Bonham seeing a record year for grants

By H.B. Dodds, Staff Writer
Posted 11/4/21

Bonham seeing a record year for grants

Osage County Sheriff Mike Bonham brought two grant awards for commissioners to review. One was for $350 to reimburse the county for overtime incurred by …

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Bonham seeing a record year for grants

Posted

Bonham seeing a record year for grants

Osage County Sheriff Mike Bonham brought two grant awards for commissioners to review. One was for $350 to reimburse the county for overtime incurred by deputies. Another was to purchase a repeater hotspot for the purpose of counterterrorism. That grant for $4,650 puts his department over $100,000 in grant commitments for 2021. "We're on a record year for grant money in the sheriff's office," said Bonham.

Bonham reported a rise in juvenile crime. Unsure of the cause, he speculated about the use of remote learning by schools. Students at school get into less trouble when under supervision. "I think it's COVID, myself," he said. "It's an interesting time."

Worried about staffing shortages, he passed on information he's heard about the Missouri State Highway Patrol. That agency projects a 30% loss of its workforce in the next four years due to retirement. That will heat up an already hot market for recruiting in all law enforcement units in the area. "Osage County is not the only place looking for officers," said Bonham.

The sheriff's office has recently retired a Chevrolet Tahoe from service. The vehicle had been obtained for the United States Department of Defense 1033 program and was in use for the required year. It has now been auctioned off. The proceeds exceeded expenses for repairing and operating the vehicle while it's being used.

ROAD AND BRIDGE

Osage County Road and Bridge Foreman Ron Kempker reported the arrival of his winter order for salt and other road-treatment materials. His sheds are fully stocked. Also, a supply of grader blades has arrived and is ready to go. He still has an order for backup vehicle batteries that has not arrived. "We'll keep pushing for the batteries," said Kempker.

Bank stabilization work on Cedar Creek near CR 424 has been stalled. The contractor doing the work has had some equipment trouble. Supply chain problems delayed him from getting repair parts. However, repairs are now made and the project should be completed soon.

Kempker reported signage and barriers are now complete at the site of the Pentecostal Bridge. They will remain in place until a new bridge replaces it.

The new parking lot northeast of the Osage County Administration Building (Annex) has been completed and is now in use. Handicap parking spaces in the original Osage County Courthouse Square have been repainted.

Kempker has a crew member retiring within the next month, so he'll be recruiting again soon. As for his current file of applicants, "We don't have one application filled out," he said.

A motor on the boom arm of one of the department's mowers has failed. The department always keeps a spare on hand, so they've repaired the machine. However, they now need another spare motor manufactured by the Alamo Group, Inc., Seguin, Texas. Kempker felt the need to ask commissioners first before ordering it. If it were an original purchase of a new piece of equipment, the expense would require a bidding process. However, it's a replacement part for an existing piece. It's not available from other manufacturers, so commissioners approved the purchase. The price of about $6,200 is within Kempker's remaining 2021 budget.

Department employees hauled rock on CRs 274B, 525, and 724; crews removed trees on CR 435; mowers worked on CRs 722 and 723; and graders worked on CRs 274A, 274B, 300, 301, 302, 304, 306, 309A, 319, 403, 404, 431, 432, 433, 434, 514, 515, 521, 522, 524, 605, 612, 613, 621, 632, 726, 727, 731, 733, 734, 736, and Turn Back Now Trail.

OCHD

Osage County Health Department (OCHD) Administrator Kim Sallin reported COVID cases in the county almost doubling to 22. Two citizens are in the hospital and there are five new cases in children under 12. There have been no new breakthrough cases or deaths.

Testing for the coronavirus in wastewater indicates a lot of unreported infections in the area. These may be home-tested cases or simply a lot of infected people who don't seek treatment. This may be due to the effectiveness of vaccines. They can prevent serious illness even if a breakthrough infection occurs. "They're not showing symptoms or their symptoms are very mild," said Sallin. "I thought that was interesting."

There are no more recent flu cases confirmed, leaving the county's total at two for the current season.

Two waste disposal companies have made offers for removing sharps and dangerous materials. Stericycle and Dmi Solutions, Inc. of Poplar Bluff, have submitted proposals. Sallin has yet to decide between the two but is so far favorable to Dmi. 

"It's your choice," said Griffin. 

The service will likely be paid for by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The proliferation of medical waste is primarily due to COVID immunization.

MISCELLANEOUS

Commissioners approved paying bills from Oct. 9-25 as follows by department: 911/EMA ($1,895.66), Assessor ($1,284.50), Building & Grounds ($189.42), ARPA ($500), Circuit Clerk ($2,007.67), Commission ($112.50), Coroner ($4,748.80), County Clerk ($440.63), OCHD ($8,868.22), Juvenile and Family Court ($1,742.45), Miscellaneous ($942.39), Prosecuting Attorney ($1,353.73), Road & Bridge ($23,736.13), and Sheriff-Jail ($6,873.03), for a total of $54,695.13.

Commissioners approved paying a bill of $1,000 to Osage County Abstract Company for the OCHD building. Funds will come from ARPA. The purchase of the building is scheduled to close at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 9.

Commissioners reviewed and approved county employee timesheets, and signed outgoing checks.

Architectural bids for renovating the OCHD Building are to be opened at 9:30 a.m. at the Osage County Commission meeting on Thursday, Nov. 4.

All County offices will be closed Thursday, Nov. 11, in observance of Veterans Day, and Thursday, Nov 25, in observance of Thanksgiving.