OSAGE COUNTY — Sheriff Mike Bonham informed commissioners Thursday morning about a suspected arson fire at the Linn Maintenance Shed on Main Street earlier that day. Bonham said a person of interest is being sought for questioning. The investigation involved city, county, and Missouri state law enforcement officials. 

“We will be asking the courts for some warrants,” said Bonham, noting that two backhoes, a tractor, and two trailers were damaged; other damage had yet to be tabulated. 

The fire seems to have been ignited between 2:30 and 3:30 a.m. At the time of Bonham’s briefing, it was an active crime scene with no available verifiable details. Missouri Highway Patrol and Missouri State Fire Marshal officers were on the scene. 

Linn Police Chief Michael Bickell said he could not provide details or comment on the situation because of the ongoing nature of the investigation.

Besides sharing the news, Bonham’s first interest was heading off a similar circumstance at the Osage County Road and Bridge yard. He would like to see cameras added there. He intended to visit with Osage County Road and Bridge Foreman Ron Kempker about further steps which might be taken to protect the taxpayers’ investment. 

“I just want you to be aware this is going on and that we don’t get caught with vulnerabilities,” said Bonham. “[Let’s] be vigilant. I think the county needs to take some precautions.”

ROAD AND BRIDGE

Kempker briefed commissioners on the newly acquired Truck #51. It’s a pre-owned International day-cab road tractor. “I think it will be a very good fit,” he announced. 

Kempker and his crew have installed decals and other locally-demanded customization to prepare it to pull a new belly dump trailer, which should be delivered any day now. 

Service records show that the tractor has run its whole life on synthetic oil. He’s inclined to continue that practice, so there will be fewer oil changes. Synthetic oil costs several times more than regular oil, but it’s changed less often and protects engine components longer. Kempker believes this will reduce maintenance costs on this machine. Officially, synthetic oil needs changing every 30,000 miles. 

“Given the conditions we drive in, I think we can get it to 15,000,” said Kempker, adding that driving on dusty gravel roads is much harder on engine oil than driving on pavement.

The new trailer, when on the department yard, will be stickered with #25. It’s now waiting only for vibrators, a component that helps ensure the complete emptying of a load. Kempker will refuse delivery until those are installed. “It’s not our fault they don’t have them,” he explained, noting it was supposed to be ready any day. 

The city of Westphalia has scheduled a Christmas parade for Sunday, Nov. 27, just after Thanksgiving. Officials would like to borrow road-closure signs or barriers. Kempker’s department has enough to help mark the parade route and is willing to let them out for the cause. 

“I’ll probably be involved with seeing they get them,” said Osage County Western District Commissioner Larry Kliethermes. “I’ll report back to the parade committee.”

At the recent West Central Commissioners meeting in Sedalia, commissioners became aware that Pettis County is willing to sell some of their Bridge Rural Offset (BRO) “soft match” dollars at 50% of face value. Commissioners approved the purchase of $50,000 of those funds for $25,000. They believe this will help them get another bridge built. It might not be affordable otherwise. 

“For fifty cents on the dollar, how can we go wrong?” asked Osage County Eastern District Commissioner John Trenshaw. 

The purchase will be made using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

Osage County is still enjoying the use of the Meramec Regional Planning Commissioner (MRPC) traffic-count trailer. It has recently been deployed on CR 508, counting 1,851 cars over nine days. Using laser technology, it has also detected many speeders on that route. One car was detected doing 77 mph in a 30 mph-marked speed zone. The counter has recently been moved to CR 625 to document needs near an aging bridge there.

Department employees hauled rock on CR 631; crew members performed service on Trucks #31 and #32; crews removed trees on CRs 203 and 521; mowers worked on CRs 416 and 503; and graders worked on CRs 202, 203, 204, 205, 209, 244, 251, 252, 302, 303, 304, 306, 309, 309A, 313, 314, 432, 435, 501, 502, 517, 532, 533, 602, 608, 609, 631, 633, 705, 706, and 727.

MRPC

MRPC Executive Director Bonnie Prigge, MRPC Planning Manager Anne Freand, and Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) Area Engineer Preston Kramer visited with commissioners about current progress and future priorities. Most important from this conversation comes the impression of accelerated progress. “We’re starting to see a little movement,” said Kramer. 

First, there’s good news. “For the first time in two decades, we’re seeing an increased investment in transportation infrastructure,” Kramer explained. “We’re already seeing additional revenue coming in from [the new fuel tax].” That’s balanced, though, by some predictable bad news.

“We’ve been underinvesting in transportation for decades, so there’s a backlog. It’s going to take some time,” Kramer hedged.”  That’s going to impact our ability.” 

Cost inflation of construction materials and services is the major culprit.

In the near view, Osage County citizens will be glad to know the congestion at State Tech on US 50 is now part of the MoDOT State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). Getting this into priority status is thanks to improved revenues. “It is a funded project,” said Kramer.

STIP is a rolling five-year process. The first three years include detailed programming. What’s announced should be predictable of results and their timetable. Years four and five are reduced to about half-accuracy in terms of hopes and dreams. For the trouble spot near State Tech, also including problems for the Linn R-2 and several nearby businesses, “We’re still in the engineering phase,” said Kramer. 

That engineering is now being refined to turn lanes and coordinated signals. “We know where people are wanting to turn,” he explained.

Conventional wisdom has been that MoDOT would avoid lights in favor of traffic circles. However, according to Kramer, research has dictated traffic circles will not work. It will require “coordinated signals.” 

Traffic circles require comparable traffic in both directions, but most traffic in that spot, when problems are worst, is eastbound. Therefore, westbound traffic would be almost stifled by a traffic circle. Plus, the morning rush hour is much worse than the evening rush hour. So, the only effective equalizer is coordinated traffic signaling. This is traffic engineering that a “roundabout” cannot produce. “The traffic modeling indicates they will not work there,” said Kramer. 

“Most of that traffic is going to R-2 or State Tech,” said Osage County Presiding Commissioner Darryl Griffin. 

Traffic volume is not the big deal. Oversized loads, though, complicate things whenever they come through during rush hours. 

This project is now funded to be completed in 2024, maybe before the beginning of the 2024-25 school year. Signals will still produce backed-up traffic, making the intersection safer and keeping the traffic moving. They will also accommodate pedestrians and bicycles. They will come from the growing number of student apartments south of US 50. “We’re going to try to do that work while school is out,” Kramer concluded.

Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funds are now three times the previous amount for pedestrian traffic. 

“If you’ve got a TAP program that did not get funded in the past, throw it in,” said Kramer. 

TAP exists to help the movement of citizens without the use of motorized transport. Sidewalks and bike paths are obvious targets. The idea here would be the proposed walkway, available for bicycles, from Linn to State Tech. 

There are two significant projects a few years down the road. Together, they will change the landscape of Osage County. Both have been conceptual for decades and may finally be on the way. 

First is the US 50 bypass around Linn. According to Kramer, that project is now in its scoping phase, advancing there in the last year. No engineering has been done yet, and a new environmental study must be done. Since the environmental work has been previously done, it should go better the next time. 

“It doesn’t take near as long to do a new one,” Kramer explained. “Everyone mentions the biggest need on US 50 [east of Jefferson City] is a realignment around Linn.”

Commissioners welcomed the news. “It’s needed more today than it was 15-20 years ago,” said Griffin. “It would sure eliminate a lot of trouble.”

The second big deal showed up for the first time on the “Osage County Transportation Needs” chart. A bridge over the Missouri River between Callaway County and Chamois is now getting serious consideration, and all the support MRPC can provide. It’s a long way off, but this is where huge projects get their start. 

When Kramer finished, Griffin pressed him for help with the dangerous area west of town. He is concerned about the area near Linn Thriftway and the Jim Butler auto dealership. “We’ve had a lot of accidents,” said Griffin, complaining about a very liberal speed limit there. “That speed is too fast. There’s been so many near misses.”

“MoDOT sets that speed,” Kramer reminded him but promised his best to help. “I’ll have our staff do a speed study out there.”

Kramer, Prigge, and Freand were unable to provide details on changes coming to BRO. There’s a lot of speculation, but nothing has been published yet that anyone is willing to stand by. A few facts do apply. 

First, there’s more money available. Increased funding exists, but everyone wonders how it will work with inflation in the construction industry. The new Bridge Formula Program (BFP) will either supplement or replace BRO. With the influx of funds this last year, there’s been a major reduction of standing projects. Many more are now getting done. Plus, standard matching requirements for local jurisdictions, until recently 20%, is now 14%. 

Osage County has been aggressive in its purchase of “soft match” funds from other counties. Neither MRPC nor MoDOT is prepared to inform commissioners of how much this has helped. While matching funds requirements are changing, “soft match” may or may not follow suit. 

For the coming year, commissioners informed MRPC of their top priorities. They are: first, improvement of the intersection of Rt. E and US 63; second, mitigation of flood threats at Swan Creek on MO 89; and third, the US 50 bypass of Linn. 

There is the proposed new alignment of US 63. However, the Rt. E intersection is non-standard construction, according to current MoDOT requirements. Kramer, MRPC, and the commissioners would like to see it improved. That’s even if the configuration of US 63 shifts roadbeds shortly. 

“It could be affected by realignment,” said Prigge. 

Other high priorities include: turn lanes in Westphalia, passing lanes into and out of Freeburg, and a climbing lane toward Rt. T. They all would be run around by a new US 63 alignment. However, they would still be nice to accomplish, even with sharply reduced traffic. 

“All the Highway 63 segments will be on there,” said Freand.

There’s better funding momentum toward “poor” bridges on county roads. So, Kramer asked commissioners to look over a list of 14 such bridges. MoDOT deems this list eligible for BRO or maybe BFP funding. Two of them, a bridge on CR 303 over Linn Creek and one on CR 625 over Swan Creek, have already been approved. Commissioners, though, have yet to receive official word on the CR 625 structure. Another one, over a branch off the Maries River on CR 522, is also sure, though yet unofficial, to join the list. Kramer asked commissioners and Kempker to identify another one. It would be a bridge they consider more important than the rest. They chose a structure on CR 522 over Sugar Creek.

MRPC continues to advocate for the improvement of transportation infrastructure other than roads. They include previously mentioned pedestrian facilities from Linn to State Tech, sidewalks to the school in Loose Creek, and improved walks along Main Street in Westphalia.  

OCHD

Osage County Health Department (OCHD) Administrator Kim Sallin informed commissioners that COVID tests are still available. They are free and can be delivered to your home or car. Citizens may want them because someone in the family is experiencing symptoms. Another possibility is someone has been exposed. They should call ahead, for they should not walk into the OCHD office. 

Sallin is circulating a draft of a proposed food service ordinance. While she was unable to get specific guidance from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHHS), she was guided to some counties whose ordinances are more well-liked. With those resources, she has been able to draft one she likes. 

Sallin announced the approval of the new electronic sign at the OCHD Building is on the agenda at the next meeting of the Linn City Council. She’s under the impression she should be optimistic all is well.

Sallin serves on the State Tech Nursing Advisory Board. She’s become aware of two chairs customized for drawing laboratory specimens. The college no longer intends to use them and has been unable to sell them. The college may therefore donate them to OCHD. Sallin expressed enthusiasm for receiving them. She thinks they’ll make a good addition to the new facilities now under construction. 

“They’re really nice,” she said. “There’s nothing wrong with them. I’m excited about that.”

OCHD made flu shots available to all county employees on Wednesday, Oct. 19. Sallin’s staff took the immunizations to the workers in their offices.

OCHD’s website is being modernized and improved. “It’s really outdated,” Sallin explained. 

When finished, an advertising campaign will encourage citizens to find it and log on. It should be much more user-friendly.

Sallin showed a video of her and Linn resident Billy Voss recently recorded by the Missouri Immunization Coalition. It was filmed in commission chambers and spotlighted Voss’ recent bout with COVID and OCHD efforts to combat the disease. 

“I was in the hospital for 30 days,” said Voss. He was informed before and now can verify in the aftermath: it takes three days for every day hospitalized to recover from the illness when it’s that serious.

Voss was candid about not getting vaccinated before he became ill. He had none of the common co-morbidities, is not a senior citizen, and was otherwise healthy. He now advocates for vaccination and was very willing to tell his harrowing story.

“It’s one thing we can do to get back to normal,” added Sallin. 

She clarified the video is not yet released, but the coalition plans to show it on multiple social media platforms. Sallin is unsure of plans to have it televised on area TV stations. 

MISCELLANEOUS

Commissioners signed outgoing checks. They also approved the final list of county employees to receive ARPA-funded essential-worker compensation due to COVID.

Commission approved paying bills from Oct. 4 through Oct. 17 totaling $280,969.62 as follows by department: 911/EMA ($2,959,19), ARPA ($173,715.56), Assessor ($3,394.03), Building & Grounds ($275.90), Circuit Clerk ($823.51), Collector ($175), Commission ($112.50), County Clerk ($181), Elections ($150), OCHD ($14,932.99), Juvenile and Family Court ($7,671.44), Miscellaneous ($4,620.88), Prosecuting Attorney ($240.50), Recorder ($176.98), Road & Bridge ($55,612.90), Treasurer, ($172.26), and Sheriff-Jail ($15,754.98).

Griffin asked commissioners to look over the Sales Tax Distribution Deposit Notices from September. Deposited Oct. 6, the original sales tax yielded $68,445.13, $2,265.36 higher than in 2021, which was $6,484.90 higher than in 2020. The 911 sales tax brought in $75,694.29, $3,726.39 higher than in 2021, which was $7,694.29 higher than in 2020. The courthouse renovation tax pulled in $75,694.53, $3,726.67 higher than in 2021, which was $7,674.35 higher than in 2020. The infrastructure tax paid $37,834.25, $1,858.78 higher than 2021, which was $3,817.72 higher than 2020. The use tax netted $39.385.84, $2,545.29 higher than in 2021, which was $6,302.64 higher than in 2020. The Proposition P Sales Tax for Law Enforcement brought in $75.591.98, $9,468.48 higher than in 2021, which was $7,660.35 higher than in 2020.

There will be no commission meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 8, due to the General Election. 

The Osage County 911 Advisory Board will meet in the Osage County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 9.

Representatives of Ameren Missouri will discuss the Letter of Agreement (LOA) governing Osage County’s emergency plan in case of an incident at the Callaway County Nuclear Power Plant Tuesday, Nov. 15. This is amended and renewed each year.