St. Francois County commissioners approve consent agenda, autopsy contract and procurement updates; elevator deal passed, stipend deferred

ST. FRANCOIS COUNTY, Mo. — The St. Francois County Commission on Dec. 23 approved several routine and operational items, including the consent agenda, a 2026 contract for autopsy services, updates to the county purchasing and procurement policy, and a five‑year elevator maintenance agreement for the Justice Center. A proposed county cell‑phone stipend was put on advisement for more information.

The meeting opened with routine roll call, the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation. After adopting the consent agenda, commissioners discussed a contract with the county’s autopsy services provider. The doctor, identified in the meeting as Dr. Dedecker, told the commission most autopsies typically take under two hours but that complex trauma cases can take “four, five, six hours,” and asked the county to allow an additional charge in those rare, more time‑consuming cases. Commissioners said the contract terms remain within typical state‑level rates and approved the 2026 agreement.

The commissio…