TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2020

Commissioners signed a new coronavirus emergency order presented by Health Department Administrator Susan Long. She has authority to issue it without the commissioners' sanction, but wanted them to sign off on it. It's similar to Missouri Governor Mike Parson's declaration, but extends the fundamentals of the current order to May 1. The state's order is now in place only to April 6, but Parson is widely expected to extend that. Long's order also harmonizes with statements by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and President Donald Trump.

Long briefed the commissioners on the second COVID-19 case confirmed in the county. This individual had contact with the first case; and has been under self quarantine since then. There are two other individuals tested in the incident; but the results have not been returned. Results have been taking 2-9 days to come back. Since this meeting, Long confirmed the other two cases were negative.

Neither citizen is seriously ill. "They both took Tylenol once for their fevers, and it's gone," said Long. The only other symptom was a dry cough; and both are waiting out their 14 days since the last measurable fever before being cleared. "That's comforting … to know they're not suffering," said 911/ EMA Director Andrea Rice.

Long is working long days to stay abreast of the emergency. "I think I'm doing more studying and reading than I did in college," she asserted.

According to her observation, stores are gradually restocking. Shortages don't seem to be as severe or last as long.

Long's particular local concern is people appearing to not take the situation seriously. She doesn't like to see people in public making no effort to maintain the six feet of social space. "This is how this is going to continue to spread," she said. "Everybody has to do their part."

She feels teenagers and young adults in their 20's are the prime offenders.

"Parents have really got to enforce this," she said, adding she has personal knowledge of parties with more than nine attendees, and deliberately hosted by parents. "Parents need to be monitoring and knowing where their kids are."

* Long is still trying for more Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for county personnel. There has been no great need yet, but she's not convinced the situation can't deteriorate. Her back order made in February has been canceled by the provider. She spoke of evidence of stockpiles in ports where customs workers won't process them.

* Two recent incidents in the Osage County Annex caused commissioners to tighten access to the building. All doors are now locked and doorbells have been installed. When citizens have business in any of the Annex offices, officials come to the door to try to serve them. Should someone actually have to enter the building, they are escorted. Staff members in the Osage County Collector's Office and the Osage County Recorder's Office are monitoring the doorbells. The building is not shut down, but traffic which can be headed off is discouraged from entering. "It's quite inconvenient, I'll admit," said Long.

* The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is now almost all switched over to electronic service for all but a few county clients. Participants receive three months on their cards, instead of the normal month. "We're trying to minimize people needing to come into the building," said Long. Many of the clients worry about doing so and exposing their children.

* The health department now has more staff working from home, when possible; but there will always be at least one nurse on duty in the office. Shifts in the office and at home will rotate.

* Long plans now to shift some of her focus to mental health issues. "This is wearing on everybody," she said. "No one is sailing through this."

When the crisis is over, she urges everyone to be more appreciative of the freedoms we enjoy in normal times.

* The health department is receiving only positive COVID-19 test results. Anyone tested for the coronavirus with a negative result may never hear it. At this time, they are obligated only to report positive findings.

* All Osage County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and health department employees have been issued a letter stating they are "essential personnel." This anticipates the possibility of "shelter in place" orders being issued. Then, law enforcement might demand documentation from individuals away from their homes. Such an order now exists in Cole County but has yet to be issued here.

Please note that a countywide stay-at-home order was approved later in the week, and is covered in its entirety on Page 1 of this week’s paper.

* Rice stated fire department and law enforcement are no longer going on 911 medical calls. They will if specifically requested.

* The EOC mobile unit is now in place behind the Annex. Phones and other equipment are on order to equip it
for more than emergency service. Rice plans to separate her staffing shifts. One will work in the normal office space, and one will work in the trailer to avoid personal interaction. A shift relieving the crew in the building would go to work in the trailer; and a shift relieving the crew in the trailer would go to work in the building. "The two shifts would never mingle, limiting exposure," she explained. "My goal is to keep people from having to [quarantine at work]."

She said other centers make personnel stay for 14 days to clear quarantine, but be available for duty. "That's just not healthy," she said. "If we needed to, I know we could do that."

* The Osage County Courthouse will always be open to some extent. Sheriff Mike Bonham limits traffic to and through his office as much as possible.

"Keeping the continuity of government is a challenge," he observed, adding that anyone who must enter clears the COVID-19 screening questions.

Everything possible is by appointment. Officers who must take fingerprints are wearing PPE, and prisoner transfers are at a minimum.

* With the population being kept to their homes to a much greater degree, "Domestic [incidents] are going through the roof," he said.

Officers are trying to handle those outside of people's houses when possible.

* The Missouri Supreme Court's emergency order is in force until April 17. Most expect that to be extended. No personal court hearings are taking place except by appointment; and those are limited to one person at a time. Payments to the court are urged to be by phone, credit card, or mail.

* There are no routine visits allowed to the Osage County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. There is only one person manning that office at a time.

* Other offices are staggering shifts and having as many staff as possible work from home. All is done to limit interaction and avoid shutting down the county government. Clerk Nicci Kammerich has joined 911/EMA and the MU Extension in closing her Annex office to the public. Most transactions can be done on line or by phone.

* Second District Commissioner Larry Kliethermes mentioned a culvert blocked on CR 521, which Road & Bridge Foreman Ron said crews will address.

That led to a discussion of the county’s responsibility regarding culverts, and First District Commissioner John Glavin vehemently objected to operators stopping to clear driveway culverts. "We're paying [too much] for those graders for a guy to stop and clear a culvert," he said.

Glavin noted that he clears his own ditches and feels everyone else should too. The other commissioners feel ditches are part of Road & Bridge’s responsibility. The county's policy is the department installs culverts purchased by landowners. Maintenance logically follows, especially as the county is responsible for ditches. Kempker said operators carry equipment to clear culverts when they see they're obstructed.

Osage County Presiding Commissioner Darryl Griffin expressed concern gravel wind rows on roadsides contribute to clogged culverts. Heavy rains flowing down roads instead of draining to the side can wash the gravel into the ditches. Discussion ensued about operators keeping the extra gravel handy for use. Glavin is critical of operators in his district not keeping material in those wind rows. He sees it as evidence those roads don't have enough rock on them.

* Kempker now has the creek gravel screening operation out of Meta.

* Grader #06 has developed a hydraulic leak which should be under warranty. It's one of the newer leased machines and Fabick Caterpillar of Jefferson City is working on it in the field.

* Kempker’s crew is working hard to deal with the coronavirus emergency. "Everybody's keeping their distance out there," he said. Kempker prohibits operators from switching trucks and equipment as often as normal. When two or more work together, they emphasize social distance and disinfectant.

* Glavin said, "CR 734 needs some gravel put on it." Kempker responded, "They actually did that yesterday. They're doing [some more] today."

* Rock has been hauled on CRs 506, 508, 735, 738, 740, and 754; service has been done on Grader #03, and Truck #32; a stop sign and post has been repaired on the Loose Creek Highway; and grader operators have been active on CRs 213, 241, 242, 243, 275, 315, 508, 521, 542, 612, 714, 715, 738, 740, 741, 753, 754, and several washouts.

* Osage County University of Missouri Extension Program Director John Gulick visited the commissioners to say goodbye. Tuesday, March 31, was his last day before retiring.

He has closed the Extension office through April 15. He believes that circumstance will extend. This is by direction of the University of Missouri (MU). Services are still offered, but by appointment only.

The phone line to the office is being forwarded to Office Manager Alice Scheulen. Gulick's counterpart in Gasconade County, Lydia Nipper, will serve as interim director as the university goes through the process of replacing Gulick.

However, MU has a hiring hold in place while offices are largely closed for the coronavirus emergency. It will last two months, and could be extended. Gulick's replacement would normally be on duty by June, but now it's likely to be much later in the summer.

"It doesn't mean we're not working," he said. He briefed the commissioners on ways the service delivers programs without personal contact.

Gulick plans to continue serving as secretary for the Osage County AgriTourism Council.

* Building and Grounds Janitorial and Maintenance Worker John Kennedy announced the smoke detector in the Osage County Courthouse is repaired, and now sounds in the elevator regardless what floor the elevator is on.

* Bills from March 18 through March 30 were approved as follows by department: 911/EMA ($8,443.87), Assessor ($795.99), Building & Grounds ($503.32), Circuit Clerk ($454.19), County Clerk ($113.09), Elections ($2.350.96), Health Department ($385.08), Miscellaneous ($480.72), Prosecuting Attorney ($133.38), Recorder ($110), Road & Bridge ($7,321.50), Sheriff-Jail ($3,635.21), Surveyor ($6,000), and Treasurer ($876.93); for a total of $31,604.24.

* Commissioners signed liability checks.

THURSDAY,

APRIL 2, 2020

* Commissioners signed Long's “stay-at-home" order, which was approved at a special meeting earlier on Thursday. Details are covered in this edition of the Unterrified Democrat.

* Hatfield's Repair expects to have Truck #38 finished and back to the department before the end of the week.

* Partnership Specialist Eric David of the United States Census briefed the commission and answered questions about the census effort in Osage County.

* Commissioners signed outgoing checks.

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