After a “Close-Out Conference” with FEMA officials on Monday, it was determined that Phelps County is to receive a total of $170,933 in reimbursements from federal and state agencies for damages to roads and bridges following the March floods.

   Phelps County Clerk Carol Bennett advised the Commission the final tally for all FEMA and SEMA reimburseable expenses for the repair and cleanup costs incurred by the county was complete.

   The total cost incurred by the county to repair flood-damaged roads and bridges was $201,098; however, 75 percent of the cost, $150,824 is reimbursed by FEMA, and 10 percent, $20,109, is reimbursed by SEMA.

   The county already has received $71,317 of the total amount from the federal and state agencies for six, completed project worksheets.  The remaining reimbursements are pending final, SEMA approval.

   Additionally, the Commission approved submitting two project worksheets to SEMA on Tuesday, PHC-013 for $5,489.87 and PHC-014 for $9,378.48.

   In other, unrelated county government business, the Commission reviewed or approved the following items:

   • The Commission awarded a $38,000 bid to Spartan Services, LLC, located in Devil’s Elbow, to remove asbestos from the old Phelps County Jail.

   Spartan Services was one of two companies that submitted bids; Inspections Construction Management Consulting Services, Inc., located in St. Louis, also submitted a bid for asbestos removal for $258,500.

   Both companies are included on a Department of Natural Resources list of companies registered with Air Pollution Control.

   • The Commission reviewed a statement of revenue received from gas taxes, motor vehicle sales and use taxes and motor vehicle fees.

   The county received $54,916 in July for gas taxes accrued in May .  This reflects a 9.86 percent increase in revenues earned during the same month last year.

   The county received $10,975 in July for motor-vehicle sales taxes accrued in April.  This reflects a 0.19 percent increase in revenues earned during the same month last year.

   The county received $6,666 in July for motor vehicle fees accrued in April.  This reflects a 22 percent decrease in revenues earned during the same month last year.

   • The Commission reviewed correspondence received from Bonnie Prigge, of the Meramec Regional Planning Commission, requesting the Commission to lobby officials from Crawford, Dent and Pulaski counties to assist in funding the training of an assistant for the 2010 census.

   Phelps and Maries counties already have agreed to contribute to the training, at a cost of $1,000, which would be split between the two counties.

   • The Commission approved soliciting bids for gas and diesel fuel for the Sheriff and Road departments.  The closing date for submitting bids is Aug. 14.

   • Commissioner District 1 Larry Stratman informed resident Bob Harris that he would be available to attend the next meeting of the Forest Lake Homeowner’s Association to discuss the cost and options available for resurfacing the roads in the subdivision.

   • The Commission reviewed the decision reached by the Board of Equalization last Thursday to reduce the assessment for the commercial property portion of Rolla Inn.

   The Rolla Inn originally was assigned a market value of $1.339 million, which the BOE reduced to $800,000, based upon a finding of “functional obsolescence.”

   The owners of the property, Kiran and Mira Mehta, of Rolla, appealed the original assessment on declining sales.

   The BOE cited issues of reduced access, location and visibility as the reason for the reduction in market value.