DEXTER, Mo. — Members of the Senate Bill 40 board that oversees programs for the developmentally disabled in Stoddard County voted Tuesday to make approximately $60,000 in payments to an existing sheltered workshop, while stripping money for other new programs from their 2019 budget.
The more than 3 1/2-hour meeting also included votes to seek state advice on how to sell both of its new buildings, the rehashing of old grievances between various entities and a plea from at least one resident to let go of the past and focus on how best to serve clients.
Kent Polsgrove, who also serves as county emergency management director, said he spoke recently with several of the boards involved after witnessing discussion at a county commission meeting.
“What bothered me about the whole thing was that I didn’t hear anybody (at the meeting) talking about a solution,” said Polsgrove, a former school administrator who also mentioned his work with developmentally disabled youth. “All I heard was people arguing about, and understandably about, things that they didn’t like.”
Something important has gotten lost in this debate, according to Polsgrove.
“One of the things I like about Stoddard County is we do a great job compared to other counties on taking care of our adult special needs people,” he said, adding after speaking to each group involved, “I came away thinking, things are going to be okay. People just need to start talking about solutions and quit arguing with each other about what’s going on.”
After Polsgrove spoke, the board acted on its budget, spending and other matters in a series of 5-2 and unanimous votes. Vice chairman Clay Prough abstained from the majority of items after a debate concerning whether he was allowed to vote on every item, or only in the case of a tie.
Board member Robin Rickman suggested the board allow funding to follow the client, rather than paying specific entities. Clients could choose between the existing sheltered workshop, the new Progressive Industries work center or the Echos thrift store under this plan.
Devin Miller, interim director of the existing workshop, said this would force competition between the organizations.
“The sheltered workshop has come a very long way, been doing a lot of good things out there and is going to continue to get better. I just want the sheltered workshop to be treated like anybody else would be treated on this, not just some obstacle in the way so you can create your own dynasty kind of little structure you had going. I just want to be treated fair,” Miller said.
Life is full of competition, said targeted case management board member Shirley Carney, who came to ask for a closed session meeting to discuss the sale of the office building.
Miller responded, telling Carner not to speak to him.
The board did not act on Carner’s request, saying they need more information concerning how the sale should be handled.
Community member Dan McClure accused the existing workshop of finding “jailhouse religion” and said selling the new buildings would be a “monument to greed and shame.”
At one point, Prough was forced to tell the group, “We don’t need everybody arguing at one time.”
The board voted to pay $39,000 in bills for the existing workshop, which includes almost $25,000 for a 2011 Chevrolet truck, health insurance of approximately $6,400 and other costs. Rickman and Prough voted against this measure.
The board voted 5-2 to remove funding for Progressive industries from a proposed 2019 budget, having previously voted to stop funding the group. Rickman and board member Deb McKay voted against while approving the measure were board members Danny Griffin, Ray McLane, Don Rhodes, Josh Hester and the Rev. Dale Holman.
During the discussion, McKay said money previously given to the existing workshop was not used appropriately and the new programs provide a place for disabled residents kicked out of the workshop.
Miller asked for names of the people McKay mentioned.
The board discussed writing a new contract for the existing workshop, with input from their attorney. They voted unanimously to provide pay backdated through July, based on rates in a previous contract. The amount would be approximately $21,000, Hester said.
The board also voted to accept the longest term possible for repayment of a construction loan of approximately $1.2 million. A verbal bid from Southern Bank for 25 years at 3.99 percent interest would be accepted. Payments would be approximately $8,000 per month.
A portion of the loan could be paid off if one or both buildings are sold, according to the board.
The board also discussed reserving the right to refuse bids for the buildings, if the offered purchase price was less than their investment.