State of the County - 2018 - 2022

In 2018 Presiding Commissioner Bill Reiboldt, was elected to a 4-year term. Presiding Commissioner Reiboldt served 8 years as State Representative for the area. Bill serves at following Boards: JCPHA - Jasper County Public Housing Authority, AAA- Area Agency on Aging, WIB - Workforce Investment Board, and Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, EX-Officio. Born and raised in Newton County, Bill lives on the family farm, where the farming operation is still very active. Having mentioned this, it is quite natural that he carries the yoke of the Newton County Commission.
 
Alan Cook serves as Newton County Commissioner in District 1. He was elected for a four-year term in 2012, 2016, and again in 2020. Alan currently serves as Vice President of the Southwest Missouri Association of County Commissioners and President of the Missouri Southern State University Athletic Steering Committee. He is also a Board Member of Neosho Area Chamber of Commerce, 911 Oversight Board, Crowder Joint Land Use, and Region M. Alan is striving to keep our county investments consistent and proportional for both personnel as well as capital needs. He has extensive knowledge of Newton County procedures and assured together with the County Auditor Charlotte Ward that every County audit has been clean and transparent, and our financial rating remains solid.
 
Commissioner District 2, David Osborn, was elected to a 4-year term in 2020. He serves on the Environmental Task Force Council, Economic Security Board, Clean Air Commission, MU Extension Council, and Transportation Advisory Committee. One of David's most recent accomplishments during the first 40 days of office was to introduce, The Newton County Missouri Second Amendment Preservation Act, Safety Ordinance.
 
2019 was a significant year when Newton County Commission bid out the installation of a county wide unified IT System. The bid for the county wide unified IT System was awarded to Stronghold Data. The unified IT System is monitored on a 24/7 basis to ensure an effluent IT data process, data safety and to prevent attacks from IT cybercrimes, which is more important than ever in this day and time.
 
This unified IT System also included the installation of new telephones and implementing a new billing route thru Stronghold Data, which results in a saving of $90,000 per year.
 
In 2021 Newton County Commission established an inhouse construction team which performs inhouse carpentry and repairs of all Newton County buildings, such as Courthouse, Judicial Center, Jail, CDC, and Historical Museum. The inhouse construction team saved the county over $13,000 by constructing a special filing system at the Juvenile Office, saved approximately $9,000 by building a counter at the Sheriff’s Department, saved $10,000 by putting up a fence at CDC, saved $7,000 by renovating the Prosecutor’s office, and other custom construction projects.
 
The construction team is also remodeling the Canopy Building which was purchased by Newton County Commission in 2021 for the purpose to provide more space for the Court and other office needs. A special accomplishment was the carpentry of a replica of the Judge’s Dias as copied from the Historical Courtroom.
 
Newton County Commission, under the oversight of Commissioner Osborn, saved the County in 2022, $110,000 for fixing the Sewer System at the Newton County Jail. A method was used by digging under and thru the storm drain. The Commission worked well together with City Inspector and Allgeier Martin & Associates to find a common solution.
 
Top improvements during the last 4 years were:
New Bridge Superstructure on Tiger Road.
Streambank Stabilization at Quail Road and Indian Creek, Seneca.
Installation of new AC Unit at 911.
Installation of Security Cameras.
Sewer Project at Newton County Jail.
Newton County 911 Emergency Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS).
Newton County 911 Emergency Generator.
Newton County Emergency Management Mass Notification.
 
On the financial side, sales tax revenue had a 15.12% increase in 2021. The County gave all eligible county employees a 4.5% Cost of Living increase and adopted an extra holiday day, which adds up to 13 days paid holidays per year for their employees. Full time employees receive paid health insurance coverage with supplemental plans available. Newton County also provides a retirement plan, vacation accrual and other benefits.
 
In 2020 Newton County Commission received $6.8 million in CARES Act Funding and supported Newton County in its response and recovery from COVID-19.
 
In 2021 the County received $5.6 million and in 2022 the County received $5.6 million from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
 
The County Road Districts collectively improved over 85 miles of county-maintained road using the ¼ cent Road Sales Tax Funding.
 
Under Commissioner’s Cook oversight, the County has partnered with the City of Neosho on a BRO funded, bridge replacement project over Hickory Creek on Coler Street. The County has awarded engineering services and construction begun in April 2022.
 
Spring has arrived, and Newton County Commission saved the County $3,700 per year by doing their own landscaping around the courthouse, and it looks beautiful!
 
Newton County Commission, June 1, 2022