911 Commission withholds some payment from Sign-Up Ltd.

The payment of bills was less than typical during the Saline County 911 Commission's meeting Thursday, April 9.

Commission President John Fletcher read a list of bills to commission members: To AT&T, he said, the commission owed $93.37; Marshall Municipal Utilities, $30; Missouri Consolidated Heath Care Plan, $2,099.67, which included two months of fees for Assistant Director Stacie Smith; NECI, $16.95; Marceline Mapping, $960; Director Pam Teague, $318.45 in reimbursement for gas; Wilson Teollner, $195; and AT&T Mobile, $89.28; Sign-Up Ltd., two amounts, $98,095.22 for road signs and $41,359.32 for residential materials.

Commission member Jesse Coslet made a motion to pay the bills listed by Fletcher, and Fletcher seconded the motion. Vice President John Rieves was the only member present who raised his voice against the motion.

"I object to paying Sign-Up $98,095.22 when this county is not done, and they're not done right, yet," Rieves said when questioned by Fletcher. "I just don't feel that it's prudent to pay all that in one shot until the signs meet our expectations. ... I have nothing against him or his work, although quality control was lacking in a few areas."

"He's well aware of exactly what he needs to come in and work on," said Director Pam Teague, "and what he plans on doing is, with the board's approval, as he's putting in the residential markers in each area, instead of having to take one entire day and change the road signs, he's going to change the road signs while he's in that area."

Fletcher suggested the commission hold back $10,000 of that payment "until corrective actions have been taken."

Rieves made a motion to pay the bills, but with the suggested amendment regarding payment to Sign-Up Ltd. Coslet seconded Rieves' motion, and commission members passed the motion.

The monetary total of bills paid by the commission came to $133,257.26.

Contact Geoff Rands at marshallreporter@socket.net