Feb. 20
• Presiding Commissioner Bill Lant gave a report on the Newton-McDonald County Landfill.
• Darren Wallace, of the Jasper County Public Defender Office, met with the Commission.
• The Commission signed and approved accounts payable in the amount of $39,803.48
Feb. 25
• Ken Mata, with Morton Buildings, met with the Commission, stating he needed a check for the final payment for the jail expansion and remodel. Morton Buildings requested final payment in the amount of $240,019. Commissioner John Bunch stated the total paid by McDonald County for the jail project is approximately $2,054,000, with the requested final payment of the jail payment just shy of $2.3 million. The original contract with Morton Buildings was not to exceed $1,954,572. Change orders would add-on to the no-exceed cost. Commissioner Bunch told Mata he knew of a sub-contractor who was forced to sign a new contract. He also stated the county has never received a full set of blueprints. Mata said the set of prints the county received was the full set. Commissioner Bunch also stated there will not be a final payment and McDonald County will be asking for a refund for subpar work. Mata stated he would inform Morton Buildings and that the company may press legal action. Commissioner Bunch asked Mata if he wanted to take the locks today. Mata said no. Commissioner Bunch then stated he could get some trustees to help load the locks. Mata stated, "No. We will let someone else get those." Mata asked for the final cost of the locks. Before Mata left, Commissioner Bunch asked him if he felt McDonald County should be pleased with the project. Mata stated, "No, I do not feel you guys should be pleased with the project." Also in attendance was Michael Keels, Keels Consulting Service.
• Lanagan Mayor, Stan Haywood, met with the Commission to discuss Summit Drive. Haywood wanted McDonald County to take over maintenance of the road. The Commission stated they would review the road. Later in the afternoon, they looked at Summit Drive and decided it is within the Lanagan city limits and the county will not accept responsibility of the road.
• Commissioners had a conference call with Tri-State Truck Center.
Feb. 27
• Douglas and Angela Henry met with the Commission. Douglas Henry stated his son, Johnnie Henry, had been traveling along Rains Road, near Jane, when he met a Road and Bridge truck. As he passed the county truck, Henry said a rock flew out of the truck and cracked his windshield. The Commission took down Henry's information and will speak to the Road and Bridge Foreman for more information.
• Commissioners had a conference call with Jolene Wolter, of Morton Buildings Customer Service/Concerns. The Commission requested someone in management travel to McDonald County to review the jail project. Wolter stated she had difficulty contacting Ken Mata and wanted to reach out to the county regarding the jail project. Commissioners stated they were dissatisfied with the overall project. Prosecuting Attorney Bill Dobbs explained some of the shortfalls of the project. Wolter stated she would relay the information to management and the next step would be to get the Commission and Morton management face-to-face. Contact information was exchanged. The Commission is waiting to hear back from a representative.
• The Commission signed and approved accounts payable in the amount of $352,534.51.
March 4
• Gregg Sweeten, McDonald County emergency management director, informed the Commission of a Public Assistance Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Sweeten stated McDonald County would be receiving approximately $15,800 from previous FEMA disasters. This money will be put back into the Road and Bridge Fund.
• Sweeten also notified the Commission that McDonald County has been awarded a State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) grant in the amount of $20,500 for a storm warning siren.
• Luap McKeever met with the Commission to discuss issues in the southeast portion of McDonald County.
March 6
• Bill and Donna Divine met with the Commission, wanting to know if Bellmont Road meets a county road. Bill Divine requested the Commission view their survey stakes to confirm it does meet the county road.
• The Commission opened bids for law enforcement tires, road and bridge tires, rock, asphalt and oil. In attendance were David Dishman and Lance Fischer, Wright Asphalt; Wendell Nolan, Ergon Asphalt and Emulsions; and J.T. Roberson, Purcell Tire.
Commission received tire bids from Ozarko Tire Centers, 4-M Service Inc., Purcell Tire and Service, Pomp's Tire Service Inc., and Royer Tire Inc.
The Commission unanimously voted to table bids for further discussion.
Commission received rock bids from Anchor Stone Company, Kemp Stone, and Benton County Stone.
The Commission unanimously voted to table bids for further discussion.
Commission received asphalt bids from Emery Sapp and Sons Inc., Hutchens Construction, and Blevins Asphalt Construction Co. Inc.
The Commission unanimously voted to table bids for further discussion.
Commission received oil bids from Wright Asphalt Products Co., Ergon Asphalt and Emulsions Inc., Vance Brothers, and Coastal Energy Corporation.
The Commission unanimously voted to table bids for further discussion.
• Goodman police chief Curt Drake and Joe David met with the Commission.
March 11
• Terry Welch and Matt Stander, of Tri-State Truck Center, met with Commissioners. Welch answered questions from the Commission regarding the special program Tri-State Truck Center has for Road and Bridge equipment. Commissioner John Bunch motioned to lease three Mack Dump Trucks with snow plows and spreaders. Motion passed unanimously.
• The Commission signed and approved accounts payable in the amount of $75,951.02.
General News on 04/25/2019