Porter, Berendzen, and Associates, Ashland, the architectural firm hired by the county to remodel the new Osage County Health Department (OCHD) building, began taking measurements Wednesday, Nov. 10.

OCHD Administrator Kim Sallin reported a large drop in current COVID-19 cases. There were 18 active, down from 44. Two are hospitalized, and, according to Sallin, "are not doing well." 

One active case is a breakthrough infection despite vaccination. This individual is not hospitalized. Total breakthrough cases since vaccination began is now up to 73, which is a very low percentage of county citizens who have received a full dose of the vaccine. Plus, they tend to not be as ill as those infected without vaccination. Nine of the active cases are school children, Sallin noted.

The United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has approved the COVID vaccine for children as young as five years old. "We have received standing orders," said Sallin. OCHD has now vaccinated 10 children aged 5-11.

Cases of influenza in the county remain rare but Sallin acknowledges testing for the disease is often skipped. Most people with symptoms are tested for COVID, and very few are tested for flu, which concerns her. A misdiagnosis can mean mistreatment or at least a delay in effective treatment. 

“You have to stand up for yourself,” she urged county citizens. "Ask some questions. If you catch it early enough, they can give you antiviral medication."

Sallin has hired a new part-time nurse who is now in training. "She will work several days for the first few weeks to get trained," said Sallin. 

After that, she will be called to work as needed.

Sallin told commissioners about a particularly busy day in her department. Recently, cases of Hepatitis C, gonorrhea, and an animal bite descended upon her staff "all within a few hours," she said. "That would have been a time when I would call her in."

Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Catlin Titus has resigned, citing pay and personal family care issues. OCHD is now recruiting a replacement counselor.

Sallin announced a coming blood drive to take place Tuesday, Dec. 14 at St. John's Methodist Church, at which OCHD is providing staff and volunteers.

Osage County Eastern District Commissioner John Trenshaw asked Sallin about details of the Shop with a Hero event scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 4. They wanted to know if all the shopping would take place in Linn or if some of the money might travel out of town. Sallin assured them all funds will be spent only in Linn.  

"It was only Linn businesses who donated to make this possible," Sallin explained.

All the children receiving the privilege are nominated by local schools. In addition, Central Missouri Community Action (CMCA) is involved in screening applications for the program. Paramedics and police officers will take the kids shopping. While a child is shopping, the rest of the families will have activities hosted by OCHD.

Recently purchased hand-sanitizer stands have arrived and should be distributed to schools and other institutions within a few weeks. They're currently stored at the Linn Fire Department, and firefighters will help distribute the units. "We'll hopefully get those out soon," said Sallin.

A recent letter to OCHD by the Missouri State Auditor's Office indicated a violation in handling Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds. The specific error occurred in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Sallin and her staff investigated, finding no mistakes in the county office. The state's probe eventually uncovered a coding error at the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS). CARES funds dispersed by DHSS to counties for WIC were not coded correctly. The only correction needed was to recode the distributions at the state level. "The mistake did not happen on [our] end. It wasn't our fault," said Sallin. "That's why it took us so long to figure out [what happened]."

SHERIFF

Osage County Sheriff Mike Bonham asked commissioners to sign for a $1,000 grant earmarked to pay deputy overtime doing Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) enforcement.  Trenshaw commented on the volume of grant money flowing into the Osage County Sheriff's office. "Give the people doing this a pat on the back," he said.

 "Money from grants more than exceeds the salaries of our grant writers," Bonham agreed, citing Administrative Coordinator Andrea Rice and others for their efforts.

ASSESSOR

Commissioners appointed Tina Kammerich of Bland to be the acting Osage County Assessor. Kammerich will assume the duties vacated with the resignation of Jerry Baker Monday, Nov. 29. She is currently employed by the Bank of St. Elizabeth.  

MISCELLANEOUS

Commissioners approved the payment of bills from Oct. 26 through Nov. 8 totaling $74,903.43 as follows by department: 911/EMA ($3,099.17), Assessor ($3,962.27), Building & Grounds ($1,587.10), ARPA ($1,185.26), Circuit Clerk ($64.86), Commission ($179), County Clerk ($224.90), OCHD ($13,810.52), Juvenile and Family Court ($2,043.41), Miscellaneous ($4,431.86), Prosecuting Attorney ($512.41), Road & Bridge ($27,357.90), and Sheriff-Jail ($16,444.77).

Osage County Presiding Commissioner Darryl Griffin asked commissioners to look over the Sales Tax Distribution Deposit Notices from October. Deposited on Nov. 4, the original sales tax yielded $47,926.18, $589.30 higher than 2020, which was $4,829.25 higher than 2019. The 911 sales tax brought in $55,012.99, $2,107.04 higher than 2020, which was $5,551.32 higher than 2019. The courthouse renovation tax pulled in $54,982.74, $2,076.74 higher than 2020, which was $5,551.28 higher than 2019. The infrastructure tax paid $27,508.66, $1,134.94 higher than 2020, which was $2,797.87 higher than 2019. The use tax netted $45,148.03, $3,762.94 higher than 2020, which was $23,527.60 higher than 2019. The Proposition P Sales Tax for Law Enforcement brought in $47,886.81, $1,499.46 higher than 2020, its first year.

Commissioners signed outgoing checks.

Griffin offered appreciation to military veterans in light of Veterans Day, Thursday, Nov. 11. He made special mention of Gold Star families.

The Osage County 911 Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet in the Osage County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 17.

Project Engineer Aaron McVicker of McClure Engineering, Macon, will speak with commissioners about future bridge projects Thursday, Nov. 18 at 9:30 a.m.

All County offices will be closed Thursday, Nov. 25, and Friday, Nov. 26, in observance of Thanksgiving.