Commissioners table action on vacation time, discuss grants

During their Feb. 3 meeting, the commissioners decided to table action on county employees’ vacation rollover until the Feb. 10 meeting.

According to Presiding Commissioner Terry Newton, the commissioners are getting more information about some different options for the vacation rollovers.

“We’re getting a lot of information from a lot of the other counties,” said Newton. “We want to look at that and find the best option for our guys and our people and our workers. Something that works best for them. We want to do our due diligence and do the best thing that we can for them. 

“So that’s what we’re going to do. We’re kind of looking at it and going to weigh some options and look at some different solutions that works better for everybody. That’s what we’re hoping.”

Newton said they are still working on the SCOCOG grant application for possible funding for the Ozark County Recycling Center and the possibility of an additional grant that could replace old equipment.

“The first thing [SCOCOG does] is take care of all the recycling centers [who qualified for] that grant and make sure they get what they’re asking for,” explained Newton. “Then [with] anything left over, [counties] can apply for an equipment [grant], which is what we’ve done too. Now the chances of it happening are slim-to-none, but it is an opportunity.”

The commissioners are hoping to take advantage of those possible grants and apply for a new skid steer in order to replace the very old skid steer that currently being used.

“Was your grant disbursement affected by the federal funding grant freeze?” Ozark County resident Tracy Meal asked at the meeting. 

“No,” Ozark County Clerk Brian Wise said. “That freeze is gone, and we weren’t expecting anything during that time.”

The window to accept bids for a transport vehicle for the sheriff’s department was also set during the meeting. Bids are accepted now through bid opening, scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday, Feb. 18, during the regular commissioner’s meeting. Anyone interested in submitting a bid can contact OCSD Administrator Curtis Ledbetter or Sheriff Cass Martin for specifications (417-679-4633). You can also see the bid notice on page 10 of this week’s Ozark County Times.