OSAGE COUNTY — A complaint about CR 604, two road right-of-way matters, and questions about livestock valuations occupied Osage County commissioners during their Oct. 13 meeting, which included monthly department updates.

Resident Darien Clough told commissioners a pothole at the end of the asphalt on CR 604 had remained since shortly after the road was paved. He said Road & Bridge workers dumped two-inch rock on the road without returning to grade it, and he was paying for vehicle alignments and flat tires.

Clough said he watched crews spend two days hauling rock on the road to the veterinary clinic while his road received little attention.

“I’m tired of paying taxes for nothing,” he said.

Eastern District Commissioner Jeff Peters said he drove CR 604 about three weeks earlier and had to stop to let air out of his tires because he could not keep his truck on the road at 15 mph. He said he contacted Road & Bridge Foreman Neil Mantle that evening, but grading needed to wait for rain.

Presiding Commissioner Darryl Griffin called Mantle during the meeting to discuss the complaint and ask about repairing the pothole. Peters reiterated that the road needed moisture before grading would provide a lasting improvement.

• Commissioners unanimously approved Peters’ motion, seconded by Western District Commissioner Dale Logan, to vacate CR 736 and quitclaim the land back to Mark Bomback. Patrick Kliethermes presented the documents and explained that right-of-way conveyed in trust must be formally vacated.

• A separate right-of-way issue could delay Eric Peters’ plans for a truck shop in the Loose Creek bottoms until April.

Peters said a survey showed the existing property line was approximately 130 feet from the highway centerline. The highway was moved when a new bridge was built, but the property line remained in its former location. Without the survey, he said, his planned shop would have extended about 50 feet onto the right-of-way.

Griffin and Logan expressed willingness to return the excess right-of-way if Peters paid the expenses. They discussed retaining 35 to 40 feet from the road’s centerline because of its width. Jeff Peters stayed out of the discussion because Eric Peters is a relative.

Kliethermes explained that the property had been conveyed in trust to the state and later transferred to the county. Vacating it would require a petition and the same process followed for CR 736. Commissioners could not vote on the matter until April, because the petition would be presented in the first quarter of 2027 but could not legally be voted on until the following quarter.

Eric Peters had hoped to begin concrete work within weeks. “I mean, this pushes me back another six months or so,” he said. “But there’s nothing I can do about it.”

“And, nothing we can do to help you with it, unfortunately,” Logan said.

• Missouri Department of Transportation’s (MoDOT) Jonie Prenger presented final figures for the Pentecostal Bridge replacement, which totaled approximately $2.9 million for engineering and construction. Federal funding covered $1,368,811.93, leaving a local share of $1,526,306.38. The county’s $1.5 million in insurance proceeds earned $227,797.20 in interest, providing enough to cover the local share.

• Prenger also discussed the closed red bridge over the Maries River on CR 608. Griffin asked about returning it to the county’s bridge list. He recalled that engineers had estimated repairs at $100,000 to $200,000 but could not guarantee MoDOT would reopen the bridge afterward.

MONTHLY DEPARTMENT HEAD UPDATE

Assessor Tina Kammerich reported that the Missouri State Assessors Association was developing uniform livestock values after the state stopped supplying the figures to county assessors.

Kammerich said the state wanted livestock valued at market value but was leaving assessors responsible for the change without backing them. She contrasted the existing $40-per-head cattle value with a market value of approximately $1,600 and said the association was considering a much smaller change, possibly to $60 per head.

When asked whether moving to market value would significantly raise the county valuation, Kammerich said, “First of all, I might be beheaded.” She said such a change could also discourage people from reporting their livestock.

Later in the discussion, she clarified that values might not change at all.

“It might not increase. It might not decrease,” Kammerich said. “We just want a level, because right now the state of Missouri sends out a paper to every county, so it’s all the exact same.”

The livestock figures discussed were values used to calculate taxes, rather than the amount of tax owed per animal.

Logan questioned why the association would act if the state was not backing the change.

“I guess I’m confused,” he said. “I have a question. If the state’s not backing it, then why is association even doing anything? Why not leave it alone?”

“Since the state is no longer going to give us the value, our job as assessors is to be fair and just. So we are going to set one number,” Kammerich said.

She explained that a livestock committee, with one member from each region, would establish consistent values statewide so cattle owned in different counties would be assessed at the same value.

Peters questioned how quickly assessors could respond if cattle prices fell after values were increased.

Kammerich said the state previously supplied one value per year, which remained in place for that year. Although the livestock committee meets quarterly, she thought it would likewise establish an annual value, with a review each year.

“I’m not sure why you’re doing anything with it. The state’s not doing it,” Peters said.

He later clarified that his questions were directed at the association, rather than Kammerich personally. Kammerich reiterated that the goal was to keep counties using the same values and avoid livestock being valued differently across county lines.

“Because there’s no way that we could go to market value on all this,” she said.

• Treasurer Valerie Prater proposed spending $5,000 to $6,000 for the county’s financial auditors to provide on-site training in federal award reporting after a finding involving the county’s Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA). “They come on-site, and they will teach us everything we need to learn,” Prater said.

She wanted officials and employees who handle federal grants included in the training, which would likely take place after year-end. Prater said she had no prior knowledge of SEFA when she became treasurer, and Interim County Clerk Brooke Dudenhoeffer had very little. “So we just want to learn more and know exactly what we need to be doing,” she said.

• Interim County Clerk Brooke Dudenhoeffer said she had submitted information requested by state auditors about the sheriff’s wages. Once the state audit was finished, the county’s financial audit could be completed.

• Recorder of Deeds Cindy Hoffman reported that she and her husband had moved cabinets into her expanded office, but electrical work remained, and the bathroom still needed a toilet seat and water service restored. She also reported mold in the toilet tank.

Peters recalled a decision to leave the bathroom unused. Commission Clerk Brandy Boessen remembered separate discussions about leaving it in place, and whether to restore it to working order. This reporter located the earlier article and then played the meeting recording to resolve the conflicting recollections.

The recording confirmed that commissioners voted 2-1 to accept a $5,580 renovation bid and leave the bathroom operational. Logan made the motion, Peters seconded it, and both voted yes. Griffin voted no.

“I’m disappointed we spent that damn much time on that bathroom. I think we got bigger fish to fry, myself,” Logan said after the recording was played.

• Dudenhoeffer reported that the county would retain its Anthem health insurance plans and coverage with a 13% premium increase. The initial renewal quote was a 19.9% increase. An early renewal agreement, which ended shopping for other carriers, reduced the increase. Commissioners had made that decision at a previous emergency meeting.

She also thanked employees who helped rearrange the election storage room, creating space for meetings and conferences.

• University of Missouri Extension Engagement Specialist in Community Economic Development Elizabeth Anderson reported that the regional director was making an offer to an agricultural business specialist following interviews earlier in the month. An offer was also planned for a 4-H specialist based in Cole County who would also serve Osage County. The Osage County 4-H youth program associate position remained advertised.

• Chief Deputy Collector Tammy Kennedy reported that tax bills would be sent out shortly.

ROAD & BRIDGE

Road & Bridge Foreman Neil Mantle reported learning about Miller County’s equipment replacement arrangements with Ritchie Brothers auctioneers during a recent conference. The arrangement guarantees a resale amount for equipment meeting specified conditions, allowing more frequent replacement of trucks and graders. Commissioners wanted more information.

• Peters discussed free engineered plans for bridges up to 20 feet long that he learned about at a Meramec Regional Planning Commission Transportation Advisory Committee meeting. He said counties were constructing some of the bridges themselves and contracting out others.

A separate program could help fund crossings that improve fish passage, depending on how much stream becomes accessible. Even where a crossing did not qualify for that funding, Peters said the plans could save engineering costs. Prenger offered contact information for Crawford County’s Danny Brown later in the meeting.

• Commissioners and Mantle discussed BaseOne road treatment, its cost, and how long previous applications lasted. Mantle said the county still had material on hand and planned to use it in the spring with a company representative present to teach proper application.

• Mantle also reported that Greg Muenks had offered to rehabilitate at least 30 miles of roads for $75,000. Peters calculated the cost at $2,500 per mile for the operator, equipment, and fuel, including pulling ditches, setting grade, restoring drainage, and rebuilding the crown.

Mantle said rehabilitation could be coordinated with culvert replacements so drainage structures and the road would be set at the proper elevations. Griffin requested a meeting with Muenks to discuss expectations and preparations before developing a contract.

• Logan raised concerns about proposed legislation that he said would shift utility relocation costs in county rights-of-way to counties. He suggested reviewing minimum burial-depth requirements. Griffin said the county already had requirements and should check and enforce them.

• The road report for Oct. 6-12 showed quarry rock was hauled on CR 503 (34.77T); a culvert was replaced on CR 634 (16.29T); trees were trimmed/removed on CR 512; brush mowers were working on CR 711; and grader operators were active as follows: G01 (CRs 401, 403, 434), G02 (CRs 515, 521, 522), G03 (CRs 300, 715, 723), G04 (CRs 622, 623, 624, 625), and G06 (CRs 321, 322).

• Grader G05 (2023 672G John Deere) and dump truck DT57 (2026 International HV507) were serviced out-of-house.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Health Department Administrator Kim Sallin reported that the Quick Care saw 121 patients in September, including 10 county employees and/or their dependents. Officials who had used the service or accompanied someone there spoke favorably about their experiences.

• Sallin provided a detailed expense list for a proposed budget transfer of $75,260 to cover the Quick Care’s operating expenses for 2026. Prater said the amount was lower than commissioners had anticipated. Sallin said many startup costs, including credentialing and initial supplies, were one-time expenses.

She reported requesting $60,000 in TORCH funding toward the nurse practitioner’s salary for 2027. The request was for one year, and the award had not been confirmed.

Griffin asked whether the visit charge should increase at the beginning of the year. Sallin preferred to wait until she had a full year of data before making that decision.

• Sallin also described plans developed through the Tri-County Coalition for Suicide and Substance Misuse Prevention for community conversations in individual towns. While the coalition had survey and vital-record data, she said it needed more input directly from residents about barriers to getting help.

Resources and access differ among communities, so organizers planned separate evening meetings. Chamois representatives Denise Nolte and Elise Brochu were organizing their community’s meeting, to be held at 6 p.m. on Dec. 3 at the Chamois Community Center, and Sallin was looking for people to help facilitate meetings elsewhere.

• Sallin said the department was sharing more photographs of work outside the office to show residents the services delivered in their communities. Those posts were receiving substantial engagement and appreciative comments.

• Recurring plumbing problems also drew discussion. Sallin said plumbers recommended replacing two toilets at $504 each, with seats purchased separately. She described turning on sinks to get toilets to flush, then having sewage overflow from floor drains before she could shut the faucets off. She stated again that the underlying problem seemed to be incorrect fall of the underground waste piping.

Griffin said he would speak with Wegman about whether replacement would resolve the problem. Sallin said functioning bathrooms were essential with so many people coming through the building.

911/Emergency Management

Colet Davis, reporting for 911/EMA Director Ron Hoffman, said the next-generation 911 system still had problems after 48 hours of testing. The anticipated launch had moved from Sept. 22 to Nov. 15.

• An approximately $39,000 GIS grant would help review mapping information accumulated over 25 years, correcting errors, missing data, and road centerlines that did not connect properly. Maps, CentralSquare, and new addresses had been updated, and cemeteries and other key landmarks had received addresses.

• Davis reported repeated road sign thefts, including signs along Hwy. 89, from CR 623 to Belle. Hoffman was inspecting sections of the county monthly and replacing missing signs, sometimes repairing and repainting recovered signs.

“I think we need to figure out a way to electrify these county road signs. Maybe if we start zapping a few of these (explicit removed), we could eliminate some of these signs (being stolen),” Logan joked.

Griffin urged people who see thefts to report them.

“I just wish people would understand that these signs are important for our emergency personnel,” Davis said.

“That could be someone’s life on the other end,” Kammerich added.

• Davis also reported additional training involving the jail’s records management system, work with the circuit clerk to provide needed information, and disaster relief paperwork awaiting signatures and submission to FEMA.

FINANCIAL

• Bills totaling $156,353.48 were approved by commissioners, with the following totals by department: 911-Emergency Management ($5,109.11), Assessor ($3,105.50), Building & Grounds ($3,606.19), Circuit Clerk ($606.61), Collector ($4,125.50), Commission ($1,613.39), County Clerk ($412.96), Election ($10,923.09), Health Dept ($3,118.36), Miscellaneous ($1,684.21), Prosecuting Attorney ($531.89), Road & Bridge ($98,218.11), Sheriff-Jail ($22,849.08), and Treasurer ($449.48). • Sales tax distribution received from the State of Missouri showed $452,423.05 collected in October, including $58,855.52 to General Revenue, $65,842.66 to Jail Renovation (JR60), $32,921.51 to Capital Improvements (CI88, $29,629.36) and Building & Grounds (BG89, $3,292.15), $65,899.43 to Prop P, $65,686.83 to Prop R, $65,842.46 to 911/Law Enforcement, and $97,374.64 to Use Tax.

• County Aid Road Trust (CART) distribution received from the state of Missouri for the month of September was $94,632.70, including Motor Fuel Tax ($72,507.04), Motor Vehicle Sales Tax ($16,297.34), and Motor Vehicle Fee Increases ($5,828.32).