OSAGE COUNTY — Osage County commissioners voted 2–1 on Oct. 20 to increase the county’s monthly health insurance contribution from $480 to $530 for 2027, after initially approving a smaller increase and hearing a second request from Treasurer Valerie Prater and Interim County Clerk Brooke Dudenhoeffer.

Dudenhoeffer brought the question to commissioners ahead of open enrollment, explaining that the county’s contribution affects what employees pay for coverage. Premiums are increasing 13%, and Prater said the county had not increased its contribution since the beginning of 2025.

Prater used her own coverage as an example, saying her monthly payment for a $5,000-deductible plan would increase from $26 to $107 without additional county support.

Commissioners initially voted unanimously to increase the contribution to $500. Prater and Dudenhoeffer returned later with a proposal for $530, a $50 monthly increase over the current contribution.

Prater said September use tax receipts totaled approximately $97,000, more than the projected $81,060 increase over the county’s 2026 insurance budget. That projection includes both the higher county contribution and an allowance for additional employees enrolling in coverage.

Eastern District Commissioner Jeff Peters supported the larger contribution but repeatedly said he would not support another increase next year. Western District Commissioner Dale Logan said he would prefer smaller annual increases, expressing concern about making a larger increase and then skipping a year.

Presiding Commissioner Darryl Griffin also questioned how employees would view a future year without an increase, but supported providing help now. “People are hurting now, and we can afford to do it. We need to help them,” he said.

The discussion also touched on the county’s ability to cover other expenses. Logan raised concerns about revenue and the money the county expects to spend on disaster repairs before receiving reimbursement. “I’m telling you, in 2027, you guys are going to be touching use tax for raises, for health insurance, for Road & Bridge,” Prater said. “That’s where I’m imagining you’re getting your money from. You can afford it out of that account.”

Peters’ motion included leaving the contribution unchanged for two years, with discussion placing the next review in fall 2028 for coverage beginning in 2029.

Logan seconded the motion for the second increase but voted against it. “I will second it just because I think that’s the right thing to do,” Logan said. “I’ll second that motion, but I’m going to vote no. Sorry.”

Dudenhoeffer thanked commissioners, saying the additional contribution would lessen the impact of premium increases on employees.

• Dudenhoeffer also distributed proposed budget amendments for review ahead of a hearing scheduled for 9 a.m. on Oct. 27, with approval planned for Nov. 10. She said the documents would be available for public review in her office but would not be posted online until approved.

• Prater reported completing previously approved transfers of $400,000 to Road & Bridge and $75,260 to the Health Department.

• Looking ahead to the April 2027 election, Dudenhoeffer reminded commissioners to prepare ballot measures for expiring taxes supporting jail renovation, building and grounds, and capital infrastructure. Prater offered to provide the existing ballot language, while Dudenhoeffer said commissioners would need to complete the submission process.

Logan emphasized educating the public about the taxes and favored securing renewals before pursuing additional revenue. “I’m afraid if you put too many on it, they’re all going to fail,” Prater said.

• Dudenhoeffer and Prater are also developing a longer budget meeting schedule after finding last year’s schedule too compressed. Griffin requested a screen allowing everyone to view the figures together.

• Commissioners rejected a request to upload closed-session minutes to an auditors’ secure portal, saying auditors should continue reviewing those records in person. The request prompted questions about why the independent financial auditors were examining closed minutes.

Dudenhoeffer explained that the financial audit was separate from the unfinished state audit and said auditors had authority to inspect closed minutes. She described the review as a check on county business, including whether financial matters were discussed in closed sessions, but said she supported the decision not to upload closed meeting minutes.

“They need to come,” Logan said of the auditors’ request for electronic access.

• Commissioners unanimously approved up to $6,000 for training and assistance with Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards reporting.

• Patrick Kliethermes, representing Eric Peters, asked about relocating fiber if utility locations show it lies within a portion of right-of-way proposed for vacation. Commissioners said relocation would be at others’ expense, outside the roadway, and Logan requested a minimum burial depth of 36 inches. Kliethermes said it was not yet known whether anything would need to be moved.

• Jamie Laughlin of McClure discussed an upcoming site visit for the Bridge Engineering Assistance Program project on CR 522. The report is due to the Missouri Department of Transportation Nov. 6, with a presentation expected before Thanksgiving.

Peters also asked about engineering a low-water crossing on Ballpark Road, emphasizing that the disaster-related project needed to be designed and completed within approximately 17 months.

• Logan reported meeting with officials from Cole County and Jefferson City about proposed legislation shifting utility relocation costs. He said a revised version would place responsibility on MoDOT rather than counties, but he remained concerned counties could ultimately bear costs. He said commissioners might be asked to meet with legislators or testify.

• Commission Clerk Brandy Boessen discussed a transportation grant opportunity intended to reduce vehicle collisions with wildlife. Commissioners suggested brush removal and explored whether equipment could qualify. Boessen said she would ask Mantle to obtain specifications and pricing.

• Peters also planned to meet with State Technical College of Missouri about a marked pedestrian crossing on Twin Ridge Road at the airport entrance for students walking between properties. The other commissioners indicated support.

ROAD & BRIDGE

Road & Bridge Foreman Neil Mantle discussed mechanical problems with Grader 2, a 2016 machine with approximately 12,400 hours. Because no operator was available for it, commissioners took no immediate action on repairs or replacement. Griffin favored leaving it parked for now.

• Mantle and commissioners opposed reducing the county’s fleet from six graders, while also discussing contracted grading. Mantle hoped to bring contractor Greg Muenks, who worked on several roads prior to chip & seal, to the next meeting to discuss an agreement.

• Mantle hoped to have crews on CR 604 and 602 by the end of the week, although two graders were down. Warranty work on a John Deere grader was nearing completion, and he was also awaiting a dump truck’s return.

CR 602, Cedar Shaving Road, drew discussion about repeated grading needs and possible chip-and-seal work. Mantle said crews sometimes grade it twice a month, but could not respond every time residents called without neglecting other roads. “We’re leaving other people hanging that are running through ditches in the middle of the road,” Mantle said.

• Peters reported good results from creek rock placed on CR 303 before grading and said additional rock was being hauled. Mantle also planned to address settling at a culvert near a driveway.

• Peters relayed a CR 412 resident’s request that the county repair a fence after vehicles left the roadway, saying the resident claimed the accidents happened as a result of the county widening the road. Mantle said the accidents occurred before the roadwork and that crews had actually narrowed the road at that location by pulling loose gravel away from the fence at the landowner’s request. Peters said he told the resident responsibility for fence repairs lay with the vehicles involved.

• Discussing disaster repairs, Mantle said additional culverts had been added to the work under review, while slab projects and road rock would account for larger costs not yet finalized. He hoped culvert work could begin within a couple of weeks after grading and ditch work were coordinated.

• Mantle said properly rebuilding road surfaces and drainage could reduce future rock expenses. He cited recent work on CR 412, saying potholes had not returned despite some washboarding.

• Commissioners also confirmed the closure of CR 736 was finalized after Mantle asked whether a landowner could install gates.

• The Oct. 13 - 19 road report showed: quarry rock was hauled on CR 522 (89.24T); culverts were repaired/removed from Loose Creek Highway; a culvert was replaced on CR 403 (20.02T), 503 (x2), 526, Loose Creek Highway; trees were trimmed/removed on CR 512; new equipment was prepped for snow; brush mowers were working on CR 711, 713, 714; and grader operators were active as follows: G02 (CR 517, 521, 522, 523, 525, 533), G03 (CR 303, 621, 712, 714, 717, 718), G04 (CR 613A, 623, 631, 632), G05 (CR 421, 421, 606), & G06 (CR 261, 274A, 310).

• Whipper tractor W41 (2006 John Deere 6615 w/Alamo Machete Mower) was serviced in house. Grader G05 (2023 672G John Deere) and two plow trucks were serviced out of house.

• Complaints were received from citizens regarding brush cutting on CR 714.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Health Department Administrator Kim Sallin reported Quick Care saw 13 patients during the previous holiday-shortened week and nine the day before the meeting. Recent visits included sinus complaints and ear infections.

Asked for her assessment of the clinic, Sallin said she was very pleased and had received positive feedback. “I’m really hoping to see the numbers increase,” she said. “I know that sounds terrible because that means people are sick but people are going to be sick regardless. I just hope they choose to come to us.”

Sallin estimated the clinic needs approximately 10–12 patients daily to support itself. Peters cited a current average of approximately 7–8, which Sallin confirmed, noting employee discounts affect revenue.

Logan said the clinic had somewhat exceeded his expectations and he had received positive comments from western district residents who used it. Griffin said he saw benefits but wanted more time to assess operating costs. “I hope the numbers get more and more and more so it sustains itself,” Griffin said.

“I think it’s a great thing for the small communities,” Peters said, noting residents otherwise travel to Jefferson City for that care.

Sallin said the clinic also provides sports and work physicals, some suturing, and additional sexually transmitted infection testing outside the department’s state-funded program.

She credited part-time nurse Lois Jaegers with attracting families to the department’s table at Fatima’s open house, creating opportunities to discuss both vaccinations and Quick Care. Self-employed residents with limited insurance coverage were particularly interested in the $40 visits, she said.

• Sallin also discussed a rural health funding proposal for part of the clinic provider’s salary. Approximately $1.3 million in proposals were competing for $530,000, with board members’ review forms due that Friday.

“When they were talking about the different proposals, a lot of them were services for Gasconade County because Josh Krull and I are the only ones that are coming to the table for the group for Osage County,” Sallin said. “The rest, the whole table, is full of Gasconade County people.”

She said Osage Ambulance District EMS Chief Josh Krull was exploring mobile health services for Meta and Chamois using an existing community health center mobile clinic. Services and funding remained under discussion.

• Commissioners unanimously allowed a Health Department employee to carry an additional 42 hours of compensatory time into 2027, beyond the usual 40-hour allowance.

Sallin separately requested payment for her own compensatory time.

• Commissioners approved $1,008 to install two toilets at the Health Department, to be paid from the building and grounds allocation in its budget.

911/Emergency Management

911/EMA Director Ron Hoffman reported a surge of spam calls, including approximately 47 calls to administrative lines and one to 911 the previous day. He said simultaneous calls were tying up multiple lines and other counties were experiencing similar problems.

Hoffman said inquiries to public service officials and the attorney general’s office had not produced a solution, particularly for calls originating overseas.

• He also reported FEMA paperwork had been signed after an unresolved electronic authorization problem prevented him from signing it himself. Deputy EMA Director Andi Rice completed the signature. Griffin later called Hoffman to confirm it had been signed.

Peters requested brief weekly FEMA updates at commission meetings to keep commissioners and the public informed. Hoffman agreed to stop in Tuesdays, generally between 9 and 10 a.m., with flexibility for emergencies. Logan emphasized the importance of keeping up with the FEMA process.

• Hoffman also planned to retrieve two county road signs Peters found along a road.

• He mentioned plans to attend annual pipeline safety training covering hazardous materials, pipeline contents, and emergency response changes.

FINANCIAL

• Time sheets were approved by commissioners.