Commission Minutes
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April 21, 2025
The Shelby County Commission met on Monday, April 21, 2025 at 8:30 a.m. at the Courthouse. Those present were Presiding Commissioner, Terry Helmick, Commissioners, Ray Bacon, Terry Mefford, and County Clerk, Stephanie Bender.
The Commission reviewed and approved the minutes of the April 17, 2025 meeting by a vote of 3-0 with Terry Helmick, Terry Mefford, and Ray Bacon voting yes.
Friday, April 18, 2025, Ray Bacon made a motion to close the Courthouse at 12 in observance of Good Friday. Terry Mefford seconded, motion passes with all voting yes.
Treasurer, Tracy Smith was in to ask about the jail money and when it would be deposited to Community State Bank. Commission informed her that it hasn’t come through yet.
County Clerk, Stephanie Bender left the meeting.
Commission has fielded many calls about road washouts after the storms on April 20, 2025.
Commission asked the Sheriff about grant money.
Kenton Parsons with Altorfer came in to discuss upkeep on the generator. He will work up a quote to submit.
Commission contacted Charlie Newman with Enbridge Pipeline with questions about the pumping station going in. Commission left a message and he will get back to them.
John Wilcox called in about Shelby 373 being washed out and needing bladed.
Nick Smith was contacted about a box on one of the poles at the jail job site. It was used by MEC for meter readings.
Ray made a motion to inform the Moonshiners they have until July 1, 2025 to submit receipts and proof of payment for the $24,000 they have already received from ARPA money. If not submitted, they will lose the additional allocated funding. Terry Mefford seconded, motion passes with all voting yes.
County Clerk, Stephanie Bender returned to the meeting.
Commission, Treasurer, Tracy Smith, County Clerk, Stephanie Bender met in person and Assessor, Liz Miles met via phone to discuss Judge Tucker closing the Court System Tuesday, April 22, 2025 due to bed bugs. After discussion about this, Terry Mefford made a motion to close the Courthouse Tuesday, April 22, 2025. Pest-Pro is doing a full inspection of the Courthouse building. A decision will be made on what to do after the report on Pest-Pro’s findings is submitted. The Road and Bridge and 911 departments will remain on duty at regular pay. Ray Bacon seconded, motion passes with all voting yes.
Ray Bacon made a motion to declare Shelby County an Ag Ready County. Terry Mefford seconded, motion passes with all voting yes.
Commission checked Shelby Roads 255 and 240.
The Commission adjourned and will meet on Thursday, April 24, 2025 at 8:30 a.m. for their regular meeting.
April 24
The Shelby County Commission met on Thursday, April 24, 2025 at 8:30 a.m. at the Courthouse. Those present were Presiding Commissioner, Terry Helmick, Commissioners, Ray Bacon, Terry Mefford, and County Clerk, Stephanie Bender.
The Commission reviewed and approved the minutes of the April 21, 2025 meeting by a vote of 3-0 with Terry Helmick, Ray Bacon, and Terry Mefford voting yes.
Commissioners, Terry Helmick and Ray Bacon and County Clerk, Stephanie Bender attended the spring Commissioner and Clerk meeting in Kahoka, on April 22, 2025. Terry Mefford didn’t attend due to Pest-Pro coming to the Courthouse to do a full building pest inspection for bed bugs. Pest-Pro did not find any bugs.
Terry Mefford made a motion to have Fisher Technology upgrade the internet and wi-fi infrastructure in the courthouse. Ray Bacon seconded, motion passes with all voting yes.
Road and Bridge Supervisor, Tyler Gordan and the Commission met with Ron Hammond about working part time for the Road and Bridge Department. Terry Mefford made a motion to hire Ron as of April 31, 2025 with beginning pay at CDL licensed employees. Ray Bacon seconded, motion passes with all voting yes.
Liz Miles was in to discuss the grant for the Bethel Community Center. She had one RFQ submitted for architects from Porter, Berendzen & Associates, P.C. Ray Bacon made a motion to accept this submission. Terry Mefford seconded, motion passes with all voting yes.
Commission had a conference call with Nick Smith from Septagon Construction. Macon Electric will reroute the powerline for the remote meter reader and also provide temporary power for the jail construction. Adam had questions about the flooring in the office area. The product going to be used now is LDP instead of carpet, sliding doors for the kitchen area will be changed to swinging doors. The corners and foundation will be surveyed and hopefully footing will be dug the week of April 28. Removed contaminated soil and stockpiled it for testing, then it will be moved to a landfill. This added roughly $8,000.
The Commission adjourned and will meet again on Monday, April 28, 2025 at 8:30 a.m. with the regular meeting.
April 28
The Shelby County Commission met on Monday, April 28, 2025 at 8:30 a.m. at the Courthouse. Those present were Presiding Commissioner, Terry Helmick, Commissioners, Ray Bacon, Terry Mefford, and County Clerk, Stephanie Bender.
The Commission reviewed and approved the minutes of the April 24, 2025 meeting by a vote of 3-0 with Terry Helmick, Terry Mefford, and Ray Bacon voting yes.
Reviewed and approved accounts payable and payroll.
Had a conference call with Travis Elliot with questions on multiple subjects.
1. Sheriff receiving pay from a grant. Travis said if the Sheriff is going to be paid by a grant; the money should go from the grant people directly to the Sheriff and not go through the county’s accounts.
2. Transport officer, whether LLC or county employee- Elliot’s advice was to do either LLC or county employee. If he is being contracted through his LLC and using the county’s equipment, vehicle, insurance, uniforms, etc. he looks like a county employee. Contracted LLC’s should possess their own equipment, vehicle, insurance, uniforms, etc.
3. Road Closure – Public County Road 228.110 Chapter 71 to realign road. Maintenance 228.110 and 228.190.
a. Always have liability
b. Road impassable/road closure or gated- the county is still liable. The only way the county isn’t liable for a road is if it is removed from the CART program.
4. Can a road be vacated if the Commission deems appropriate.
a. Land broker usage agreement – the landowner should work with the county to reach an agreement.
b. This has to be recorded and surveyed.
5. Document road closure spots 229.10 30’ width or as wide as it is.
6. List of dirt roads that are not used – may be vacated if possible.
Collector, John Chinn submitted his 2025 training certificate.
Rob Southers showed the Commission where the new restroom and election room will be located.
Contacted Hawkins Insurance about the claim for the roof damage. He is working on this claim.
Terry Mefford left at 11:15 to attend a funeral.
Terry Mefford returned to the meeting at 1:20.
Brent Foreman contacted the Commission to inform them someone has dumped appliances in the lake on the back side of Daniel Boone Lake in Clarence. The Sheriff’s office has been notified.
Charlie Neiman from Enbridge called back to answer questions about the Shelbina pumping station. He informed them that there is no activity planned anytime in the near future.
Commission contacted Septagon to cancel the May 8th meeting as the Courthouse will be closed.
The Commission adjourned and will meet on Thursday, May 1, 2025 at 8:30 a.m. for their regular meeting.
May 1
The Shelby County Commission met on Thursday, May 1, 2025 at 8:30 a.m. at the Courthouse. Those present were Presiding Commissioner, Terry Helmick, Commissioners, Ray Bacon, Terry Mefford, and County Clerk, Stephanie Bender.
The Commission reviewed and approved the minutes of the April 28, 2025 meeting by a vote of 3-0 with Terry Helmick, Ray Bacon, and Terry Mefford voting yes.
The Courthouse had electrical issues on Tuesday, April 29. Dan Fitzhugh came in to inspect the issue and found the boxes were not grounded well. He will do a permanent fix on the boxes with issues on Saturday, May 10th and check the other boxes to see what steps need to be taken.
Commission interviewed a potential new employee for Road and Bridge.
Commission, Courthouse employees, Mike Patterson with Pest-Pro, and Rich Williams with P-Pro Partners & Solutions all met about the bed-bug issues.
Commission went to Daniel Boone Lake and removed the dishwasher and microwave from it.
Commission had a meeting with Nick Smith and Jeff Harrelson (Jeff attended by phone) from Septagon Construction, and Adam Kuehl with HMN Architecture. There needs to be an application filled out for temporary electric from Macon Electric Company. Enterprise concrete pre-cast looked over the site to see about accessing it. The tree needs to be trimmed, and possibly electric lines might cause an issue. Enterprise will be on site either June 9th or June 16th. With the increased soil removal, fill material, soil containment, and hauling we are looking at an estimated added cost of up to $50,000 for site prep. As of now, the budget is still looking good as there was some contingency money built into the budget.
Ray Bacon made a motion to pay for the cable extraction from the 911 tower in Clarence out of the General Revenue Fund for the amount of $1,835.00. Terry Mefford seconded, motion passes with all voting yes.
The Commission adjourned and will meet again on Monday, May 5, 2025 at 8:30 a.m. with the regular meeting.
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