The Worth County Commission passed a disability resolution at their regular meeting Monday, adopting a policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability. The commission says that the resolution is necessary in order to comply with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 in order to get future Community Development Block Grants that they elect to pursue. Passage is also needed to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act as well.
It will be the policy of the county that all programs and activities be accessible and usable by qualified persons with disabilities in accordance with Section 504 and the ADA. The county will conduct a self-evaluation with the assistance of a citizen review committee and make necessary modifications in order to comply. Where building modifications are required, the county will take these requirements into account.
The resolution creates a grievance procedure for complaints of discrimination under the ADA; all persons who believe that they have been discriminated against will have the right to file a written complaint. The claimant shall deliver to the clerk's office a written complaint stating the name and identification, the department name and location, a description of the incidents involved, the nature of the claimant's disability, and other necessary information. The County Clerk will investigate the factual basis for the grievance and hold a meeting with the claimant; within 10 days, the Clerk will notify the claimant of their decision and what corrective action will be taken by the county.
If the claimant is not satisfied by the decision, they may appeal to the County Commission within 45 days of the date of the meeting with the clerk whether notification from the clerk is received or not. The hearing will be conducted in an informal manner and commissioners will make every effort to avoid the appearance of conducting a trial in a court of law. The appeal will be in writing and shall state why the claimant believes the County Clerk's decision was incorrect.
No later than 10 working days after the written appeal, the clerk shall fix a time and place for convening a hearing before the commission. Following the hearing, the commission will rule within 48 hours and provide their written findings and recommendations to the claimant. Failure to attend by the claimant or to notify the commission of their inability to attend will constitute just cause of dismissal of the complaint. The purpose of this process is not to award monetary damages, but to correct a situation that is occurring within a county building.
The resolution also adopts a statement of nondiscrimination regarding hiring, promotion, disciplining, or removal of any county employee on the basis of handicapped status.
A complete copy of this resolution can be obtained at the Worth County Clerk's office.
In other action, the commissioners stated the county policy towards gated roads. Such roads are dealt with on a case by case basis, but will not be maintained if they are gated off.
With the colder weather, the county is getting ready for winter. There are no more heaters that are running on 110 power; they are all running on 220. The county, however, is wired for 110 current.
The commission recently was left with the problem of how to house Community Services and the Economic Development office. The Economic Developer's office is moving out of the basement of City Hall because the city says it needs the area for storage. Community Services is moving due to massive budget cuts at the federal level. Community Services will move to the Grant City Methodist Church while the Economic Developer is moving in with the Extension Office in the basement of the Courthouse. Outgoing director Charity Austin said that she will begin moving stuff this week. The Worth County Progress Organization is still taking applications for the Economic Developer's position and will try and fill the position at their November meeting.
Treasurer Linda Brown reported that the county had made a $25,000 transfer from the CART fund to cover the Special Rock Fund. The Patron gravel is mostly hauled for this year. The county might still haul some bypass rock for Route C. The 100% match for county roads that bypass the Route C construction between Denver and Allendale is still in effect. Route PP is now open while construction for Route T north of Allendale has been postponed until next year.
Lenny Roush reported that the county has around 160 pounds of ice melt and two bags of liquid melt left, which he said would last through the first severe snowstorm. He will look at prices for more.
Commissioners spent much of the day looking at the Rinehart road as well as other roads that are being targeted by the new Brush Ordinance.
It was reported that Grand River had run a fiber optic cable over a county tube, which Commissioner Dennis Gabbert said the county had not been notified of. The county is in the process of drafting a letter to GRM.
The commission renewed their dues with the Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments.
It was reported that the rural population for the county was down to 944 people based on 2010 census data.
Road & Bridge Foreman Jim Fletchall reported rock had been placed on #116. In going back over the old maps, County Clerk Roberta Owens reported that the numbering had been done sometime between 1903 and 1925. A map of the county did not show the roads numbered; however, a 1925 map showed the roads numbered much as they are today.
Regarding brush enforcement, Fletchall said that there were a lot of roads that had a dent made in them, but that there was still too much overhanging brush on a lot of them. He said he feared that the county would have to repeat the brush process all over again if the landowners did not cut it enough. He said that while present efforts had helped, it was not a cure and it was not what was called for under the brush policy. The county is getting more and more specific in its brush letters explaining what needed to be cut. Commissioners were touring roads Monday to see how well landowners with brush letters had followed up and removed brush from the roads.
Fuel storage came up as an issue again. Fletchall said that quotes he got regarding state-mandated containment ranged from $1,000 to $2,500. Shipping costs from a supplier out of the area would more than offset any price savings. The county will try and negotiate a better price to meet their containment needs.
Fletchall also said that a tube by Gordie Sorenson's was still a recurring problem. He said that he would be looking for buckets at auctions that would fit the present county vehicles. A 14 foot bridge near Oxford near Dennis Gabbert's was not holding up very well and it needs beams and more.
The commission said that they were still onboard with the city in pursuing a recycling program for the county. Previously, the county was unable to implement one because they could not find anyone willing to haul; however, there is a lot more money in the industry now and there are at least two businesses in Maryville that are willing to haul for recycling. King City has such a program and they have open container hours; people leave their trash and someone is there to sort it and put it in the bins. When the bins are full the hauler comes and leaves another one in its place. There would be no cost to the county if they were to get the grant; if they don't, the county said they would need to look over their situation first before proceeding.
Location would be a problem as Fletchall said that the county was still dealing with space issues at the county barn and the city's is not fenced off.
Austin reported that she was also pursing a program which would raise Deputy Tony Steele's salary to at least $28,000. It would not cost the county any more money; the goal of the program is to raise the salary level of the deputy to over $28,000 without any extra local costs. It would be renewable annually; Austin said she was not sure if there was a sunset clause like there is with the COPS grant.
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