LINN — Most of the conversation at last week’s county commission meetings centered around the commissioners’ upcoming recommendations to the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) and Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) regarding the bridges they would like to see replaced.

After soliciting input from Osage County Road and Bridge Foreman Mike Gorrell and Osage County 911/EMA Director Ron Hoffman, commissioners planned to recommend bridges on CR 522, CR 631, and CR 716. After it was pointed out that MoDOT listed the bridge on 716 as fair (not poor), commissioners decided to change that recommendation to CR 726. They were asked to submit three bridges they would like replaced; however, MoDOT generally funds only one per year. Commissioners agreed that the longer bridge on CR 522 was their highest priority.

20th Judicial Circuit Associate Circuit Judge Sonya Brandt and Circuit Clerk Beth Billington addressed the commissioners. They introduced Donald Schulte, who works for the Osage County Sheriff’s Office but is assigned the duty of marshal for the court, and thanked commissioners for building the new wall requested.

“The wall’s working great,” Brandt said. “It’s providing very good security, and we appreciate it.”

“We appreciate that you listened to our concerns and then found a way to solve the issue,” Billington added, “so, thank you.”

Great River Engineering Project Engineer Mike Teel told commissioners he had a county willing to sell soft match money for 60 cents on the dollar. Commissioners were interested and asked Teel to let them know the name of the county.

Western District Commissioner Larry Kliethermes explained that soft match money accumulates when the county replaces or rehabilitates an Off-System Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation (BRO) eligible bridge using local funds. Soft match money can then be used as local match funds for another BRO project.

Presiding Commissioner Darryl Griffin noted that the county’s insurance agent, Jeri Ann Rackers of AssuredPartners, indicated the county could increase its deductible to $5,000. Griffin added he was waiting for Rackers to clarify whether the county would have to change to $5,000 across the board or whether they could choose different deductibles for different items, such as $5,000 for buildings and $2,000 for vehicles.

Griffin said Rackers also told him that a waiver is not necessary for non-employees riding in county vehicles. When that information was relayed to Osage County Health Department Administrator Kim Sallin, who had initially questioned that requirement from the county’s employee handbook, she asked commissioners to remove that requirement.

Patrick Kliethermes of Kliethermes Research brought commissioners paperwork to vacate a county road that has been abandoned for decades. Eastern District Commissioner John Trenshaw hired Kliethermes as a private citizen; however, commissioners indicated this is the third or fourth time they have vacated a right-of-way for a long-abandoned county road. Trenshaw abstained from voting on whether to vacate the road.

Mary Zeilman of the Osage County Historical Society addressed commissioners regarding a grant to preserve county records in the society’s care. The county must apply for the grant, so commissioners will need to sign the paperwork. Griffin advised Zeilman to check with Patrick Kliethermes to find out what was previously submitted.

ROAD & BRIDGE

Griffin and Commissioner Kliethermes asked Gorrell to assess two places where culvert pipes installed by property owners may be smaller than the 15-inch diameter required by the county or may not be the appropriate grade of plastic.

• Creek rock was hauled on CR 501; quarry rock on CR 274B and 318; brush mowers have been working on CR 521; and grader operators have been active on CR 274B and Reinkemeyer’s Hill on CR 634. The planer was also used on Rienkemeyer’s Hill, and CR 303 was closed for bridge replacement.

• PR40, the 1981 Rexworks SP400 ART/VIB pavement roller, was serviced.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Administrator Sallin reported that the department received a lot of positive feedback from both parents and children about the toothbrushes they handed out at Fatima’s trunk or treat.

Sallin and two other employees will attend WIC training in Branson this week.

Commissioners supported Sallin’s request for permission to hold a food drive benefiting the Good Shepherd Food Pantry. Sallin said the health department intends to accept food donations in their office and at the drive-through window and deliver them to the pantry once a week.

FINANCIAL

• Bills totaling $88,395.85 were approved by commissioners, with the following totals by department: 911/EMA ($2,755.03), Assessor ($3,333.62), Building & Grounds ($90.70), Circuit Clerk ($533.88), County Clerk ($321.21), Election ($16,910.19), Health Department ($8,403.06), Juvenile &  Family Court ($2,769.55), Misc. ($9,734.56), Prosecuting Attorney ($1,060.31), Road & Bridge ($14,631.52), Sheriff-Jail ($7,408.97), and Road & Bridge Misc ($20,433.25).

• Motor Vehicle Tax information received from the State showed $63,631.94 Motor Fuel Tax, $12,322.21 Motor Vehicle Sales Tax, and $4,585.27 Motor Vehicle Fee Increases, for a total of $80,539.42.

• Checks were submitted for signatures.