The Bates County Commission met with Presiding Commissioner Jim Wheatley, Northern Commissioner John Gray and Southern Commissioner Trent Nelson present.
Pivot Tech did not call in for their scheduled appointment.
Jerret Reno and Rus Whisenand came in for their scheduled appointment. They are still working on the process and gathering information from other counties regarding indigent cremations. A few of the other Coroners have their own funeral homes as well where they absorb a lot of those responsibilities and costs out of the county’s budget. They had some conservations on vaults versus mausoleums. The Mausoleums seem to be a better choice. Jerret will look into the costs and burials with Oak Hill. Having a way to identify them as well is needed.
Jerret and Russ recently attended the County Coroners Conference. Collectively the Coroners consider the standards for the coroners subpar and are looking to improve the standards. There is a mandatory 24 hours of training required yearly. If this training, is not completed the Coroner will not be able to sign death certificates. The Association is going to start enforcing this. Jerret was elected the Troop A Director of the Association. There is legislation in the senate to level the salaries for the Coroners equally. Jim asked if they were taking the Coroners out of the Salary Commission as they did the Prosecutors and Sheriffs? Jerret replied he did not know. Russ received some information on grants available for equipment and things. He has experience with writing grants. They are thinking of writing one for a pill identifier. Jerret spoke on the duties the Coroner completes in the community and where improvements are needed. Jerret will get back with the Commission once he has all the information together.
John asked Russ about the Ambulance being hired out at the DGD Racing, LLC Racetrack in Ballard. The manager out there, Nick Faleh hires an ambulance to be there during events as an immediate response, should one be needed. They pay $175 an hour. They have donated money and equipment to the community in several ways and there has been talk of them possibly donating to the ambulance department specifically. The owner of the Racetrack David Dehamers has spoken to John on the issue of the Racetrack and the 80% tax increase he received. He spoke to the Commission and Assessor at the Board of Equalization. They had an agreement that the Assessor did not follow through on.
Joe Macklin with Senator Josh Hawley’s office came in on his scheduled meeting. He states the budget resolution is the biggest thing being worked on right now. Josh is opposed to any budget cuts to Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid. He would like to see tax breaks for working citizens making under $80,000.00. Joe asked about Bates County. John asked how Josh liked working with Andrew Bailey. He stated that they have a good working relationship. Senator Hawley was Andrew Baileys law professor. Jim asked about the AG bill. Joe responded that he could get his contact information to give to the person that works on that. The bill needs updated information. Jim spoke on Workforce Development. How they had to step into the unemployment lack of centers for people to find jobs. They originally were set up to help the people gain skills needed for jobs not find jobs. More funding is needed and places for people to find jobs. John asked Joe to tell Josh that we appreciate him and the job he is doing. The Commission extended invitations to Josh or any of congress to come visit. County Clerk Jami Page asked about Voter ID. Joe didn’t have any information on that subject but asked if there was a concern. Jami went on to say that in Missouri a person can register to vote with any photo ID yet when time to vote they are to have a Missouri State ID. This causes some confusion and frustration with voters. Also, the License bureaus do voter registrations, and we must trust that they are vetting them as legal citizens. The conversation touched on the Real ID deadline and how this is becoming a requirement in several places. Joe asked about Solar. John stated that he is not for it and doesn’t see that it will benefit Bates County. Jim states that the electricity will be going off to KC or other places, so he is not for it either. The Solar companies are betting on the La Cygne Plant closing in the future. John said that if it wasn’t for the government subsidizing the solar industry’s growth they wouldn’t be here. There are still problems with the taxing portion of the solar farms since the PILTs are being overlooked for Chapter 100 Bonds. The conversation touched on windmills; our county doesn’t have the right set of parameters for them, so they haven’t come back. Jim suggested to Joe all the Associations and Organization meetings the senator should sit in on from time to time. Joe took his leave with many thanks and appreciation for his and Senator Hawley’s work efforts.
The late scheduled meeting for Gayle Beachner was cancelled as the issue was resolved.
Work in progress
Policy Regarding Indigent Cremations given 8/25/2023 updates current
Rattlesnake Hill Roads 11/06/2023 updates current
Policy Regarding Computer, E-Mail, Devices and Social Media given 2/14/2024
Telephone Contracts 3/11/2024 updates current
Opioid Settlement Resolution 10/2/2024 (Judge Highley)
EEZ Board 3/26/2025
