MARIES COUNTY — The Maries County Commission signed a three-year agreement last week with the five county Jefferson City Regional Child Support Unit, which allows for an appointed assistant prosecuting attorney to handle child support services in Maries County at no cost to the county.

Maries County Prosecuting Attorney Anthony “Tony” Skouby came to the county commission meeting with Ms. Holly Finch, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney with the Child Support Unit and the regional unit. She works with the five counties of Cole, Callaway, Gasconade, Maries, and Osage handling cases in the support unit. According to the Cole County Prosecutor’s website, her cases include handling all paternity establishment and support enforcements cases referred to her office by the Family Support Division (FSD). In order for her to work a case, it must be sent to her by FSD.

For the Child Support Unit, support enforcement work is done through civil contempt orders and criminal nonsupport charges, as the unit workers strive to collect child support for children in the five counties. They receive referrals from FSD when they are not able to collect support. Once a civil contempt case or a criminal nonsupport charge is filed, Finch’s office works in conjunction with the courts, FSD, and Probation and Parole. In monitoring and working enforcement cases, closely monitored wage withholdings are issued, driver’s licenses are suspended, and liens are placed on real estate, probate estates, workers’ compensation claims, and personal injury suits.

Finch told the commissioners federal and state money pays for the work that she does and there will be no cost to the county. She is an employee of Cole County and serves as an assistant prosecuting attorney in all the other counties in the unit, including Maries County. The reimbursement for her work is 100 percent and generally Maries County is under budget.

Finch works with two full-time assistant prosecuting attorneys along with three full-time administrative assistants who staff the unit. The attorneys and administrative assistants work closely with custodial parents, non-custodial parents, the court system, employers, and Missouri Probation and Parole.

Skouby said there is no way he could get someone trained on the computer program that is used. “This is at no cost to us,” he said. “We could not replace the services she provides in my budget.” Skouby added that when he worked at legal aid, he did some paternity work and it takes a long time. He appreciates the work Finch does. The commissioners signed the three-year agreement.

Janitorial Supplies

Cintas Service Manager, Jim Bogle, spoke with the commissioners last Thursday about products and services Cintas provides to the courthouse janitorial department. The new janitor noticed some charges on the bills from the company that needed to be clarified and Bogle was there to help.

He said in 2015 the county began a contract with Cintas and because of the small size customer the county is, the county was “piggy backed on” US Communities, an organization that has a process to get good value for the money. A contract was signed, which expired in 2018 and Cintas continued to work with the county even though there was no longer an official contract.

Presiding Commissioner Victor Stratman said they have questions about some items the county is being charged for that “we don’t need.” These items were identified and brought to the commission’s attention by new janitor Shawn Eaton. They asked about Baltimore, Maryland mentioned on the bill and about logo rugs the county does not have. Bogle said the Baltimore notation is for the Hartford County School, which is one they work with and the logo fee is in the event the county wants to get a logo on rugs or shirts, the price is there.

Eaton said they are paying $54 a week for air fresher, which is nearly $3,000 a year. Boyle said the charge is for the air freshener dispensers. County Clerk Rhonda Brewer said she thought the dispensers were free if the county bought the spray from Cintas. Bogle said the charge is on the dispenser and they don’t charge to refill it with a Cintas product. Eaton also questioned paying $3 a week for a mop bucket, which is $144 a year. Stratman said they can “go to Lowes and get a bucket.”

Bogle said the county can change, stopping anything at any time. He said it is a high end bucket and if it breaks it will be replaced. Eaton said budgets are tight and they are trying to save money where they can, adding, “You can buy a lot of stuff for $2,000.”

Stratman said there are unused urinal and commode mats nobody is using and he asked if the county can return them and get credit. There are 22 mop heads and they don’t need that many. If Eaton he puts five out for pickup for cleaning, another five are left. Eastern District Commissioner Doug Drewel said the numbers should have stayed the same. Bogle said they can pick up mop heads without dropping off new ones if that’s what they want. Stratman said he thinks its best if they let the janitor manage this with the Cintas driver to work out what is needed. Bogle said he could take the excess today if they want and he will ask the driver to consult with Eaton when dropping off supplies. He said the county’s pricing is based on national account pricing minus 20 percent and it’s a great deal. Eaton said he doesn’t have a problem with the pricing, it’s the quantity.

Bogle said the county needs a new contract. Western District Commissioner Ed Fagre said if they do a new contract they will need to bid it out. Bogle said they can continue to do business until then. Drewel said they will need some time to figure out what supplies they will be needing.

Swimming Pool Paint

The front steps to the courthouse were painted not long ago and although they look nice, they can be slick when it rains. After the recent snow and ice storm, a sign was put up outside asking people to use the south or side doors but the sign was ignored by some who used the steps anyway. Then it was roped off with caution tape and some people instead simply stepped over the caution tape.

Janitor Eaton suggested wider black safety strips be put on the stairs to prevent slippage. Fagre said he had the same problem on a porch at his home and it was suggested to him to use swimming pool paint because it is textured and rough. He did this and it took care of the problem. Stratman said it will need to be painted when the weather is warmer. Drewel suggested they put the strips down now and paint when its warmer weather.

Highway Safety Grant

Sheriff’s Deputy Lt. Scott John said the sheriff’s office will be applying for mini grants through the Highway Safety Grant program. Last year they applied for over $60,000 and did not get anything. So, they are trying for smaller grants and hope to receive some grant awards.

Pretty Straight      Forward

County Clerk Rhonda Rodgers reported on the bids for the county’s workers compensation insurance. The provider in 2019 was Missouri Employers Mutual (MEM) which bid $51,728 for 2020. The Missouri Association of Counties (MAC) bid $45,131 for the same coverage, which is based on payroll. Rodgers said the Wallstreet Group’s Commercial Sales Agent, Jennifer Gerling, said its pretty straight forward what they need to do. Stratman said MAC is cheaper and they approved MAC for workers compensation insurance coverage for 2020.