OSAGE COUNTY — The Osage County Commission voted Thursday to increase the salary of Prosecutor Amanda Grellner to 60 percent of an associate circuit judge’s pay, following the recent passage and signing of state legislation changing how part-time prosecutors are compensated in Missouri.

Under the new law, prosecutor salaries in qualifying counties must fall between 30 percent and 60 percent of associate judge pay by July 31. She estimated associate judge pay at about $166,000 annually and noted the legislation sets full-time prosecutor salaries equal to associate judge pay.

Grellner said Osage and Gasconade counties are among the highest-population counties in Missouri still operating with part-time prosecutors, despite caseloads exceeding some counties that already have full-time positions. She said her salary was about 35% of associate judge salary, within the range of the new law, and laid out several options for the commissioners, including no change.

Grellner said she hasn’t been able to hire the assistant she and the commissioners budgeted for because she hasn’t found anyone willing to work part-time. “If you set it at the 60%, I’m not going to ask for an assistant,” Grellner told commissioners, explaining the increase would allow her to reduce private practice work and devote more time to county duties.

“If you decide not to do it... I’ll just be real honest with you, I’m not going to change the service that I give you,” Grellner said.

She noted that 60% of a 40 hour week would be 24 hours. “I don’t know the last time I spent less than 24 hours in a week on this job,” she said. “And I also don’t have to tell you it’s 24/7, 365 right? I mean, I don’t have somebody that covers when I’m on vacation.”

Western District Commissioner Dale Logan agreed, stating Grellner was grossly underpaid. 

Grellner also discussed the possibility of eventually transitioning the office to a full-time position, though she said she was not asking the commission to do so immediately.

“I’m not asking that it go full-time, but by the next term, it’s going to have to, or you’re not going to find somebody,” Grellner said. “You’re just not going to attract somebody, not with the workload that it is, even maybe at the 60%.”

She noted making the office full-time would increase retirement contribution costs for the county, in addition to the salary.

Logan voiced strong support for the increase. “Jeff and I, the new guys, (have) been here for a year and five months, and tens of thousands of dollars you’ve saved this county,” Logan said. “I think there’s no doubt which one I’m going to vote for, and that’s to max it out.”

Later in the meeting, Logan formally moved to set the prosecutor salary at 60 percent of associate judge pay, effective Aug. 1. Eastern District Commissioner Jeff Peters seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

• Commissioners approved a $5,580 bid from KLH Construction to expand the Recorder’s Office into adjacent space formerly occupied by the Health Department. During discussion, commissioners debated whether to keep an existing bathroom operational or to remove it.

Logan’s original motion was to accept the $5,580 bid, as he said he could not justify spending an additional $3,600 of taxpayer money to remove a functioning bathroom.

Presiding Commissioner Darryl Griffin argued the bathroom was not functional, as the toilet lid had been removed and the water to the bathroom shut off, and pressed the other commissioners to decide whether the bathroom would be operational after the expansion or not.

“I’m okay with leaving the room and using it as storage,” Griffin said. “And (Groundskeeper John Kennedy) could put his cleaning stuff and (not) have to drag all that stuff up and down the stairs.”

When pressed to amend the motion to include whether the other commissioners wanted to leave the bathroom operational or not, Logan amended his motion to include leaving the bathroom open. Peters seconded it. Griffin requested a roll-call vote in which the motion passed 2-1, with Griffin voting no.

• The commission approved the appointment of Amanda Stratman to the Osage County Special Services board following the resignation of Stacy Bax, who is running for the Missouri House District 61 seat. Griffin noted that while the county appoints members to boards such as Osage County Special Services and the library board, the commission does not control those entities’ budgets.

• Much of Tuesday’s discussion centered on employee health insurance options presented by Alan Fay of Higginbotham. Fay outlined differences between fully insured, level-funded, and self-insured insurance plans.

“Right now the county with Anthem from your recent transition [has a] fully insured program,” Fay said. “You pay a fixed cost monthly. It’s predictable. It’s great for being able to budget during the year, but you have absolutely no control of the program.”

Fay said level-funded plans provide counties with claims data and the possibility of receiving money back if claims costs remain below projections. He described self-insurance as giving the county more flexibility and control over provider contracts and healthcare spending.

“Self-insurance takes you and puts you in the driver’s seat a little bit,” Fay said.

He explained that, as an example, if the county budgeted $500,000 for healthcare costs and only spent $300,000, the carrier would typically split the difference and refund $100,000.

Peters repeatedly questioned the financial risk involved with self-insurance, particularly the county’s responsibility for large claims.

“So, you said that if the $500,000 and you come under, you’re going to get a check back,” he said. “What happens when you go over to $600,000?”

Fay said that if claims exceeded projections, the county would likely face a renewal increase similar to those seen under traditional insurance plans.

Later, Peters said he remained concerned about the county’s potential liability. “Even $500,000 would be a blow,” he said.

Fay responded by explaining stop-loss coverage that would cap the county’s exposure to catastrophic claims.

“You have these layers of protection, so you aren’t on the hook for that million dollars,” Fay said.

Interim County Clerk Brooke Dudenhoeffer said the county intentionally chose a fully insured plan this year because officials knew some employees would face major medical procedures.

Dudenhoeffer also raised concerns about maintaining broad provider access if the county moved toward self-insurance.

“I just wonder how many contracts we can have with those different [providers],” she said.

No decisions were made regarding insurance changes, though commissioners expressed interest in exploring level-funded or self-insured options further.

• Commissioners and department heads also continued ongoing discussions about employee pay scales, performance evaluations, and implementation of a paid time off system. Health Department Administrator Kim Sallin advocated for employee self-assessments during evaluations.

“Oftentimes they recognize the areas that they’re struggling in,” Sallin said. “It’s really important to get their feedback.”

Ron Hoffman, director of Osage County 911/EMA, said regular evaluations and employee feedback are important for accountability and training.

“If you don’t do your performance feedback, then they have nothing. They don’t know what they’re supposed to do,” Hoffman said.

The commission also discussed implementing stronger policies for returning county-issued equipment and uniforms when employees leave county employment. Griffin said employees should sign documentation acknowledging responsibility for county property.

“That’s not the world we live in nowadays,” Griffin said. “If it ain’t in the handbook, if it ain’t written down...”

• At the end of the meeting, the commission voted to enter emergency closed session, during which the reinstated lost vacation time to a Road & Bridge employee.

ROAD & BRIDGE

Heavy rainfall across parts of the county was a recurring topic throughout the meeting. Peters said road crews were dealing with culvert and drainage problems, particularly in the eastern district.

“You can’t get that road grader in the woods far enough to get them things,” Peters said, referring to culverts and drainage areas in wooded sections of county roads. “We’re taking a road grader operator off to do a job that a part-time employee could do with the skid steer.”

Peters urged the county to revisit purchasing a skid steer for road and bridge operations, saying existing equipment was not adequate for handling culvert cleanouts, ditch work, and storm-related road damage.

“We need to buy one,” Peters said. “We’re chasing our tail with that.”

Logan agreed. “The skid steer, I think that’s something we need to be doing,” Logan said.

On Thursday, Road & Bridge Foreman Neil Mantle provided bids for a skid steer from several manufacturers. Commissioners discussed warranty coverage, machine specifications, and budget concerns, but took no action on a purchase.

• Creek rock was hauled on CR 413 (432T) and 606 (208T); quarry rock was hauled on CR 303 (189.75T), 416 (262.47T), 634 (342.41T), 716 (15.04T), 717 (70.01T), and 54 (373.88T); a culvert replacement was completed on Old Mill Road, where 1.92 tons of rock were placed; road work was completed on CR 203, 236, 521, 612, 725A, 734, & 753; tree removal was conducted on CR 317, 424, and 634; slab repair work was completed on CR 212 and 319; brush mowers were working on CR 317 and 319; and grader operators were active as follows: G01 (River Road, 416, 437), G03 (CR 302, 303, 737, 754), G04 (CR 512, 541, 542, 634), and G05 (CR 711, 715, 716, 740).

• The following equipment was serviced: in-house repairs were completed on PR #40, and Track #41 was out of house service.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Administrator Sallin presented the following figures for April: Birth Certificates (32), Death Certificates (51), Vaccines (12 general), Animal Bites (1), Dressing Changes (0), Lice Checks (1), Medication Injections (17), Blood Draws (21), Blood Pressure Checks (10), PPD Testing (6), EPHS Inspections (13), WIC Caseload (115), WIC Appointments Completed (42), Drug Testing (10), Prenatal Classes Held (1), Lactation Visits (2), Car Seat Checks (0), Car Seats Issued (1), Lead Testing (0), CPR Certifications (2), Mental Health Visits (0), Foot & Nail Visits (33), Health Screenings (0), STD Screenings (2), STD Treatment (0), Daycare Providers (Clock Hours) (0), Daycare Health Promotions (2), Daycare Inspections (1), Nurse Visits (12), Drive Thru Customers (36), Diapers/Wipes provided (3), Water Test Kits (13), Notary (0), CD Investigations (0), Lead Cases (0), and Influenza B Reported (0).

FINANCIAL

• Time sheets were approved by commissioners.