The Cole County Commission approved several administrative and payroll items during its meeting, including a $59,000 budget adjustment for the county’s EMS enterprise fund, authorization for a sheriff’s holiday payout policy, adoption of updated cafeteria-plan contribution limits for 2026, and a motion to enter closed session to discuss personnel matters.

Speaker 7 read the second and final reading of budget adjustment No. 7, describing it as "$59,000 from the EMS enterprise fund." A commissioner moved to approve court order No. 7 for $59,000; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. No roll-call tally was given in the public record for the budget adjustment.

On a separate motion, the commission approved a sheriff’s department request to permit up to 40 hours per employee of accrued holiday leave to be paid out. A county official explained that in a worst-case scenario — if every eligible employee used the full 40 hours — the payout could total about $75,000, but that salary-line savings from vacant positions (noted at roughly $450,000) would offset the cost. A commissioner made the motion to approve the payout and the board approved it by voice vote.

The commission also voted to adopt updated cafeteria-plan limits for 2026. Staff requested that the county move to the federal maximums: $3,400 for medical reimbursement and $7,500 for dependent-care reimbursement. A motion to approve the proposed 2026 limits was seconded and approved by voice vote.

Near the end of open session, a commissioner moved that the board enter a closed session pursuant to "section 16.021 of the revised statutes of Missouri" to discuss personnel matters under "section 6 10.021, subsection 3." The motion was seconded and a roll call recorded affirmative votes; the commission entered closed session.

What the votes mean: these approvals adjust EMS funding, authorize a limited one-time or periodic payout option for sheriff’s department holiday time, and align cafeteria-plan contribution limits with current federal maximums. The closed-session vote begins a personnel discussion that will not be public unless and until the commission issues minutes or takes further action that must be disclosed.

Pending details and follow-up: The public record in this meeting recorded the motions and that voice votes passed each item; specific roll-call tallies were recorded only for the closed-session motion (roll call produced affirmative votes and the meeting entered closed session). Staff referenced supporting figures (the $75,000 worst-case payout estimate and $450,000 in salary-line savings) during discussion but did not provide a detailed line-item calculation in open session.

The commission adjourned open session and moved into closed session on the cited statutory authority.