Newly-elected county officeholders sworn in

Goodbyes mingled with funding considerations during Tuesday’s county commission meeting. The meeting broke at 9:30 a.m. for the swearing in of county officeholders and resumed to hold a public pre-budget hearing. Presiding Commissioner Randy Angst presented awards dedicated to outgoing commissioners Darrell Pollock (Western) and David Layman (Eastern). Angst had the plaques, imprinted with Theodore Roosevelt’s “Citizenship in a Republic/Man in the Arena” speech, made himself. “I think it speaks greatly to the gentlemen that have served here,” Angst said before reading the speech. “And I want to give them the recognition that they deserve.” In the final tabulations for the remaining American Rescue Plan Act funds, funding allocations went towards a new courthouse flag, Road and Bridge storage, heating mini split, and Conway Special Road District #2’s bridge renovation project. Coroner Steve Murrell provided a list of departmental priorities to be considered for ARPA funding, but the commission did not ultimately approve any, with Layman and Pollock saying that most items would fall under budgeting. The commission also approved the Sleeper Volunteer Fire Department’s County Tax Application and financial statement. The commission held its public hearing on the 2025 budget, and, seeing no other members of the public in attendance, Angst asked incoming commissioners Joe Wasmer (Western) and Erik Lindsey (Eastern) along with the present Record reporter for comments. For his comment, Lindsey hoped for more paved approaches on public roads. Angst replied by saying that MoDOT may provide a path forward in that regard, citing other counties’ efforts on approaches to state roads.