Menu
Lightning strike at courthouse does electrical damage
BLOOMFIELD -- The Stoddard County commission discussed damages from a bolt of lightning that struck the old courthouse last Wednesday, knocking out electrical equipment in the Missouri Extension Office and Public Administrator's office. The electrical storm that hit in the afternoon also caused some damages to the Government Building, Justice Center and the Stoddard County Sheriff's office.
The lightning apparently hit the rod on top of the courthouse, which caused significant electrical damage inside the building.
The Extension office reported that phone service was knocked out on two lines, the answering machine was destroyed by electricity that went through the surge protector, and the phone system box was destroyed which disrupted service on five DX120 phones. Also a television was destroyed. LeGrand's HyTek was replacing the phone system box at a cost of $900, and it remained to be seen if the five phones would work when the box is replaced.
The Public Administrator's office reported that all phones would have to be replaced, a computer was destroyed and a surge protector on a copy machine was destroyed, which may have also destroyed the copier.
Damage in other buildings included a network switch in Archives and damage to the HVAC system. Some copiers may have also been damaged. A fan motor on RTU #4 in the Justice Center was destroyed, and a battery on a generator in the Government Building was destroyed. Damages at the sheriff's office were not included in information provided to the commission.
Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis said the county would contact their insurer. Commissioner Carol Jarrell asked if the Extension Office had insurance on their equipment, and was told it was insured through Farm Bureau.
Mathis said a witness saw the lightning bolt hit the courthouse.
Mathis also said the heavy rains last week revealed there was still a leak in the dome of the courthouse and in the office of Associate Circuit Judge Steve Mitchell.
Election Update
County Clerk Joe Watson said 4,953 ballots were cast in the Aug. 5 election. He said the number was 24 percent of the registered voters in the county. Mathis said Watson had estimated that the turnout would be around 5,000, which was very close to the actual number.
Watson said the election cost just over $32,000, which breaks down to $6.47 for each ballot cast.
Mathis asked if Watson knew whether the opposition on the farm rights amendment was going to contest the election. Watson said the margin of victory was .02 percent, which meant it could be contested. He said he had not heard or been notified that the vote had been contested.
Watson asked the commission for permission to have private companies do a presentation on a new ballot counting system. He said the new system would count ballots at the polls, rather than at a central location after the election. He noted that New Madrid, Scott and recently Dunklin Counties have all purchased the new equipment.
"Counting at a central location puts a lot of pressure on one machine," said Watson. He explained that under the new system, ballots are counted as they are put into the ballot box.
Commissioner Danny Talkington asked if the new method would make totals available faster. Watson said it would speed up knowing the results of an election by an hour or so.
LPA Training
Mathis said LPA Basic Training for the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) was being offered Sept. 18 at the Ozark Foothills Regional Planning Commission office in Poplar Bluff. The training will be from 8 a.m. until noon.
Watson said one person with the county has to have certification through this course for the county to receive BRO funding, or federal funding for bridges. He said he was certified through 2015, having taken the course in Mansfield last year.
Soft Match trade
approved
The commission unanimously approved buying soft match funds from Greene County. Under the agreement, the county will give Green County officials $325,000 cash for $650,000 in soft match money for the BRO bridge replacement program. The county has to provide soft match money to expend federal money to replace bridges in the county that are rated deficient by MoDOT.
Mathis noted that the county has four bridges with construction underway or in the planning stages for replacement. He said the soft match money from Greene County would allow the county to program another six bridges for replacement.
"This is a big deal for Stoddard County," said Mathis. "It is one of the biggest things I've been a part of since coming on the commission."
Mathis said he would like all of the townships and road districts notified, and would like them to be invited to the commission's next meeting. He said he would like each of the districts or townships to submit the top two bridges in their area for replacement.
Talkington noted that some townships or road districts do not have MoDOT rated deficient bridges in their area, so not all would qualify.
"If they do, they should be here," said Mathis.
"It is important that we be fair and balanced in replacing bridges in the county," said Jarrell.
Mathis asked Watson to make sure everyone knew about the meeting on bridges to be held at 9 a.m. in the Commission Room on Aug. 18.