OSAGE COUNTY — Mike Teel and Jeff Bandaret from Great Rivers Engineering presented Osage County commissioners with recommendations for bridge replacements on CR 522 and CR 632.

The bridge on CR 522 is scheduled to be replaced in 2026. Their recommendation for the bridge was single-span prestressed adjacent box beams. The bridge would be comprised of six equal-width beams, forming a 24-foot driving surface. In a 100-year flood event, the bridge would be overtopped by approximately 0.3 feet. The estimated cost for this bridge is $987,225.

A second option was presented for a two-span precast slab beam bridge. It would also have a 24-foot driving surface but would be overtopped by approximately 0.6 feet in a 100-year storm. The cost for this bridge was estimated at $1,011,345.

Options for the bride on CR 632 included a precast slab beam bridge ($821,930) and a two-span reinforced concrete box culvert ($787,465). Both would provide a 24-foot driving surface. While the box culvert would have the capacity to pass a 500-year flood event, it would introduce an interior wall, creating a risk for debris loading. The precast slab beam bridge, which would overtopped by approximately 0.6 feet in a 500-year flood event, was recommended due to the fact that debris could pass underneath.

Osage County Treasurer Valerie Prater, Assessor Tina Kammerich, Recorder of Deeds Cindy Hoffman, Juanita Libbert from the County Clerk’s office, and Osage County Health Department Administrator Kim Sallin attended Thursday’s meeting for a discussion about the county’s employee handbook. Most centered around employee discipline procedures and whether county employees would be terminated for nonpayment of county taxes, or whether that would follow the disciplinary procedure outlined in the handbook: a verbal warning, followed by a written warning, and then suspension prior to termination.

Hoffman recommended that the county follow the state’s policy for nonpayment of taxes, and Kammerich said she would research it.

Hoffman also mentioned that she felt all county offices in the building should have coverage during the hours when open for business. “It’s really irritating to be here in the building, and another office is closed,” she said. “And I’m not talking (about) bad weather or (anything) like that, but people come in and they want to do something, and nobody’s there.”

“So, what you’re saying is, the hours of all the county offices ought to be consistent,” said Presiding Commissioner Darryl Griffin.

“Exactly,” Hoffman said. “The annex building is open from 8:00 to 4:30, you know. Somebody should be in each office.”

Eric Reichel of Remote Computer Services (RCS) also addressed commissioners about consolidating county email addresses under one umbrella instead of each elected official using their own. The sheriff’s office, 911, and the Health Department, he said, are already consolidated, so it would mainly be a matter of migrating the offices in the annex building.

“I think the most important thing is getting some of the other offices away from Hotmail and Gmail,” Reichel said. “We had a situation at a city that, you know, they needed an email from something. Well, my hands are tied, you know, if it’s a Gmail account and that person’s deleted email, changed, whatever, there’s not a dang thing I can do. Or say that person’s forgot a password, and we can’t get into that account. You know, you’re at the mercy of the provider, not what you manage. So I think moving towards something like that is something that we need to talk about.”

It was decided that the elected officials would put together a list of what email addresses they would need so Reichel could put together a quote.

Osage County 911/EMA Director Ron Hoffman let commissioners know that he can check to ensure county employees have valid driver’s licenses if approved.

ROAD & BRIDGE

Osage County Road and Bridge Foreman Mike Gorrell had mostly equipment problems to report. Grader 06 (2016 12M3 AWD) had a leaking transmission line. Plow Truck 34 (2004 Ford F550) was going into the shop for injector repair, and a CAT backhoe blew a line, causing a major leak.

Griffin said he’d received a call about a deteriorating creek bank on CR 403, and asked if the county could build that back up.

Western District Commissioner Dale Logan said he’d received a complaint about stuff bladed off into a yard on CR 501.

• Cinders were spread on CR 605 & 610and a whipper was used on CR 531.

Graders 02 (2014 772G John Deere), 03 (2018 12M3 AWD), 05 (2023 672G John Deere), and 06 (2016 12M3 AWD) were serviced, Dump Truck 27 (2000 Sterling Single Axle) was serviced, and repairs were made on grader snow chains.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Sallin asked commissioners if she could use some of their grant-writing hours from the Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) to help review a federal grant she’s working on. Commissioner said she could use up to half, but to try to use as few as possible so they can use them for other grants.

Sallin got another quote for snow removal, which was slightly less than the previous one. Eastern District Commissioner Jeff Peters directed her to wait a week to see if she gets another, then make a decision.

Sallin asked if she should transfer her old phone to a line for Public Administrator Brenny Montgomery. Griffin directed her to do so.

FINANCIAL

• Fuel tax distribution received from the state was $77,439.89, including Motor Fuel Tax ($58,964.82), Motor Vehicle Sales Tax ($12,047.24), and Motor Vehicle Fee Increases ($6,427.83).

• Commissioners approved time sheets, and checks were submitted for signatures.