Osage County Commission News

Tuesday, Apr. 28, 2020

By HB Dodds, UD Staff Writer
Posted 5/6/20

Osage County Health Department Administrator Susan Long…

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Osage County Commission News

Tuesday, Apr. 28, 2020

Posted

TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020

Osage County Health Department Administrator Susan Long submitted her draft of an Osage County Health Department order. It matches Missouri Governor Mike Parson's statewide order. It extends the current "Stay at Home" order through Sunday, May 3. The commissioners approved and signed it.

"What's it going to be like after May 3?" asked citizen Lucy Brenner. "We're working on that right now," Long responded.

Long is now consulting with Osage County Attorney Amanda Grellner on what and how to enforce after May 3. "We want to allow as much of this to take place as we can, but still be safe," she observed.

Since the disease has been mild in the county, many are anxious to have as few restrictions as possible. The new order is likely to mirror Parson's, but will be more specific.

Long said there continues to be five total cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Osage County. The first three cases were released weeks ago; but the fourth case has retested positive, then negative, and then positive again. As unusual as that sounds, Long commented, "Callaway County has had several like this."

The patient has been asymptomatic for quite a while and is anxious to get back to work. She is now consulting with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) to see if she can allow him to return to work, wearing a surgical mask. "The fifth case is still in quarantine," she said.

“You've been doing a wonderful job, Susan," said Brenner. "I'm so proud of you."

Brenner, also a nurse, was one of Long's teachers years ago.

* Field representative Hannah Larrick from office of U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt's Office called in to speak with the commissioners, asking for the county's plans after May 3.

“I don't think it's going to be too restrictive," said Long, adding the new order will "give some clarification,” to the situation.

Larrick urged the commissioners to look for a new email about the coronavirus relief fund.

Griffin told her, "Butterball is going to pull all of the contracts from Osage County for our turkey growers."

"It's really going to hit the county and these people very hard," said Osage County Second District Commissioner Larry Kliethermes. "These big turkey farms did help us a lot."

Larrick expressed Sen. Blunt's concern about the food supply line. There's no less demand for meat and other agricultural products. There is, though, trouble getting livestock slaughtered and shipped to retail outlets. Several slaughterhouses are shut down due to COVID-19 outbreaks. So they are not buying livestock from farmers at previous rates.

* Brenner addressed the commission on the topic of the 911 Continuation Sales Tax issue on the June 2 ballot. "I'm very, very concerned," she said, invoking her role as a local parish nurse for 14 years.

She linked the election to the troubled relationship between the county and the Osage Ambulance District (OAD). "Why didn't we call and try to get a face to face session?" she asked.

Griffin answered with a list of efforts for such a meeting before the OAD filed suit against the county. He then gave a recount of the meeting which occurred before the OAD dropped that lawsuit.

Griffin , Kliethermes, and Rice spoke of the 19 items of concern brought by the OAD and the county's response, noting that 15 of the 19 have been reconciled; and the county has invested $43,000 in new hardware and software, especially with the Priority Dispatch ProQA call taking and dispatch system. Additionally, the county hired new personnel. The EOC is now within one or two employees of being fully staffed. Those positions will be filled as soon as the COVID-19 lockdown is lifted. All call-takers and dispatchers have been given raises. This investment by the county addresses the bulk of OAD's demands.

"But if we give in on one, he goes to another," said Kliethermes, referring to OAD administrator Josh Krull.

"We never said 'no' to one item on the list," repeated Rice.

"We did meet with them," Griffin repeated.

"What have you conceded?" Brenner asked. "I don't see you keep conceding." Commissioners were puzzled by the question, feeling it already had been answered.

"You're not telling the truth," said Brenner.

Rice promised to ask for documents which legal counsel requested be held from the public, which stem from legally closed meetings for the time being. She would like to show some of it to Brenner to reassure her of veracity.

Brenner maintained that OAD wanted a meeting with no lawyers or media present. The county refuses to meet with a party suing them without legal counsel present. When the meeting occurred, the lawsuit was still active.

Of the items not yet reconciled, the county asks for some of them to be delayed. They want the ProQA system to go "live," insuring the staff is fully trained and certified. They would like resolution of the others to wait until the system can be observed for a few months. That might reveal the capacity to perform services requested by OAD.

Commissioners repeated there has never been a "no" given to any of OAD's request.

Brenner pressed them to concede immediately on "toning out" dispatches when all ambulance crews are already on calls. OAD has requested the EOC send out two tones. The county refuses for the time being. They want to be sure the time required and congestion of radio frequencies can be handled. Rice added, "These other response agencies [law enforcement, fire, and other ambulance districts] get upset when we put all this time and energy into one ambulance district."

Until then, the EOC will go to mutual aid immediately when an OAD crew cannot promptly respond.

This service is not requested by, nor provided for, any other agency served by the EOC. Nor is it a universal protocol prescribed by the new Priority Dispatch ProQA program. It is a premium service requested only by OAD in Osage County.

"He's asking us to take on his responsibilities," Kliethermes maintained. "I guarantee you, if we [conceded this, Krull] would say, we have 19 [actually 18] more to go."

Brenner left the meeting unhappy she was unable to gain that concession on the spot. "We all want the best possible service for the citizens of Osage County," she said.

Commissioners and Rice agreed on principle, while still at odds on at least one detail.

* Osage County Road and Bridge Foreman Ron Kempker handed in documentation for the new line of credit the county enjoys with MHC Kenworth in Columbia. The dealership runs a parts route through Osage County, and Kempker can now have parts delivered for the county's diesel equipment.

* Truck #38 has been at Hatfield Repair for several months; but it's now back together and in service. "Hopefully, it'll stay together for awhile," said Kempker. In exchange, Truck #32 is now at Hatfield's for king pin, tie rod, and brake chamber repair. Kempker limped that truck along, waiting for #38 to get on the road, avoiding a bad equipment shortage. It'll be there "an extended amount of time," he noted.

* The Road and Bridge department is now picking up the trash bags loaded by Immaculate Conception School students. They've counted 42 full bags so far, and they're not done yet.

"We appreciate the kids there at Loose Creek for picking up the trash," said Kempker. "They've got it looking nice out there," he said.

Unfortunately, before the pick up was finished, a warning sign and some cones went missing.

Osage County Presiding Commissioner Darryl Griffin mentioned some of the students had sent emails addressed to the commissioners and Kempker. Fourteen students have composed "some very well, well written letters," he said. They were grateful for help Kempker's crew for providing bags, warning signs, and full bag pick up.

* Kempker announced the end of Osage County's County Aid Road Trust (CART) projects. Gravel purchased on a grant from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) should all be purchased and installed. "You'll see the tickets coming across ... soon," he said.

* Grader #04 is now down for its routine 5000 hour maintenance. Grader #06 is nearing that interval. This particular mileage is when the Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) unit is cleaned. Since Fabick Caterpillar in Jefferson City has closed, the process requires removing the unit and shipping it to St. Louis. It takes three or four days longer to do it this way, but it is less expensive.

* The department will soon install a private drive culvert, and a cross culvert on CR 303.

* Asphalt patching is now under way. The crews are about half way through the list. "Be patient," urged Kempker. "We'll be out there and try to fix the potholes."

* Osage County First District Commissioner John Glavin asked for grading on CR 317.

* He also called attention to a culvert on CR 436 near the railroad tracks at St. Aubert. The crossing is adequate for planters and similar farm equipment to cross; but residents are complaining about it being almost too narrow for a combine. Glavin would like Kempker to look into widening it. The combines are "too big and they're too heavy," he said. "When the slip, they slip."

* Rock has been hauled on CRs 235, 302, 303, 310, 313, 314, 401, 502, 506, 508, 522, 608, 609, 611, 612, 801, and 810; service has been done on Truck #31; asphalt repair is in progress on CRs 420, 501, 512, 610, 611, 612, 6210, 625, and 712; and grader operators have been active on CRs 235, 241, 244, 302, 303, 309, 422, 423, 502, 506, 508, 531, 542, 551, 611, 622, 623, 624, 625, 635, 708, 709, 711, and 713.

* Osage County 911/EMA Director Andrea Rice produced the Medical Director Agreement between the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and Dr. Joseph Rakestraw for the commissioners to sign. Besides a description of his directorship, the document pays Rakestraw $1,500 a year. That's the same as outgoing director Dr. Michael Steenbergen.

* Rice also produced a draft of amendments to the by-laws governing the Osage County 911 Advisory Committee. They affected the makeup of the committee; chairmanship; responsibility for keeping minutes; and the process for approving minutes of previous meetings. The commissioners took the draft, intending to approve and sign it on Thursday, April 30.

* Bills from Apr. 14 through Apr. 27 were approved as follows by department: 911/EMA ($9,793.52), Building & Grounds ($454.60), Circuit Clerk ($259.99), Collector ($40), Health Department ($585.94), Miscellaneous ($489.95), Other County Government ($562.50), Road & Bridge ($14,297.06), and Sheriff-Jail ($1,784.10); for a total of $28,267.66. Kliethermes requested an $81 fuel surcharge line item on a bill submitted to the Road and Bridge Department by Republic Services Solid Waste Collection Company be challenged before cutting the check to them. The other commissioners concurred.

THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2020

Osage County Treasurer Tim Neuner announced assistance coming to the county, originating from the Coronavirus Relief (CARES) Act. Part of the act stipulated funding for state and local governments. Coming through the state of Missouri will be $1,597,000 to Osage County. Expenses between March and December of 2020 will be eligible; but the rules for eligibility are largely unknown to this point. Neuner urged to commissioners to call in on a special line to get details on the rules. "We'll have to really watch," said Neuner. "You're going to get bombarded by requests for funds.”

Kliethermes asked if this was coming through the Missouri Department of Public Safety, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA). Neuner was unsure of the administrative body.

Long was under the impression this was a different program; but regardless, urged commissioners to think ahead when the funds become available. She also urges all to document their extra expenses during the COVID-19 crisis. With mass testing and vaccination still in the works, she warned, "We still have to look to the future." She wants to make sure these funds don't run off like water.

* Long was on the agenda to get a new county health department COVID-19 directive signed. The state and county "Stay at Home" orders expire on May 3. She has now issued an advisory. It is completely deferential to the state's DHSS phase 1 reopening order. This advisory includes guidelines for every kind of business. It emphasizes the need to make workers and customers comfortable. They must be comfortable with the level of safety insured in any business. It applies should employees choose to return to work and customers choose to return to trade.

"People are going to have to continue with social distancing," she emphasized.

Commissioners approved and signed the advisory.

* Of the five total COVID-19 cases reported in Osage County, there have been no changes since April 28. Two are still active, though case number four is now out of quarantine. There have been no symptoms in more than two weeks; but alternate followup tests have continued to sporadically turn up positive. Case number five is still in quarantine. This individual, though not hospitalized, has experienced more illness than the other four. There is one case outside the county who had multiple contacts with county residents. Long continues to monitor it closely.

"Everyone is doing what they're supposed to be doing," she concluded.

Kliethermes asked if testing can differentiate between past and current infection.

Long replied in the negative. "There's still a lot of questions about false positives and false negatives," she said. "It's so new. It's still up in the air."

Griffin asked her opinion of changing the way county offices are currently operating. Long replied with, “Still use the doorbell."

Since the Osage County Courthouse and Annex have not shut down, she feels the level of service offered is adequate for the near future.

Business owners have the right to refuse service to customers who show symptoms. Other customers have the right to feel safe entering a place of business. "They have to let people know what they're doing," said Long.

What a business is doing to keep employees and customers safe should be displayed.

The economy begins to reopen, Long's concern is the possible surge in cases over the next two to three weeks. She doesn't want to see a reverse in the decline of reported cases. Mother's Day weekend is the first major event on the calendar. Restaurants and churches will see increased attendance, although still under many restrictions.

"You guys did an extremely good job so far," said Glavin, praising the health department.

"I'd like to commend Susan and her whole staff," agreed Kliethermes.

* Griffin presented a few bills, not in the routine budget cycle. 911 Continuation Sales Tax election bills of $4,751.66; insurance premiums for two new Sheriff's Office patrol cars of $2,440; and $3,000 to Osage County Surveyor Tim Hamburg for remonumentation services were approved.

Also approved was $10,586.04 in property taxes assessed to road graders through Caterpillar Financial Services. They were incurred by mistake due to an error in writing the lease contract. Corrections should result in those taxes being waived next year.

* Commissioners signed amendments to the by-laws governing the Osage County 911 Advisory Committee presented Tuesday, April 28.

* Commissioners signed outgoing checks.

* The Municipal General Election is scheduled Tuesday, June 2. The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot is Wednesday, May 20.