Sate of the County Address

 

ADAIR COUNTY 2025

 “State of The County”

The Adair County Commission has approved the 2025 Budget which had been prepared by the County Commission.  The budget process is factored on the current economy and objectives of the Elected Officials.  Adair County has seen an increase in General Revenue Funds, Road and Bridge Funds, and Law Enforcement Funds. This also included monies from the ARPA funds.

The 2025 budget includes all the necessary funding for the county’s departments to provide quality customer service to the public.  It also includes Federal and State Grant Funds for multiple services.

 

The County Commission has budgeted the remainder of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. A 3% COLA (cost of living adjustment) was approved by the County Commission for all employees.  Elected Officials will also receive a 3% COLA to comply with the Salary Commission.  The County continues to fully fund the LAGERS pension plan, one half of the CERF pension plan, and the Prosecuting Attorney’s retirement plan.  In addition, Adair County offers a health insurance plan with a predetermined cost to all eligible full-time employees and Elected Officials based on their choice of coverages.

 

Adair County continues to collect a ¼ cent sales tax, passed by the voters in April 2021, that financed the restoration of the Historical Adair County Courthouse.  As of December 31, 2024, the balance of the outstanding loan is $6,121,279.00. The loan is scheduled to be paid in full on or before September 1, 2032.

 

Adair County would like to welcome newly elected and re-elected officials whose terms began on January 1, 2025.  Newly elected 2nd District Commissioner, Gayla McHenry, Sheriff Jason D. Lene, Patrick E. Boren as Surveyor, as well as Second Circuit Judge, Matt Willson. Judge Wilson had originally been appointed in 2022 by Governor Mike Parson to fill the unexpired term of the Honorable Russell Steele upon his retirement. Re-elected officials include 1st District Commissioner, Bill King; Public Administrator, Rhonda Noe; Coroner, Brian C Noe, and Assessor, Kent Bryant.

    
   
 
  
 
  

 

 

The budget law requires a detailed and precise compilation of the budget document. It is a very complex law. Our goal is to create a fiscal document to provide services to the citizens as well as visitors to Adair County. The Adair County Commission wants to thank the Elected Officials and staff for their efforts in compiling the 2025 budget.

Reminder: Fund 907 - Juvenile Justice Center, is not included in Adair County's main budget document. The budget for the Juvenile Justice Center is included separately at the beginning of the budget document. Adair, Lewis and Knox Counties contributes $134,200.00 “Maintenance of Effort” which is the obligation from the juvenile finance agreement. All other funds are a pass-through for the Second Judicial Circuit and Juvenile Justice Funds merely expend revenues deposited with the County Treasurer. These funds are not included in the operating budget of Adair County.

Some of the positive accomplishments of the County Commission in the past year are closing out of the FEMA Project 4741 in the amount of $800,000. This was a result of the Storms that we experienced in July-August of 2023 which dumped up to 12 inches of rain overnight.

Some improvements were the completion of 3 bridges.  Turkey Run Trail a BRO funded bridge, Missouri Trail, and Willmathsville School Way, which were built with ARPA monies. Other improvements were applying Maintenance Rock in the amount of 100 tons per mile on all Gravel roads. This action resulted in applying 3 times the aggregate than the County has in the past. All these improvements are in line with the Commissioners goals to provide better services to the citizens.

The Commission is looking forward to another great year in the County with the Farmers Market, NEMO Fair, Summer on the Square, Red Barn and many other Festivities planned for 2025.  Kirksville Winter Lights and Hometown Holidays made quite a show with the Decorations and festivities during the Holidays, which will be even better this year.

  The County Commission wants to encourage all to take the opportunity to enjoy our communities’ festivities this coming year and wishes all a great year.                                                        

Thank you for Attending,

 

Mark Shahan

Presiding Commissioner of Adair County

 

Adair County now "Agri-Ready"

 

JEFFERSON CITY — Adair County has been granted Agri-Ready County Designation by Missouri Farmers Care (MFC), a coalition of more than 40 leading agricultural groups. By achieving this designation, the Adair County Commission has taken action to support agricultural development, economic growth, and agricultural literacy programs. Through Agri-Ready County Designation, MFC identifies and promotes counties in Missouri that create an environment supportive to agriculture, Missouri’s largest industry.

Commissioners attend CCAM training.

 

The County Commissioners Association of Missouri (CCAM) was established in 1983 to create a close and cooperative relationship among the commissioners of the state, to provide an opportunity for its members to become better-informed about the powers and duties of their offices as described by state statutes, and to investigate legislation relating to the office and responsibilities of county commissioner .

The state of Missouri has 114 county governments.  With the exception of St. Louis, St. Charles, Jefferson, Clay and Jackson Counties (who operate under a charter, “home rule” form of government), the other 109 counties are all members of CCAM.  The governing bodies of these 109 counties are composed of three commissioners – a presiding and two associates.  Therefore, the association’s membership consists of 327 Missouri county government commissioners.

CCAM has contracted with the Missouri Association of Counties to manage operations and perform administrative services for all workings of its association.

Commission Districts-Population

Click on the Maps below to enlarge

Commission-Districts In Detail

Adair County Commission

The County Commission is an elected three-member governing body. The commission includes a Presiding Commissioner, a First District Commissioner, and a Second District Commissioner. The Commission is responsible for county administrative tasks which includes:

  • Maintenance and repair of approximately 700 miles the roadway and bridges
  • Establishes County policy
  • Approves and adopts the annual budget for all County operations
  • Approves actual expenditures for each department
  • Ensures County-wide compliance with numerous statutory requirements
  • Acts as liaison with county boards, commissions, and other governmental entities

In addition, the County Commission must represent the county on the following regional councils which may encompass Adair County:

  • Division of Workforce Development
  • Regional Planning Committee
  • Solid Waste Management
  • University of Missouri extension
  • Commissions and councils relating to health, education or welfare of the citizens as established by executive or legislative action of the government of the United States or of the state
  • Other councils and organizations relating to operations of counties as from time to time may be created

History of the Adair County Commission

Prior to 1877, Adair County had a variety of district, associate, or township judges (commissioners). The terms of office were sometimes two years, four years, and for one period six years.

That all changed in 1877 when the Missouri Legislature provided for a court (office) of three judges (commissioners). One person was to be the Presiding Judge (Commissioner) who was elected on a county-wide basis for a four year term and two District Judges (Commissioners) elected by their individual districts for a term of four years.

For more than fifty years, the districts in Adair County were (1) Benton and Nineveh Townships, and (2) the other eight townships. Due to population density, this became an unequal division. The first district had 83% of the population and the larger 2nd District had only 17% of the population.

In 1974, a new division was created. District 1 would consist of the entire city of Kirksville east of the Norfolk & Western Railroad while District 2 would encompass the remainder of the county. This new division made for a more equal distribution of the county between the two districts.

Purple Heart

Past and Present Adair County Judges (Commissioners)

Name Dates Party
Mark Shahan2019-CurrentRepublican
Stanley Pickens2011-2017Republican
Gary Jones1999-2010Democrat
Bill Novinger1991-1998Democrat
Alvin Henderson1987-1990Republican
Gail Novinger1985-1986Republican
Jack Shelton1975-1984Republican
Stanley Ambrosia1971-1975Republican
Walter Hoffman1963-1971Republican
Waldo Shokey1959-1963Democrat
Grover H. Belfield1951-1959Republican
Arlie Fast1949-1951Democrat
Bert Elsea1943-1949Republican
Joe E. Johnson1939-1943Republican
Ray Bennett1931-1939Democrat
Amos Propst1927-1931Republican
George W. Newton1925-1919Republican
Leander L. Mikel1923-1927Republican
C.B. McClanahan1919-1923Democrat
Aaron P. Hopson1907-1915Democrat
George W. Newton1903-1907Republican
Joseph S. Hickman1899-1903Republican
J.A. Bragg1895-1899Republican
J.J. Keim1891-1895Republican
W.P Linder1887-1891Republican
J.L. Hawkins1883-1887Republican
M.G. Clem1879-1883Republican
Noah Stukey1877-1879Republican
Name Dates Party
William King2017-CurrentRepublican
Carson Adams2009-2016Democrat
Gene Schneider2005-2008Republican
Ray Klinginsmith2001-2004Republican
Herman Truitt1993-2000Republican
Bobby Leavitt1991-1992Democrat
Jack Shelton1989-1990Republican
Bobby Leavitt1987-1988Democrat
Stanley Ambrosia1979-1986Republican
Leon G. Coy1977-1978Democrat
Alva Bowes1971-1976Republican
Stanley Ambrosia1963-1971Republican
Walter Huffman1951-1963Republican
Dewey Conner1949-1951Democrat
Harry Balch1945-1949Republican
H.B. Umbarger1943-1945Republican
Bert Elsea1939-1943Republican
Pearl E. Arnold1937-1939Democrat
Fred Miller1933-1937Democrat
W.M. Willis1931-1933Democrat
F.L. Rogers1927-1931Republican
Amos Propst1925-1927Republican
F.L. Rogers1923-1925Republican
Leander L. Mikel1919-1923Republican
Andrew J. Houston1917-1919Republican
Samuel F. Shoop1915-1917Republican
Jacob H. Shoop1911-1915Democrat
Z.T. Hagans (resigned)
Thomas W. Fickel (appointed)
1909-1911Republican
C.E. Markey1905-1909Republican
W.C. Ditmars1901-1905Republican
R.N. Toler1899-1901Republican
Joseph Hickman1895-1899Republican
Adam Shoop1889-1895Republican
A.N. Toler1887-1889Republican
J.H. Novinger1885-1887Republican
G.W. Novinger1883-1885Republican
S.F. Stahl1881-1883Republican
P.D. Shoop1879-1881Republican
Name Dates Party
Gayla McHenry2025-CurrentRepublican
Mark Thompson2009-2024Republican
Sid Osborn2001-2008Democrat
Bob Brawner1991-2000Democrat
Myrl Ferguson1987-1990Republican
Jack Ward1985-1986Democrat
Dale Miller1981-1984Republican
Larry Smith1979-1980Democrat
Wilson Stribling1971-1978Republican
Earl D. Platz1969-1971Republican
Homer Johnson1967-1969Republican
Ray Pierce1965-1967Democrat
Raymond Rummerfield1959-1965Republican
Oliver Stribling1951-1959Republican
A.D. Waddill1947-1951Republican
Oliver Stribling1943-1947Republican
Grover H. Belfield1941-1943Republican
Reuel W. Roberts1939-1941Republican
Charles C. Martin1935-1939Republican
J.P. Sleeth1933-1935Democrat
Sampson Boyland1931-1933Democrat
Joe E. Johnson1927-1931Republican
Ray Bennett1925-1927Democrat
W.H. Wilkins1923-1925Republican
Amos Probst1919-1923Republican
Ray Bennett1917-1919Democrat
Robert McClanahan1915-1917Democrat
Seymour J. Reed1911-1915Republican
R.W. Hart1907-1911Republican
Baxter R. Hawkins1903-1907Republican
George W. Newton1897-1903Republican
Daniel Tuttle1893-1897Republican
J.J. Keim1891-1893Republican
William Hart1889-1891Republican
George R. Huston1885-1889Republican
J.T. Johnson1881-1885Republican
John H. Rainer1879-1881Republican