Recently, the Commission and the Economic Development Advisory Board received an email raising questions about a possible conflict of interest related to Saline County’s relationship with Bill Stouffer and a lobbying firm named Flotron & McIntosh which advocates for a wastewater treatment solution called BiO2.  Mr. Stouffer attended Wednesday’s meeting to explain the relationships and answer a few questions.

Mr. Stouffer is a former Missouri State Senator that currently is an Associate with Flotron & McIntosh, which is a Jefferson City lobbying firm retained by Saline County to provide assistance with the development project at the Marshall Junction.  And Flotron & McIntosh represents the company selling the BiO2 wastewater treatment system which is being evaluated for the Marshall junction.

Mr. Stouffer explained that he originally came to the Commission as a vendor selling the benefits of the BiO2 system and was later asked for his assistance with other state agencies.

 

Mr. Stouffer went on to explain the consulting relationship as well as the financial connections Flotron & McIntosh have with the company that owns the BiO2 system.

 

After Mr. Stouffer gave a lengthy explanation of the BiO2 system and the project process, Gene Griffith of Slater and Kirby McCullough of Arrow Rock pressed Mr. Stouffer about other possible wastewater solutions

Mr. Stouffer says that the Commission’s engineer is preparing design options which will be followed by a feasibility study then an RFP and the bids.  Optimistically, he hopes to begin construction early next year while the Commission indicated it may be later in the year.

Regarding the appearance of a conflict of interest, Mr. Mullough stated