The Gasconade County Courthouse Society says presiding commissioner Ron Jost and southern district commissioner Jerry Lairmore want to move the county seat from Hermann to Owensville and a courthouse renovation. According to the courthouse society, Thursday's meeting about the controversy was almost off-limits to them.

Citizens and commissioners in Owensville heard a proposal Thursday on the future of the courthouse. One woman says the comissioners wanted to illegally close the meeting to keep the courthouse society out of the loop.

"Their agenda that was posted at four o'clock on Tuesday said that the committee report would be given in closed session because it may possibly relate to land acquisition," explained society member Sharon Meyer.

Under Missouri Sunshine laws, a government session may be closed under three conditions: discussing litigation or potential litigation, discussing personal decisions or purchasing or leasing real estate.

Society members say the proposal to move the county seat to Owensville would cost more than what was said at Thursday's meeting.

"You heard the numbers this morning that that's maybe a $6 million project, however back when they were going to rehab it for a school, the cost of doing it was far in excess of 6 million," according to society member Glenn Warnebold. "It was very much close to the $13 million that it would take to redo this building."

The county commissioners say they want the public to make the decision, and both the society and the commissioners agree some upgrades have to be made.

The county commissioners will now examine the recommended proposals and hope to get one on the ballot later this year.