St. Francois County approves personnel moves, orders election supplies and authorizes public-safety grant applications

The St. Francois County Commission approved several personnel and procurement actions and gave staff permission to pursue multiple grants aimed at election readiness and public safety.

The commission created a new chief deputy treasurer position to replace a retiring staff member after Treasurer office staff said the role requires accounting and banking experience. Speaker 5 moved the measure and Speaker 3 seconded; the motion passed on a voice vote.

Commissioners also approved permission to order supplies and signage for the county clerk’s office for the 2026 election cycle. Speaker 4 said leftover funds from a canceled November election will be used for signage and that the county expects to use an $11,000 grant to prepay part of new equipment. A motion to authorize ordering the supplies passed unanimously.

Emergency Management Director Nick Jones described a Homeland Security Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems grant, saying, "The total amount is $47,984.80." He told commissioners the non-matching award would support a drone to assist with storm damage assessments and locating lost hikers. Speaker 5 moved to give emergency management permission to apply and the commission approved the request.

Sheriff’s Office grant requests were discussed next. The department outlined a Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP) 50% matching program and estimated roughly 32 vests will need replacement; the sheriff’s representative put the total replacement cost at about $26,000–$27,000, with the county share roughly $13,000. Commissioners asked where match funds would come from (general fund, LERF board or inmate security fund) and approved a motion giving the sheriff permission to apply for the grant while taking the match funding under advisement.

Speaker 9 also described a non-matching ArmDog (Iron Dog) International K-9 grant for $10,000 to maintain or expand the county’s K-9 unit (application window Nov.16–Dec.15). The commission approved permission to apply.

Personnel items approved included posting for a permanent IT director and appointing Jessica Mondiale as temporary IT supervisor, grade 8 at $22.90 per hour, while the search proceeds. The commission also voted to raise pay for certain employees to comply with the new minimum wage and to increase current CBIS-scheduled employees by $1 per hour effective Jan.1.

Votes at a glance: - Consent agenda: approved (motion by Speaker 5; voice vote) (topic provenance: SEG 031–SEG 037). - Create chief deputy treasurer: approved (motion by Speaker 5; voice vote) (SEG 087–SEG 096). - Authorize order of election supplies (approx. $9,000) and use of $11,000 grant funds for equipment: approved (motion by Speaker 5; voice vote) (SEG 100–SEG 176). - Permission to apply for Counter-UAS (drone) grant ($47,984.80): approved (motion by Speaker 5; voice vote) (SEG 187–SEG 246). - Permission to apply for Bulletproof Vest Partnership (50% match; county match ≈ $13,000): approved with match funding to be determined (motion by Speaker 5; voice vote) (SEG 249–SEG 279 and SEG 370–SEG 456). - Permission to apply for ArmDog/Iron Dog K-9 grant ($10,000, non-matching): approved (motion by Speaker 5; voice vote) (SEG 468–SEG 499). - Post IT director and appoint Jessica Mondiale as temporary IT supervisor: approved (motion by Speaker 5; voice vote) (SEG 501–SEG 539). - Set new-hire minimum of $15/hour and $1/hour raise for CBIS-scheduled employees effective Jan.1: approved (motion by Speaker 5; voice vote) (SEG 540–SEG 596).

What happens next: county staff will proceed with procurement for election signage, complete grant application materials before deadlines, and return with budget details for any required grant matches before final acceptance of matching grants.

Quotes used in this story are taken from the public meeting transcript and attributed to the speaker labels used in that record.