TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2020

Osage County Recorder Cindy Hoffman briefed the commissioners on an encounter she had with Shelter Insurance Agent Jeff Wolfe. Wolfe's office neighbors the Osage County Courthouse Annex to the west; and he upbraided Hoffman about people parking between the Annex and his building.

That day, she asked the county employees she could find parked there to move their cars. However, "I don't think it's my job to do that," she said, with which commissioners concurred.

Kliethermes observed, "I think it's his property. Let him put up some signs."

There was also consensus not all cars parked there belong to county employees. Sometimes visitors to the Annex park there while doing business.

Hoffman reiterated her discomfort with the encounter.

"It's not your job," Glavin reassured her.

”It's not our fight," Griffin added.

Hoffman also has heard complaints about uneven concrete near the property line. The commission maintains it's on Wolfe's property.

According to landmark pins, county property extends less than halfway to Wolfe's building. Any car parked between the two would likely be on Wolfe's property. He has no parking restriction signs posted east of his building.

"Some people think that's a street," observed Kliethermes.

Hoffman also reviewed the new doorbell procedures in place for the COVID-19 emergency. She and Osage County Collector Denise Nolte answer the bell and screen citizens wanting to enter. "The doorbell situation … is working out real good," she said.

* An extended period of decent, dry weather means a lot to the Osage County Road & Bridge Department. "We're making good progress now," Foreman Ron Kempker asserted, adding traffic on the roads has reduced.

* Kempker asked if specifications from the new private culvert ordinance were ready yet. There are two of them ready to install on CRs 524 and 516. The commission has not published the details yet; and he was instructed to read the minutes of the meetings where it was discussed and voted on.

* Osage County Health Department Administrator Susan Long has made masks available to any county department which would like to use them. Kempker displayed one of them. "We thank [the health department] for that," he said.

Kempker explained some of the measures, besides masks, the department is utilizing. Usually, when a truck or piece of equipment is being serviced, two or three operators work on the project. Now, only one services a machine at a time, which promotes social distancing. "Everything takes a little bit longer," Kempker observed, “But we're still getting it done."

Also, as much as possible, only one operator works with any machine during the day.

* Osage County First District Commissioner John Glavin mentioned that CR 319 needs a little rock. He said potholes have residents skirting dangerously over the shoulders when driving.

* Glavin also asked for attention on CRs 232 and 233.

"We'll take a look at them," responded Kempker.

* Osage County Second District Commissioner Larry Kliethermes was concerned about a culvert on CR 521. "Part of that pipe is completely sheared off," he said. "The hole is filled."

He observed the lower side of the crossing had been shoveled out, but rock is still blocking the upper end.

* Osage County Presiding Commissioner Darryl Griffin had received a phone call from a resident on CR 315. It was complimentary of Kempker's crew, and Griffin quoted the caller as saying, "People ought to know you're working hard out there."

Kempker mentioned a new culvert going in on that road, and added, "We're trying to do some major improvement … down there." He also would like to haul some gravel out of the nearby creek. "We will go back," he assured Griffin.

* Rock has been hauled on CRs 203, 231, 302, 303, 304, 306, 311, 313, 315, 318, 412, 416, 424, 501, 503, 521, 709, 735, 736, and 752; service has been done on Grader #08 and Truck #31; a culvert has been replaced on CR 701; and grader operators have been active on CRs 201, 231, 302, 315, 318, 321, 403, 404, 416, 501, 503, 512, 522, 524, 613B, 731, 733, 734, 735, 738, and 805.

THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2020

Long observed the number of COVID-19 cases is up nationally. In terms of the forecast, "We're still waiting to see," she said.

* The Missouri Senate recently passed a bill which failed to appropriate funds for county health departments; even though those agencies front the state's defense against the coronavirus. "I was extremely disappointed in them," she said.

In response, Long intends to present all extra expenses incurred by Osage County to the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), hoping for reimbursement.

* Most new cases of COVID-19 in Missouri are related to travel. Only a minority of cases are contracted by community contact.

* Long still expects to do COVID-19 testing in Osage County. She is actively studying test kits which the county may end up ordering. "I'm just looking into things right now," she said.

* There have been some nasty scams occurring which hope to prey on the emergency. Her staff has one she has turned into Missouri State Attorney General Jay Ashcroft. "We'll be investigating that," she observed. "Telework" and "telemedicine" are both up during the "stay at home" order; and that may be increasing the exposure to such breaches.

* As reported on Page 1 of this week’s paper, Osage County now has one open COVID-19 case. Five contacts with that case are also under quarantine. There is one test out for a county first responder which Long suspects may turn out positive.

"We still need them," she said of the first responders. She regards them as very top priority in the battle against the disease. Long is concerned what happens if some are lost for the 14 or more days they would be prohibited from working. "This means we can't let our guard down," she wrote in her Smart 911 update Friday, April 10.

* The county is still unable to obtain most masks or surgical gowns. Long would still like to have them should the emergency worsen here.

* Long said she is extremely appreciative of the response to Public Health Week. "I was not soliciting gifts of any sort," she said.

However, flowers; fruit baskets; meals; donuts; and several gestures of respect and gratitude came from citizens and county businesses. "It's just made it a lot easier this week," she concluded.

* There are still counties with no confirmed cases, including a few near Osage County. They probably have some, but have yet to test the individuals with it. Long thinks it's just sheer luck. "It's not that they don't have them," she said. "It's just that they don't know it yet.

"We were working on this very early on," she added, complementing her staff and the county's EOC.

* Several 911/EMA departments complain about the information coming from their health departments; but not Osage County 911/EMA Administrator Andrea Rice and her staff. "She and I have always worked very well together," Long said.

Griffin mentioned the role common sense plays in disease prevention and emergency management; but "common sense isn't always prevailing," said Long.

As tough as this time is for her and her staff, she sees the improvement it's producing in their performance. "We're certainly going to have some seasoned pros when this is all over with," she claimed.

* As favorable weather continued, Kempker's crew was busy with routine maintenance. They pursued the worst washouts from heavy rains in late March. "We're trying to get caught up on that," he said.

* Commissioners signed a card and viewed a plaque for Operator Dave Dill recognizing his 40 years of service. "We appreciate it," said Griffin. "He's a good man."

* Glavin brought up a low-water slab deteriorating on CR 271 and the creek bank giving way near CR 263. "I'm going out there today to check it out," said Glavin.

* Kliethermes asked if he had looked in on CR 521. "I'm going to do that today," responded Kempker.

* Griffin had fielded a call from a citizen asking about the possibility of closing CR 208. No one lives on the road, although there are seven land owners with property on it. There have been several recent incidents of vandalism in farm fields adjacent to it. "We haven't maintained it for quite some time," Kempker noted.

Griffin said he would have the caller contact the clerk's office for forms to fill out and procedures to follow for getting it in front of the commission to consider.

* Griffin hasn't heard from Westphalia City Attorney David Bandre about the special contract about CR 511 within Westphalia city limits. Bandre submitted a draft contract earlier which the commission wanted amended. Griffin has emailed him as recently as Tuesday, April 7.

* Osage County Treasurer Tim Neuner submitted Sales Tax Distribution Notices. The County Infrastructure Tax has yielded $57,566.19 so far in 2020, up $428.78 over 2019. The 911 tax is up to $57,566.24, up $289.44. The original sales tax has gained $50,080.32, up $1,097.63. The Use Tax brought in $23,695.41, down $6,022.89. The Additional General Tax has garnered $28,782.83, up $333.99. Commissioners were happy with the overall increases, but Neuner warned about the next set of notices being affected by the coronavirus emergency.

"It looks good, considering," said Glavin.

* Neuner produced the invoices for two new patrol cars for the sheriff's office. The vehicles come from Behlman Dodge of Troy. One priced at $33,041, and the other is $34,360 minus $2,800 for a trade. The 2020 budget provided $66,900 for them, and the commission approved and signed the checks.

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