Audit bid is accepted

Mississippi County news

CHARLESTON -- Mississippi County commissioners have awarded the bid for an audit of the county and the county health department.

Commissioners accepted the bid of $9,250 from Brown and Thomas CPA of Jackson for the audit during their regular meeting Thursday.

"We had only one proposal submitted to perform our single audit," County Clerk Junior DeLay said.

Brown and Thomas was the firm that conducted last year's audit for a total cost of $8,995 of which the county's share was $7,200, according to DeLay.

DeLay said the firm tracks billable hours for audit work conducted at the county and health department and pro-rates charges to the two entities based on the time spent at each.

The audit is required because the an excess of $500,000 in federal funding was routed through the county.

In other business Thursday:

* "We're going to have to put some money in blacktop this year," Presiding Commissioner Jim Blumenberg said.

He said the MC800 oil used for making blacktop is down to $1.85 per gallon as compared with $2.45 per gallon last year but sealing oil is up to $1.50 per gallon from last year's $1.20.

"We're going to have a busy summer this year," Blumenberg said, but added "we'll run out of money before we run out of time."

* Sales tax receipts are up 30 percent for February as compared with the same time period last year, according to Blumenberg. He said with that extraordinary jump, the county is now up 8 percent for the year as compared with last year.

Blumenberg speculated vehicle purchases by county residents using income tax return money could be responsible for the increase in sales tax receipts.

* Commissioners approved the annual service agreement with the Mississippi County Rescue Squad by which the squad provides rescue services in the county and receives $2,000 in county funding.

"It's a good deal," Commissioner Homer Oliver said.

* Hoyt Barnes and Gary Branum presented commissioners with information on the Coalition For Missouri Farm & Food Preservation and the Missouri Farm and Food Preservation Act which, if approved, would protect farm operations that have been in existence for a least one year from nuisance lawsuits.

"There's more to this: we have to be good neighbors," Branum said, agreeing with a comment by Commissioner Martin Lucas regarding the effect of clearing wheat and rice fields by burning them on residents with respiratory problems.