Questions remain on sheltered workshops in Stoddard County

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. — Stoddard County Commissioners on Monday addressed requests made last week regarding a decade’s worth of financial documents related to Stoddard County Sheltered Workshop.

“Give me a little more time and I will try to find more answers,” Commissioner Carol Jarrell said to citizens in attendance. “But I think you could find some answers at the SB40 board office from (administrator) Dana McClure and if you want more answers I think you could go straight to Sheltered Workshop board members.”

Jarrell reported she spoke with Sheltered Workshop interim director Devin Miller regarding a breakdown by year of the amount of money received by the SCSW from the taxpayers of the county for the last 10 years.

“I feel like Dana McClure could give that information since she is the administrator of the SB40 board,” Jarrell said. “Devin said he could go through some files and look.”

As far as a breakdown of all county taxpayer money spent by the SCSW for the last 10 years, Jarrell said records were available, but was unsure of the amount or if receipts were available.

“Dana probably has records of vouchers or bills paid,” she said.

The group also requested the highest rate paid to a client and the average rate paid to all clients, which Jarrell said could be obtained from the Sheltered Workshop board.

Mike McCollough, who is the spokesperson for the group of citizens which made the request, asked Jarrell if her recommendation meant she would not help get the requested information.

The request was made by taxpayers out of concern for developmentally disabled individuals, said McCollough, adding he believes Jarrell should be as concerned as any other taxpayer.

Jarrell replied she was just suggesting the group could go to the SB40 board office for the information.

“I will help you all any way I can,” she said. “I’m a concerned taxpayer and that is why I went to bat for the Stoddard County Sheltered Workshop, because I’m a very concerned citizen of the taxpayer’s dollars and I’m very concerned and compassionate for those whose funding was cut.”

Several questions were also directed to Jarrell last week, one including whether or not SCSW employees were being paid with Walmart gift cards so as not to effect their government benefits.

Jarrell said she asked about the gift cards and was told they were given to individuals for lawn mower gas, but not given to clients.

“I have not had a chance to find all these answers,” Jarrell said. “If I had the questions before I possibly could have more for you today.”

McCollough added he and the group were not expecting answers to all the requests this week and realized it could take several weeks.

A letter presented last week from a former SCSW employee’s mother stated Miller told the woman her daughter would not be allowed to return to the workshop once she had given her notice of terminating employment with the workshop.

Jarrell said she believes Miller has taken some employees back at the workshop since a change in leadership from Jim LaBrot.

“He (Miller) is not his grandfather, he has totally different ideas,” Jarrell said.

McCollough said no one has left Progressive Industries (new sheltered workshop) to go back to the SCSW, but believes some have left the SCSW to go to Progressive Industries.

Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis reported SCSW board president Sam Huey Jr. visited him last week and said he would “make an effort” to get requested materials to the group, but it would take some time.

Mathis added he and Huey would keep in contact regarding the financial documents requested.

The SCSW will be appointing new members to fill the vacated spots of Danny Griffin and Josh Hester, who were appointed to the SB40 board by the commission, Mathis said.

While unsure of the exact date, Mathis encouraged the group members and anyone else interested in serving on the board to contact Miller or Huey to be considered. The Stoddard County Commission does not appoint SCSW board members.

Jarrell said if anyone has concerns, questions or comments, to please feel free to contact her at 573-421-1878 or thejarrells007@sbcglobal.net.