Mississippi County coroner resigns

CHARLESTON - John Allen McMikle of Charleston has resigned as coroner for Mississippi County.

Mississippi County commissioners reviewed the letter from McMikle announcing his resignation effective immediately "due to health reasons" during Thursday's county commission meeting.

McMikle recommended the appointment of his deputy coroner, Anthony Moody of Charleston, to replace him.

The letter will be faxed to the governor's office as the governor must accept the resignation and appoint a replacement.

County officials noted that since statutes say there can be no deputy coroner without a coroner, the sheriff will have to serve as coroner until a new one is appointed.

In what may be related news, McMikle is set to reappear Feb. 26 before Judge Fred Copeland in the New Madrid County Circuit Court on felony stealing charges.

McMikle and his wife, Carla Sue McMikle, were charged Aug. 2 in connection with the theft of baseball cards over a three-month period.

Merchandise worth at least $750 was taken from the Wal-Mart and Kmart stores on South Main in Sikeston from May 1 to Aug. 1, according to the New Madrid County Sheriff's Department.

In other Mississippi County government business:

* Commissioners reviewed a letter from the Missouri Department of Transportation advising Off-systems Roads Bridge Replacement Program funds for the Four Mile Pond bridge project will be appropriated in 2005 for construction in 2006.

Jim Blumenberg, presiding commissioner, said he hopes county officials are able to find a way to get money for the project sooner. "We're going to go out for design next year," Blumenberg said.

Sam Smith, engineer for Smith and Co. of Poplar Bluff, will design the bridge and get paid when the money comes in, according to Blumenberg.

* The annual premium for insurance on the county's buildings, contents and personal property has gone from $19,000 in 2001 to $32,700 for coverage in 2002, according to Junior DeLay, county clerk.

In addition to covering the county's structures - the courthouse, jail, a hangar at the county airport and the highway department building - the insurance also covers computers and radio equipment within the buildings as well as the county highway department's heavy equipment such as road graders and excavators.

The insurance provides protection from loss due to flood, fire, earthquake and vandalism, according to DeLay.

DeLay said premiums would have been even be higher if the courthouse were not designed to withstand seismic activity.

* Commissioner Martin Lucas said the new Fred's store being built in East Prairie is "shooting for February" to open.

Commissioners said they expect many of the Charleston Wal-Mart's former employees to apply for positions even if they were hired on at the Sikeston Wal-Mart as it will be closer.

The store may employ 16 full-time and 12 to 14 part-time workers, according to commissioners. "I just can't hardly wait," said Blumenberg.

* A public hearing for the last budget amendments of 2001 was held and commissioners briefly reviewed the county's debts.

DeLay estimated the county owes about $250,000 for the highway department's road graders after making one payment so far.

Although reserves are down somewhat from the end of last year, the county no longer owes any money on the courthouse.

DeLay said $533,000 was paid on the courthouse from general revenue in 2001 to help retire the debt.