Commissioners say newspaper misreported reserve balances; announce senior breakfast, town hall and local benefit

Commissioners used the communications portion of the agenda to correct what they said was inaccurate media reporting of the county's reserve funds and to announce several community events.

One commissioner said a recent newspaper article reported that the county had spent $230 million of reserves over four years, and at one point reported reserves of $300 million falling to $70 million. The commissioner said those figures were incorrect and offered the county’s figures: "At the time that it stated we had 300,000,000, we actually had 17 or pardon me, 18,000,000 in reserve funds. And we currently have 37." The commission agreed to ask the newspaper editor for a correction.

Separately, commissioners reminded residents that appointed boards and terms are listed on the county website and encouraged interested citizens to apply. A commissioner noted the Ozarks Senior Citizen Center monthly breakfast and community conversation will be held at 9 a.m. at the Ozarks Community Center with the city mayor and county commissioner attending; all are invited.

The chair said the March–April county newsletter (23 pages) is available and asked residents to provide email addresses (phone number provided) to reduce printing costs. The chair also promoted a Sunday benefit for two deputies organized by Roger Melton at 2 p.m., 1205 South Nicholas Road, Nixon, Missouri, and announced a town hall scheduled for March 28 in Sparta hosted by Mayor Misty Holt and the chair. The commission described a tree-donation and volunteer-planting initiative for the county's 40‑acre campus and said volunteers will help plant and care for donated trees.

The communications segment ended with thanks and closing remarks.