Service speedy, payment too slow

CHARLESTON - It looks like Mississippi County will have to shop around for another tree service.

K&H Tree Service of Bertrand offered to remove three dying trees from the Oak Grove Cemetery for only $500 but was apparently unaware of the county's payment schedule for bills.

"We got the trees cut down," Presiding Commissioner Jim Blumenberg said. "He did a good job."

Blumenberg said he had to pay the man himself, however, and was reimbursed by the county after payment was demanded immediately because "he hadn't had a paycheck in two weeks."

"We've got a policy on getting bills paid," Blumenberg said he tried to explain, as invoices submitted to the county before Tuesday are paid on Thursday and those that miss the deadline are paid the following Thursday.

Commissioners agreed auditors will probably question the transaction during their next review of county fiscal records.

In other reimbursements discussed during Thursday's meeting:

* The county received its money for blacktop projects completed around the county this season which were paid for by residents or cities totaling "close to $60,000 worth of work," Blumenberg said. The projects were in the city of Bertrand, Bain's subdivision, on a road on the outskirts of East Prairie, on County Road 411 and for Ardell Bank's subdivision, according to commissioners.

County road and bridge crews are still finishing an experimental stretch on County Road 207 near Wyatt in which the chip-and-seal blacktop surface will be tried using chat on one section and pea gravel on the other so results can be compared on a similar base and under similar traffic.

"We spent about $85,000 altogether," Blumenberg said of this year's road and bridge program.

The road and bridge fund has about $20,000 to $25,000 left in the budget "to do some sealing with," Blumenberg said, "and a little more chip and seal."

* County employees and officers are finally getting paid for outstanding medical bills they paid on that should have been covered by a former health insurance company.

"They have started the process and some checks have been issued," County Clerk Junior DeLay said. "The judge approved the settlement to pay for outstanding claims."

The county "pretty much broke even on our legal fees," Blumenberg said.

In other business:

* Commissioner Martin Lucas said he observed someone taking pictures of the Bible in courthouse's entryway and wondered if there was a connection with other courthouses being instructed to remove Bibles.

The Bible was not put in the courthouse by county officials. "It appeared during construction," DeLay recalled.

* Commissioners reappointed Kathy Simpkins of East Prairie to another term on the Port Authority Board.

* Commissioners agreed to let people view timber at the old county landfill and to entertain offers for harvesting the lumber.

DeLay said the last time the lumber was harvested from the landfill was in the early 1980s when Lester Hale paid $18,000 to do so.

Blumenberg said there is hickory, oak, ash and pecan tees there.