the meeting. Several departmental reports followed the votes, including a sheriff's update on jail population, hiring and a new jail navigator position.
The commission scheduled follow-up work where appropriate (contract execution, formal procurement award at a later meeting for the camera bids, and final grant-application work) and directed staff to move forward on the approved items.
