The Atchison County Commission met Wednesday, August 19, 2026, due to a pre-construction hearing for a BRO project so all commissioners could be present. Present were: Curtis Livengood, Presiding Commissioner; Jim Quimby, North District Commissioner; Richard Burke, South District Commissioner; Susette Taylor, Clerk of the Commission; and Okema Galston, Administrative Assistant of the Commission.
Presiding Commissioner Livengood called the meeting to order.
Minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved.
Bills were reviewed and approved for payment.
Month-end department reports were reviewed and approved.
The following additions and abatements to the tax books were approved:
Personal Property – July 2026: Additions to the tax books were: 2025, $3,784.40; 2024, $1,107.49 Abatements to the tax books were: 2025, $2,844.26; 2024, $1,591.79.
There were no additions or abatements to the July 2026 real property or ag rock tax books.
Jack Wiley, Building Maintenance Supervisor, reported that the county truck was having mechanical issues. He estimates that it will cost about $4,000 for the repairs needed. He was told to schedule an appointment for repair. Jack also noted that there are more HVAC issues and parts on order. The repairman for previous issues will be onsite on the 20th.
At 9:00 a.m. there was a pre-construction meeting with Jake McBee, Regional Construction Service Team Leader from Great River Engineering (GRE) for bridge project BRO R003(001) (X Avenue). Also present at the meeting were Kenny Wallace, Road and Bridge Supervisor, and his assistant, Allison Cherry. Attending remotely were: Bryan Maddux, GRE Construction Services, project manager; Vance Purdun, North Central Bridge, LLC, contractor; and Tyeson Claypool, and MoDOT representative. The project is expected to start September 8, 2026.
Information reviewed and discussed included demolition of an existing bridge, construction of a new 153’ three-span spread box beam bridge, and project details.
Mr. McBee thanked everyone for attending and stated that they were available for any questions throughout the project.
There being no further business, the commission adjourned.
––
The Atchison County Commission met Thursday, August 27, 2026 Present were: Curtis Livengood, Presiding Commissioner; Jim Quimby, North District Commissioner; Richard Burke, South District Commissioner; Susette Taylor, Clerk of the Commission; and Okema Galston, Administrative Assistant of the Commission.
Presiding Commissioner Livengood called the meeting to order.
Minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved.
Bills were reviewed and approved for payment.
Month-end department reports were reviewed and approved.
Tasha Zach, Treasurer, was present to discuss moving forward, as approved in the 2026 budget, to place $450,000 into a nine-month CD at a rate of 3.77% interest at Citizens Bank & Trust. This creates a higher rate of funds set aside for capital improvements than the county is currently receiving. The commission agreed to purchase the CD.
Jack Wiley, Building Maintenance Supervisor, informed the commission of concrete issues in both the lower and upper parking lots. The concrete is flaking off. He believes this is due to the ice melt treatments. Wiley reached out to Mid Continental Restoration to inquire if anything can be done to stop further deterioration. They recommended sealing the concrete, which would only last three to five years. Wiley is waiting for two additional bids and will follow up with the commission.
Rhonda Wiley, Emergency Management Director, was in to give department updates.
There was more discussion regarding moving to a new agent of record for property liability insurance for the 2027 budget year. Okema Galston, Administrative Assistant, will reach out to Mike Keith Insurance to gather more information on this matter.
Clerk Taylor presented Resolution #005-2026 for review and approval.
RESOLUTION 005-2026
A resolution of Atchison County, Missouri, to establish a procedure to disclose potential conflicts of interest and substantial interests for certain officials.
Be it resolved by the commission of Atchison County, Missouri, as follows:
Section 1 –
Declaration of Policy
The proper operation of government requires that public officials and employees be independent, impartial and responsible to the people; that government decisions and policy be made in the proper channels of the governmental structure; that public office not be used for personal gain; and that the public have confidence in the integrity of its government. In recognition of these goals, there is hereby established a procedure for disclosure by certain officials and employees of private financial or other interests in matters affecting the political subdivision.
Section 2 – Conflicts of Interest
a. All elected and appointed officials as well as employees of a political subdivision must comply with conflict-of-interest statutes under Chapter 105 of the Missouri Revised Statutes as well as any other state law governing official conduct.
b. Any member of the governing body of a political subdivision who has a “substantial personal or private interest” in any measure, bill, order or ordinance proposed or pending before such governing body must disclose that interest to the secretary or clerk of such body and such disclosure shall be recorded in the appropriate journal of the governing body. Substantial personal or private interest is defined as ownership by the individual, his/her spouse, or his/her dependent children, whether singularly or collectively, directly or indirectly of: (1) 10% or more of any business entity; or (2) an interest having a value of $10,000 or more; or (3) the receipt of a salary, gratuity, or other compensation or remuneration of $5,000 or more, per year from any individual, partnership, organization, or association within any calendar year.
Section 3 – Disclosure Reports
Each elected official, all candidates for elective office, the chief administrative officer, the chief purchasing officer, and the full-time general counsel shall disclose the following information by May 1, or the appropriate deadline as referenced in Section 105.487 RSMo, if any such transactions occurred during the previous calendar year:
For such person, and all persons within the first degree of consanguinity or affinity of such person, the date and the identities of the parties to each transaction with a total value in excess of five hundred dollars, if any, that such person had with the political subdivision, other than compensation received as an employee or payment of any tax, fee or penalty due to the political subdivision, and other than transfers for no consideration to the political subdivision.
The date and the identities of the parties to each transaction known to the person with a total value in excess of five hundred dollars, if any, that any business entity in which such person had a substantial interest, had with the political subdivision, other than payment of any tax, fee or penalty due to the political subdivision or transactions involving payment for providing utility service to the political subdivision, and other than transfers for no consideration to the political subdivision.
The chief administrative officer, chief purchasing officer, and candidates for either of these positions shall disclose by May 1, or the appropriate deadline as referenced in Section 105.487 RSMo., the following information for the previous calendar year:
1. The name and address of each of the employers of such person from whom income of one thousand dollars or more was received during the year covered by the statement.
2. The name and address of each sole proprietorship that he owned; the name address and the general nature of the business conducted of each general partnership and joint venture in which he was a partner or participant; the name and address of each partner or coparticipant for each partnership or joint venture unless such names and addresses are filed by the partnership or joint venture with the secretary of state; the name, address and general nature of the business conducted of any closely held corporation or limited partnership in which the person owned ten percent or more of any class of the outstanding stock or limited partnership units; and the name of any publicly traded corporation or limited partnership that is listed on a regulated stock exchange or automated quotation system in which the person owned two percent or more of any class or outstanding stock, limited partnership units or other equity interests;
3. The name and address of each corporation for which such a person served in the capacity of a director, officer, or receiver.
Section 4 – Filing of Reports
a. The financial interest statements shall be filed at the following times, but no person is required to file more than one financial interest statement in any calendar year.
1. Every person required to file a financial interest statement shall file the statement annually not later than May 1 and the statement shall cover the calendar year ending the immediately preceding December 31; provided that any member of the (council/board) may supplement the financial interest statement to report additional interests acquired after December 31of the covered year until the date of filing of the financial interest statement.
2. Each person appointed to an office shall file the statement within thirty days of such appointment or employment covering the calendar year ending the previous December 31.
3. Every candidate required to file a personal financial disclosure statement shall file no later than fourteen days after the close of filing at which the candidate seeks nomination or election or nomination by caucus. The period of this statement shall cover the twelve months prior to the closing date of filing for candidacy.
b. Financial disclosure reports giving the financial information required in Section 3 shall be filed with the local political subdivision and with the Missouri Ethics Commission. The reports shall be available for public inspection and copying during normal business hours.
Penalties
Failure to file by the 14-day deadline results in a $10 per day late fee for each day the report is late up to 21 days payable to the Atchison County Clerk.
Failure to file by the 21-day deadline results in late fees, candidate disqualification, and removal from ballot. Candidates will be disqualified as a candidate, and his/her name will be removed from the ballot. When there is a local Ordinance or Resolution the penalties are enforced at the local level according to law.
Section 5 –
Filing of Ordinance
A certified copy of the ordinance (order/resolution), adopted prior to September 15, shall be sent within ten days of its adoption to the Missouri Ethics Commission.
Section 6 – Effective Date
This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after the date of its passage and approval and shall remain in effect for two years from the date of passage.
Following review, the commissioners voted unanimously to approve and adopt Resolution #005-2026 as read.
The approved resolution will be forwarded to the Ethics Commission for filing.
The commission brought in Circuit Court Judge Corey Herron, Associate Circuit Court Judge Brett Hurst, and Thyra Beckman, Circuit Clerk, for input and discussion on the potential new law enforcement facility. Sheriff Andy Riley was also present. This was a continuation of the feasibility study for a potential new facility.
Clerk Taylor reported that all levy rates have been certified by the state for the 2026 tax year, and requested the commission set the 2026 Ag Rock Levy. The commissioners voted unanimously to set the 2026 levy rate at .8000 per ag acre.
There being no further business, the commission adjourned.
––
The Atchison County Commission met Thursday, September 3, 2026. Present at the meeting were: Curtis Livengood, Presiding Commissioner; Jim Quimby, North District Commissioner; Richard Burke, South District Commissioner; and Amy Meinecke, Deputy Clerk. Susette Taylor, Clerk of the Commission; and Okema Galston, Administrative Assistant of the Commission, attended the annual MACCEA Conference and were absent.
Presiding Commissioner Livengood called the meeting to order.
Minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved.
Bills were reviewed and approved for payment.
Month-end department reports were reviewed and approved.
Kevin Rost with Goldberg Architects was present with Sheriff Andy Riley. They collaborated on layout and design for what Atchison County would need in a new law enforcement facility. Also discussed was the possibility of not building a large facility. Presiding Commissioner Livengood inquired about the costs of transporting inmates to another county. Sheriff Riley reported he had reached out to Andrew County, and they said that they could hold 10 beds for Atchison County and that would cost $17,000 per month regardless of whether they were used or not.
Tasha Zach, Treasurer, presented the signature card for the new CD at Citizens Bank & Trust. This was voted on at the August 27 meeting.
Jack Wiley, Building Maintenance Supervisor, dropped off three quotes for sealing the lower parking in front of the courthouse. The commission will review and vote at their next meeting.
There being no further business, the commission adjourned.
