County Commission Looks Into Support Animal Statutes
By MARK EVANS
mevans@stegenherald.com
Ste. Genevieve County commissioners tackled the issue of support animals on county property at last Thursday’s commission meeting.
A situation had occurred earlier this winter in which an individual insisted he required a service dog when he attended an event at the Ste. Genevieve County Community Center. The dog, however, was allowed to run free, creating several complaints and causing the commissioners to doubt the validity of the man’s claim.
They called Life Inc. Center for Independent Living in Farmington and got some input on the situation.
They were told that only dogs are recognized as Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) support animals. No emotional support animals are recognized at this time. The dogs have to be trained to perform a specific task. Whether county personnel are allowed to ask a individual what task the dog is trained to do, was not clear.
SCHMIEDER REPORTS ON ROADS, TRUCK
Scott Schmieder, road and bridge foreman, reported that the department’s pickup was having its transmission replaced.
He also said his crew has been cutting limbs, mowing and grading.
Associate clerk Michele Gatzemeyer said that Holly Viox, who cleans the courthouse has asked about the possibility of using the county’s bucket truck to clean upstairs windows in the courthouse. She of the windows do not recline vertically for cleaning.
Second District Commissioner Randy Ruzicka suggested instead calling a cleaning service.
“It’s not that much money,” he said. He said that someone not used to working in bucket trucks would be in danger of falling out. The road and bridge crew, meanwhile, has too much on their plate to assist, he said.
First District Commissioner Karen Stuppy suggested that they could solicit bids for cleaning services.
Schmieder said he had found pipes that need replaced on Coffman and French Village roads. He thinks both could use a bigger size pipe than what is there now.
Presiding Commissioner Garry Nelson expressed thanks to some Magnolia Hollow Road residents who picked up and bagged trash along the road. Schemer’s crew picked the bags up and disposed of them.
Nelson also praised Schmieder for his men’s work on the only paving job of 2020, Magnolia Hollow Road..
“Everything turned out really good,” he said.
The chip-and-seal section was all the county attempted last year, due to expectations of fuel tax and sales tax revenue falling off dramatically after the coronavirus shutdown.
Nelson said he called Jeremy Tanz, executive director of the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning Commission, to ask about Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) grants. The county has obtained a couple of these in recent years, helping replace a pair of older diesel dump trucks. The most recent one paid $47,000 of a $190,000 or so Western Star truck.
Nelson asked whether last year’s bids could be used to apply for this year’s grants. Tanz said to get specs and make sure nothing has changed and to make sure the bidders will honor the previous bids. Last year TAG Truck Center in Farmington won the bid for the chassis, while Viking-Cives Midwest, Inc., in Morley got the bid for the truck’s bed.
STUPPY TALKS ABOUT RECYCLE CENTER NEEDS
Nelson called Brenda Stuppy of Ste. Genevieve Industries, to see about needs at the county recycling center. A solid waste grant is coming up.
Stuppy said a pair of trailers would be very helpful. She said another item they could really use is a Dok-Lok, which is a locking device most often used to keep vehicles from being stolen.
In this case it would clamp onto one of the trailers, keeping it from being taken. She said it would also provide a safety factor. It would help ensure that a forklift, trying to move the trailers, did not flip over.
Nelson told her to get prices and details on trailers and Dok-Loks. He said they might stand good chance of getting a solid waste grant for a Dok-Lok, while one of the final Holcim grants might take care of a trailer or two.