Commitments and Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]

17.  Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments:  The Company has employment agreements with its Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Operating Officer, which expire in February 2018 and March 2018, respectively.  At December 31, 2016, the aggregate commitment for future salaries, excluding bonuses, was approximately $650,000.  Contractual salaries expense was $550,000 and $447,000 for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Contingencies:  The Company is subject to legal proceedings and claims which arise in the ordinary course of its business and/or which are covered by insurance.  The Company believes that it has accrued adequate reserves individually and in the aggregate for such legal proceedings.  Should actual litigation results differ from the Company’s estimates, revisions to increase or decrease the accrued reserves may be required.

Operating leases:  Certain premises are occupied under operating leases that expire at varying dates through 2023.  Certain of these leases provide for the payment of real estate taxes and other occupancy costs.  On February 1, 2016, the Company sold its Des Moines, Iowa facility in a sale/leaseback transaction.  The lease is for a two-year lease period at an annual rental of $158,000.  On June 21, 2016, the Company entered into a new lease for a manufacturing facility in Hazelwood, Missouri for a seven-year lease period at an initial annual rental of $317,000.  Future minimum lease payments due under operating leases at December 31, 2016 aggregating $2.7 million are as follows: $685,000 - 2017, $342,000 – 2018, $335,000 – 2019, $337,000 – 2020, $342,000 – 2021 and $657,000 thereafter.  Rent expense was $651,000 and $541,000 for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.