County Commission News, Tuesday, Mar. 24, 2020

Posted 4/1/20

TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2020

* Health Department Administrator Susan Long told commissioners the individual employed by the Linn R-2 school system who has tested positive resides outside Osage County, …

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County Commission News, Tuesday, Mar. 24, 2020

Posted

TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2020

* Health Department Administrator Susan Long told commissioners the individual employed by the Linn R-2 school system who has tested positive resides outside Osage County, and Long insists county residents have endured very minimal exposure. For those who suspect, "If they haven't been notified by now, they were not considered in danger," said Long. "The school stayed in contact with me the entire time," she added, appreciating the cooperation. "There is nothing from the state health department on this case, but they are calling me personally."

She said the two parties exchange daily updates.

* Long has assigned each of her staff personnel to monitor different media. Should any concerns come in which they cannot address, they bump them up to Long. Everyone remains very busy.

* Environmentalist Tessa Wright is up to date with her regular inspections. While there are no daycare inspections due until May, she has been in regular contact with all of them. They have all received pertinent handouts for parents, and she has encouraged them to “Update their emergency plans for this occasion."

She reiterated, "We're behind them 100%."

Among other businesses, daycares remain high priority for enabling them to stay open. They are checking temperatures at the door for anyone coming in, and there may be a Governor's order coming soon allowing them to expand their maximum enrollment while schools are closed due to the COVID-19 emergency. However, no one with a fever can be allowed under any circumstance.

Many daycares are struggling to maintain milk supplies. Some are requiring parents to bring extra wipes, diapers, and a gallon of milk.

* Wright is also maintaining extra contact with food establishments. She has made good use of the Lincoln nursing students working on their practicums to help with this. All of them are serving only carryout, drive through, curbside, delivery or are closed. Some are affected by supply shortages. She has offered extra instruction on bleach water solutions and other sanitation, “How to sanitize things."

"We are checking the hotels," Wright added.

At Stone Hearth Inn, a baby shower was recently canceled. Staff is concentrating on social distancing. Wright has gone over room cleaning, laundry, and other items receiving closer inspection during the crisis.

* Customers at the foot clinic are being scheduled so as not to encounter each other when arriving or leaving. "We're making it as safe as possible by spacing out our customers," she said.

Wright finished by putting in a pitch for Smart 911 and the United Way. She urged those interested in helping to call 866-211- 9966. Calls to that number will then be redirected by zip code to the local agency where contributions or volunteer efforts will be welcome.

* Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Nurse Kim Sallin has been assigned to screen all incoming Facebook messages to the department. She's fielding questions about the availability of milk at Wal-Mart, the fact that Quaker Industries is still open, to the sick leave policy restrictions in place at that industry. Quaker has been rather strict about sick leave in the past, but for the sake of the COVID-19 emergency, they have lifted many of those restrictions. They have also worked closely with the health department to modify their cleaning procedures to meet the threat. "I spent a significant amount of time yesterday contacting folks from Quaker," she said. She even helped them find a way to make masks.

* WIC policies are changing by the hour. They now urge as many clients as possible to use eWIC. Most facilities are trying stop or severely limit personal visits.

* The St. George parish is putting together an emergency assistance program. They want to provide transportation to doctors, grocery stores, and other necessary trips. The county's only concern is most volunteers are over 65, so special precautions are necessary for the enterprise. Sallin urges them to "Provide a service, but make sure we're keeping everybody safe."

* WIC Coordinator Elisha Fincher is extra busy just manning the front desk at the health department. She's also putting together a plan for how to run WIC if the office is forced to close. She's assigned to screen and print all incoming emails and help with the foot clinic.

* As for phone calls, "If I can't answer [the callers' questions], I send them over to Susan."

* Long is constantly polling local retailers about shortages and availability of critical commodities. She noted the Osage County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) has added 150 addresses to its email list in a very short period of time. She continues to urge people with questions to contact the EOC non-emergency number or the health department for dependable information.

* The department is now interviewing candidates to replace departing Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Toni Wieberg . Those interviews are all being done by phone and teleconference.

* The entire staff is working together to minimize the number of people in the office at one time.

* Insurance Biller Dianna Schubert is reviewing the department's list of supplies, including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). They're hard to come by now since ambulance services and hospitals are higher than county health departments in rank of priority. In terms of her normal billing duties, "We're all caught up on that because we haven't been able to do as much [of the things the department usually is able to bill for]," said Long.

* Coroner Lois Jaegers is working on a mass casualty plan in conjunction with local funeral directors. They are on the list for PPE, also. The current state emergency directive now gives funeral directors first responder status, so most of them are getting the PPE they want. "We're looking at this from all sorts of different aspects," commented Long.

Second District Commissioner Larry Kliethermes asked, "Is there some concern the virus remains active in [a deceased person]."

Long responded, "We're still learning about this virus. It doesn't appear to, but they are wearing PPE with every [occurrence]."

* Long has been studying the building's ventilation system with Building and Grounds Janitorial and Maintenance Worker John Kennedy. All the ductwork is integrated, and the two would like to figure out a way to isolate at least some of the offices. The health department would have an obvious interest. "We're trying to keep things as normal as possible and still keep them safe," she said.

* Staff is also trying to keep people in their cars rather than in the waiting room.

* Long appreciates the efforts of other county officials joining in the fight against the virus. She cited Road & Bridge crews trying to do less slip-seating in their equipment. Just one operator on a seat for the whole day makes it simpler and more efficient to keep it disinfected. She went on to mention, "John Kennedy has been phenomenal.” Not only have his efforts to keep rails, floors, doors, etc. disinfected been admirable, he has also updated the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) library for chemicals in storage at the Administration Building.

She is grateful for everyone's moral support. She was pleased to report a call from U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt's office. His staff told Long, "You are one of the most organized counties we've heard of."

* Long reminded everyone closures are listed on the county EMA website.

* Road & Bridge Foreman Ron Kempker reported a good deal of damage to Osage County's gravel roads due to recent heavy rains. Worse yet, while the roads are soaked, it does more harm than good for county equipment to travel them, even trying to repair them. As things are improving, his crews are trying to repair the worst of the damage as quickly as possible. Then they'll return to trying to catch up from a winter where there was a number of ice, rain, and snow events, more than normal.

* Trees have been felled around the construction site at Shawnee Creek on CR 274A. This was done by direction of McClure Engineering's Project Manager Aaron McVicker. "All he wants is them on the ground," said First District Commissioner John Glavin.

McVicker has also obtained approval for a Bridge Engineering Assistance Program (BEAP) study for a crossing near Shawnee Creek on CR 274A. Glavin is interested in getting the road bed widened from 12 feet on a span near a curve in the road. Truck traffic, especially when detoured from Hwy. 100 during flooding, has struggled at that location. With the new Shawnee Creek bridge going to 24 feet, he would like this nearby crossing to be at least 20 feet. The BEAP study will cost $4,200.

* Grader #03 is in the shop at the Road and Bridge Shed. Fabick Caterpillar has a specialist on site troubleshooting for what looks like a fuel injector leak. In terms of the possible expense, "It should fall underneath the warranty of the machine," assured Kempker.

* The county has a number of trucks in Meta, but, once again, the roads are muddy. Workers are screening gravel from Sugar Creek and hope to put the trucks and the gravel on the roads soon. "We'll try to address it when the weather improves," said Kempker.

* Presiding Commissioner Darryl Griffin expressed concern for CR 412 near Loose Creek. He could tell someone had been on the road, trying to repair it, but, "Somebody did it and messed it up," he said.

Kempker believes it was not a county operator, though, stating, "We will look at it. The hard rain did quite a bit of damage," noting his own gauge has measured more than 15 inches this year.

"Unbelievable," said Griffin.

Speaking to the county's rural citizens, he explained, "You can't run the graders without making the roads worse [when they're that soggy]. Bear with us. We're not trying to avoid it. Drive slower."

Kempker went on to request, "If there are complaints, please call. We're not intentionally avoiding it."

He'd rather communicate on the issue than have citizens assume there will be no action and take things into their own hands. If the county equipment can't do good work because of the conditions, farm equipment will probably perform no better.

* Glavin announced his intention to go have a personal look at CR 302 after the meeting.

* Rock has been hauled on CRs 508, 542, and 551; service has been done Grader #02; and grader operators have been active on CRs 231, 244, 263, 312, 315, 508, 541, 551, 602, and repairing washouts.

* Assessor Jerry Baker has donated obsolete computer equipment from his office to Central Missouri Community Action (CMCA) and Linn High School. Griffin displayed receipts from the organizations for documentation.

* Commissioners reviewed county employee time sheets.

THURSDAY, MARCH 26 2020

* Long reported for the first time in a while, "We had a calmer day yesterday." She pitched the health department website, www.osagecountyhd.org, where she is posting a lot of current information on the coronavirus.

* Cole and Callaway counties both have numerous documented cases. Montgomery County has just reported its first. There are still no cases known in Maries and Gasconade counties.

* The health department advisories published in this edition of the Unterrified Democrat were approved by the commission. They involved travel and self-quarantine. "It's basically common sense," she insisted.

* In her conversations with local stores, she's learning some stuff is coming back onto shelves. "It's not normally where we keep it, but at least there are some things," she said.

Often, there are some limitations, but things which could not be purchased a week ago can now be found, occasionally. All restaurants are still carry out, drive through, curbside, delivery or closed. All schools are still closed.

* Long occasionally gets calls from individuals in or about businesses, complaining about people coming to work with symptoms. She aggressively investigates each allegation, but so far has nothing but false alarms. There have been two cases of pertussis, or whooping cough, confirmed in the county. There are also plenty of cases of plain flu. "There are other diseases out there too we are continuing to follow," she said. The scrutiny and care to screen for coronavirus is helping to catch these others.

* Griffin asked about the announced release of federal resources to the states. "I don't think anyone is getting adequate PPE,” yet, responded Long. Her small supply of PPE is continuing to hold out. "I do have a small supply, and when we get more, we'll share," she concluded.

* Long said she would brief the affected offices on her normal rounds, explaining the policy, instead of just sending an email. "People like the personal touch," she said, believing it would receive a better response.

* The worst may be yet to come. "Revenue's going to be down," Kliethermes observed, mentioning the financial consequences of the emergency.

* 911/EMA Director Andrea Rice announced, given that the Osage Ambulance District (OAD) has dropped its lawsuit against the county, both parties are planning a meeting for moving forward. "The fewer people in the room, the better," is her impression. The attorneys, Rice, Griffin, and two individuals from OAD is what she supposes to be a minimum. "Now that the lawsuit's over, maybe we can move past that," she concluded.

"We're working with everybody, and everybody's been very, very good," Long concluded.

"Thank the whole staff for us," said Griffin.

* Griffin has received questions about the new culvert policy. Some wonder whether money should be paid to the Treasurer's office or to the County Clerk. However, since the policy states strictly the landowner should purchase the pipe, the county should be receiving no funds whatsoever. All pipe up to 24 inches must be 16-gage. Larger culverts must be at least 14-gage.

* Glavin asked again if any USDA grant money might be available to help with the crossing on CR 274A near Shawnee Creek. A BEAP study is in the works.

McVicker sent a copy of the bid requests to be published, as well as a map of the project over Shawnee Creek on CR 274A.

* Kennedy has received proposals from Midwest Electronic Systems, Inc., Columbia, to repair a smoke alarm in the Courthouse and to annually inspect all the county's smoke alarms. The repair was bid for $500, and the inspections could be done on all county buildings for $600 a year. The commission approved both. He is also waxing the foyer to the Administration Building. "Since there's no traffic coming through there today, it's a good time to do it," he observed.

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