TUESDAY, JAN. 14, 2020

Road & Bridge Foreman Ron Kempker apologized for the department's phone lines being out. With the previous weekend's snow, many citizens unsuccessfully tried to contact his office. The phone lines were still out as the Osage County Commission met.

"They couldn't reach us [by phone]," he said, "but they can still reach us by email or text. Email works the best for us."

The email address is rd_bridge@yahoo. com.

* Heavy rain came before the snow. There were a lot roads rutted badly by running water. With snow immediately after the rain, crews hadn't been able to grade and repair the rain damage. "We'll be working on it for several days," said Kempker.

* Work ended on the CR 611 bridge over the Maries River before the weather deteriorated. The concrete will take a while to cure, but Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) Inspector Adam Zentz is scheduled to examine the bridge Thursday, Jan. 23. The bridge may be reopened pending that inspection.

* Grader 08 has been repaired and is back in service, but it was down during the snow event. With it back up and running, Kempker said, "Hopefully we can make some headway in the next day or two."

* Flood damage near a bridge on CR 521, known as the Sestak Bridge, must wait until the ground around the bridge is dry. "This isn't a next day or two fix," said Kempker. "Mother Nature's being a little mean."

* A safety meeting was held Jan. 10.

* The commission made final approval of an addendum to the employee manual, designating Road & Bridge employees as hourly rather than salaried.

* Rock has been hauled on CRs 262, 322, 521, 522, 622, 715, and 741; tree removal has been done on CRs 206, 738, 806, and 810; and grader operators have been active on CRs 423, 424, 501, 711, 722, and 738.

The Osage County Jail report for Dec. 2019 showed 36 inmates (23 male and 13 female), with 29 were released before the end of the month. The average daily population was 4.5 with an average stay of 3.9 days. The 2019 totals were 552 total inmates (379 male, 173 female), with 533 released. The average population was 8.7 with an average 5.1-day stay.

* Unterrified Democrat Publisher Emeritus Jerrilynn Voss visited the meeting, inviting the commission to buy an ad in the paper's Business Time Line. It will show businesses from oldest to newest, starting with the county's origin in 1841. Thinking they'll be near the top of the feature, the commission approved purchasing an $18.50 spot.

* Osage County Building and Grounds Janitorial and Maintenance Worker John Kennedy reported new mats can be purchased for all entrances to the Annex for $410 from Smith Paper in Eldon. The county would be responsible for cleaning and maintaining them, but they would be larger than mats provided by a rental/cleaning vendor which has submitted a bid.

"I have to call him back," said Presiding Commissioner Darryl Griffin before a good comparison can be made.

* Incoming 20th Judicial Circuit Associate Circuit Judge Sonya Brandt intends to provide her own furniture for her chambers in the Osage County Courthouse.

"She's bringing all her personal furniture in," said Kennedy.

He then inquired what specific instructions he might have for the existing furniture. It would not be surplus to be dispersed. Chief Deputy Clerk Amber Hamilton instructed him, "If it belongs to the county, put stickers on it."

All county furniture is marked with a sticker and inventoried.

Griffin asked for clarification that none of the existing furniture is anybody's personal property. "We're not a storage facility," he said.

The new locks on the judge's chamber doors are not installed yet. "They've got court upstairs and downstairs today, so I can't get in and do it," Kennedy explained.

* Kennedy has not yet called Cummins of Columbia to come and fix the Annex generator. Bad weather over the weekend made him clear the trouble code and keep the machine available. "I cleared it and got it going again," he said, "because there's an extra charge on the weekend."

He hopes to get the alarm to show again on a weekday and call for service at regular rates.

* A new paper towel dispenser has been installed from Smith Paper. Now all the dispensers in the Courthouse and Annex are the same. "They gave me the dispensers because we buy all the paper [from them]," he said. "It didn't cost us anything.”

* Ronnie Staggs, Agent/ Broker at MSMA Insurance Agency, Inc., made a presentation for employee life, dental, and vision insurance. He showed packages from Principle Life Insurance Company of Des Moines, Iowa, and Guardian Life Insurance Company of America from New York, NY. Both offered significantly lower rates for county provided employee life insurance; and lower rates for optional dental and vision plans, with slightly better benefits. All products come with premium rate locks of two or three years. Those locks apply as long as 25% of the employee census enroll on the optional plans.

"Both companies do a lot of business around here," he said. "Both Principle and Guardian have been around a long time."

The dental plans would reimburse 90% of bills from dentists not in a network, as opposed to the current plan's rate of 80%. The only dentist in the network in this area is Aspen Dental of Jefferson City. This situation exists with the current plan as well.

Osage County Clerk Nicci Kammerich arranged for Staggs to look this up, “Since he helped us with the health insurance. We just wanted to see if we could consolidate and save money."

"This seems to be better benefits at a better price,” Hamilton added.

When asked to recommend one or the other, Staggs affirmed, "I would have to go with Principle."

The commission decided to study the proposals for a week.

* Commissioners approved purchase of the Mitel telephone system maintenance plan.

* Also approved and signed was the final language for the 911 Continuation Sales Tax issue for the April ballot.

* Kammerich announced Osage County Attorney Amanda Grellner has finished work on the County Employee Manual revisions. They will be available for commission approval next week.

THURSDAY, JAN. 16, 2020

Kempker announced Grader #08 is down again. This time, there's a hydraulic hose leaking at the front end. "It should be up and running by mid morning," he said.

* He displayed a proposed invoice to Maries County for shared maintenance on CR 638 for 2019. "I talked to [Maries County Presiding Commissioner] Victor Stratman," said Griffin; "and he says their records indicate they have paid up through 2015 and owe from then on."

Kempker agreed to amend the invoice to reflect that.

"Thank you, and thank Maries County," Griffin responded.

* Gratitude has also come from Maries County. Griffin was told many citizens have complimented the work done. He has heard "it was a very good job down there on that road."

Grader #04 is assigned there. It's the same crew which worked with contractor Jeff Strickland on the Turkey Hill Creek bridge.

* Kempker's crew is now preparing for another snow/ ice event. "We'll see what Mother Nature deals us this time," he observed.

* Griffin urged Kempker to watch near Benton St. and CR 303. Construction inside the city limits of Linn is affecting the roadway; and some damage may extend onto the county road outside the limits.

* Osage County First District Commissioner John Glavin issued an update on tree removal around the CR 274A Shawnee Creek bridge project. The deadline for tree removal, previously stated as March 1, is actually April 1. Additionally, the construction crew wants 3-4 feet of stump left after felling.

* Kennedy presented an estimate from Schaeffer Electric for rewiring and light bulb replacement. Changing the service to the water heater in the Annex basement from 110 volt to 220 volt; and two bulbs in the parking area behind the building will cost $600. The commission approved the work.

Second District Commissioner Larry Kliethermes will contact Phil Wegman to have him buy the new water heater and prepare to install it.

* Griffin has received the revised contract draft from Westphalia City Attorney David Bandre covering the county's Road & Bridge Department's proposed maintenance of CR 511 inside Westphalia city limits. The commission will review it and vote on it next week.

* Carol Backes of the Bonnots Mill Betterment Association addressed the commission about heavy truck activity in Bonnots Mill. There have been several unpleasant incidents. The worst was a truck pulling a 53-foot trailer trying to turn around at the top of Church Hill Street in a church parking lot. While it has been done successfully — barely — in the past, on this occasion there was damage. A low power line, below the 13'6" clearance of the rig, was knocked down, leading to a power outage in the area in October. There was other damage as well. "There really isn't room up there for them to turn around," she said. "But they try."

Backes asked about having a sign at the bottom of the hill, warning trucks against heading up that street. Most trucks attempting the maneuver are mistaking the route as a way to get to either Rt. A, CR 416, or CR 437. Staying on Main Street is better.

Bonnots Mill is unincorporated, so the county commission would have jurisdiction. "I don't see an issue with it," said Glavin.

"I'd have to look into it," said Kempker, asked about finding such a sign.

"We're all in agreement," added Griffin, siding with Backes' concern. "We'll get something put up."

* The commission approved applying for a grant through the Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) for $7,666.67. The money would apply to updating the Osage County Hazard Mitigation Plan through the Emergency Management Agency.

* A formal hearing on the 2020 budget, open to the public, will take place at 9 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, at the regular County Commission meeting.

* A foot clinic is scheduled 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, in the Osage County Health Department.

* Severe weather spotter training will be offered 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4, in the Emergency Operations Center. The public is welcome, but space is limited. Please call 573-897-3561 to reserve a place.