OSAGE COUNTY — During their April 16 meeting, commissioners and 911/EMA Director Ron Hoffman recognized telecommunicator Savanah Atkisson, who received a commendation medal for outstanding achievement.

During the presentation, 911/EMA Director Ron Hoffman read a detailed citation outlining Atkisson’s contributions since joining the Osage County 911 Communications Center in July 2020. According to the citation, she began as an emergency dispatcher and took on additional responsibilities, including certification tracking to ensure dispatchers remain current on required training and re-certifications.

Atkisson also served in a quality assurance role for the Priority Dispatch system, a position credited with saving the center more than $15,000 annually by bringing review work in-house rather than relying on outside vendors.

Much of the recognition focused on her role in implementing the county’s computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system. Hoffman said Atkisson taught herself the system beyond the training provided, developing a working understanding of its structure, data, and intended function. That effort led to the identification of multiple issues, which were corrected or escalated to the vendor’s engineering team, improving overall system performance.

She was later appointed resource support administrator and became the primary point of contact for CAD-related operations, assisting not only the 911 center but also the sheriff’s office, police departments, EMS, and fire agencies. The citation also notes that during a subsequent CAD system purchase, Atkisson was authorized to act on behalf of the center as its functional expert.

Hoffman said her work has strengthened the county’s capabilities as a public safety answering point. Presiding Commissioner Darryl Griffin added that Atkisson is a veteran of the United States Air Force.

The commendation medal was formally awarded on April 17 and signed by Hoffman and Griffin, recognizing what the citation described as “outstanding achievement and sustained meritorious service.”

• A significant amount of time during both meetings last week was spent discussing the potential use of the job-hunting website, Indeed, to post open positions within the county. Health Department Administrator Kim Sallin asked to use it to post the nurse practitioner position, as she had only one interested applicant and that person heard about it through word of mouth. Griffin initially expressed concerns about the cost, however Road & Bridge Foreman Neil Mantle suggested his department would be interested in using it, and other county offices might be as well. It was agreed that Sallin would research cost options.

• The planned chip-and-seal project on CR 501 was postponed after MoDOT indicated increased traffic from Hwy. 63 construction could damage the road.

“I think it’s just too big of a risk myself to take a chance, as bummed as I am about that,” said Western District Commissioner Dale Logan. “And I know the folks on that road are extremely disappointed because of the amount of effort they’ve put forth and in having committed to at least $150,000 to go toward the rest of the road. So, it’s a big disappointment all the way around. But, I think that it’s just best for the county at this time that we postpone that road.”

Commissioners instead agreed to complete six-tenths of a mile on CR 611 near Pentecostal Bridge, and revisit CR 501 after construction activity on Hwy. 63 subsides.

• Interim County Clerk Brooke Dudenhoeffer presented certified election results regarding the county’s property tax questions, and said they would be sent to the appropriate entities. She also reported that testing and a manual recount confirmed the accuracy of voting equipment.

• Collector Denise Nolte updated the commission on Senate Bill (SB) 3 and the senior citizens property tax initiative, which affect property tax calculations, and said implementation is expected in 2027. She noted ongoing legal challenges surrounding SB 3 and recommended the county establish policies and procedures before adopting any related ordinances.

Assessor Tina Kammerich addressed confusion about the proposed homestead credit, explaining it would apply to a primary residence and up to one acre, not an entire property.

• Kammerich also reported that 83% of assessment forms have been returned, the highest rate since 2021, though fieldwork has been slowed by wet conditions.

• Recorder Cindy Hoffman said efforts are ongoing to restore record books, with scanned images available, though required binders are difficult to obtain and no completion date has been set.

Hoffman also reported contacting a contractor regarding possible renovation of the Recorder’s office, though availability this year is uncertain.

• The commission also revisited a long-delayed bridge project on CR 631 near Rich Fountain, where Griffin said the county has already invested $50,000 in engineering work with Bartlett & West, but has been unable to move forward due to property issues. One of the needed landowners is now deceased and the property is held in a trust, and commissioners felt the trustees may allow the project to move forward. Griffin said the county has about four years remaining to get that work done so the county does not lose that investment.

ROAD & BRIDGE

Mantle reported multiple drainage and maintenance issues across the county, including a situation on Iris Lane, where a privately installed culvert appears to be blocking an existing county culvert, preventing proper water flow and contributing to erosion. He said resolving the issue would require cooperation from nearby property owners.

Additional concerns included washouts on CR 602, flooding between bridges on CR 623, and culvert issues on several routes.

• Mantle also raised concerns about a deteriorating low-water slab on CR 508 that is settling and being undermined. Commissioners approved a motion to conduct a BEAP study to assess the extent of the problem and potential repair costs, with discussion noting the crossing may ultimately need to be replaced with a bridge.

• Mantle told commissioners he had obtained a quote from an outside grader operator to assist with preparation work on roads slated for chip-and-seal. Mantle said the operator estimated the work could be completed in about three weeks for approximately $7,800, running county equipment at an hourly rate of about $45. The proposal would allow the county to complete the work more efficiently, rather than pulling an existing employee away from other road maintenance duties.

Mantle noted the department is already short-staffed, estimating it is about seven employees short, and shifting a current operator to the chip-and-seal projects could delay other necessary road work by as much as a month. He said bringing in a dedicated operator would help keep other maintenance efforts on schedule while ensuring the chip-and-seal roads are properly prepared. Commissioners discussed the option as a potential cost-saving measure compared to contracting the entire project out, which Mantle indicated could cost significantly more.

• He also raised concerns about equipment condition, describing some trucks as unsafe due to severely rusted frames, and pointed to past spending practices, saying parts and supplies had been purchased without a clear plan.

• Additional regulatory considerations were noted for drainage work on CR 623, including coordination with the Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

• Creek rock was hauled on CR 411 (368T); quarry rock on CR 203 (154.87T), 304 (15.65T), & 318 (557.76T); a culvert was replaced on CR 635; road work was done on CR 203, 318, 622, & 635; brush mowers were working on CR 314 & 315 ; and grader operators were active as follows: GR1 (CR 403, 602, 608), GR3 (203, 207, 210, 211, 212), GR4 (512, 621, 622, 624, 613A), GR5 (727, 736), & GR6 (318).

• Dump truck DT57 (2026 International HV507 was serviced in house and truck T49 (2015 Kenworth T800) was serviced out of house.

• Contact was received from citizens regarding ditchwork done on CR 622 and clean up at Lone Star.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Administrator Sallin noted she had no qualified applicants for a nurse practitioner position needed to open a planned quick care service. She said one candidate had expressed interest but did not meet requirements. Sallin discussed the potential use of online job postings to expand recruitment, noting estimated costs of about $30 per day, and commissioners said they want to review costs before moving forward.

Commissioners also reviewed updates to the county’s drug and alcohol testing policy, including moving toward a zero-tolerance standard for alcohol while working and updating procedures for random, pre-employment, and reasonable suspicion testing.

In other business, the Health Department announced a babysitting safety class scheduled for May 29–30, and a county pool party set for July 18.

FINANCIAL

• Bills totaling $117,991.96 were approved by commissioners, with the following totals by department: 911/EMA ($1,068.67), Assessor ($3,895.20), Building & Grounds ($2,017.30), Circuit Clerk ($218.71), Collector ($538), County Clerk ($23.99), Election ($6,324.46), Health Department ($5,424.96), Juvenile & Family Court ($2,878.97), Misc. ($14,023.73), Prosecuting Attorney ($582.49), Road & Bridge ($62,665.72), Sheriff-Jail ($8,419.29), Lease Purchase ($0.00), Surveyor ($7,000) Treasurer ($664.48), and Treatment Court ($500).

• Checks were submitted for signatures.