County ready to purchase building for OCHD

By Neal A. Johnson, UD Editor
Posted 10/14/21

The appraisal, inspection, and survey of the property at US 50 and MO 89, proposed to house Osage County Health Department (OCHD), have all been completed. With that data, a final price of $200,000 …

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County ready to purchase building for OCHD

Posted

The appraisal, inspection, and survey of the property at US 50 and MO 89, proposed to house Osage County Health Department (OCHD), have all been completed. With that data, a final price of $200,000 emerged. A purchase contract is on the way. Commissioners now strive to close the purchase and enlist an architect to remodel. "I'd like to move this ahead as quickly as possible," said Osage County Western District Commissioner Larry Kliethermes.

"It's so exciting,” said OCHD Administrator Kim Sallin. "Thank you all so much."

Sallin reported active cases of COVID-19 in the county falling to nine. The pandemic total is now 2,271. She's hoping the number is real and not artificially deflated by unreported home tests. One current case is hospitalized and one more county citizen has died of the disease, bringing the total to 23. There have been two recent breakthrough cases. That total is now 60 since vaccination began. The vaccination rate in the county is approaching 72%.

Flu cases for this season are still at one, none active. OCHD has given 325 doses of flu vaccine.

Sallin had commissioners sign for two grants. One was for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) for $36,429. The other is for the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Crisis Cooperative Agreement for $21,787.

Sallin updated commissioners on the recent dog bite emergency. She has made arrangements to detain the animal at an undisclosed location. She issued the order for apprehension, but the owner and the dog have been able to avoid recent detection. The corporate headquarters of the store where the bite occurred was unaware of the situation but they are cooperating fully with the investigation. The dog's owner is an employee at that store, and that employee's schedule has been provided to Sallin. Osage County Sheriff Mike Bonham has been alerted as to that schedule. Equipment is available for the animal's apprehension. 

"I will be of service any way I can. I can't do anymore," said Sallin. "I will help feed and water it.”

If the animal is successfully captured, a hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 13. Her presence is required to proceed with any adverse procedure against the dog and its owner. However, the dog was not sighted at the time of her briefing.

Bonham confirmed he had a warrant for corralling the dog. His deputies have yet to locate it and he's concerned about procedures once they do. 

"We don't have the training but we're going to try,” said Bonham, adding he is still more concerned about public safety than he is potential liability and danger.

 

SHERIFF

Bonham reported a deer strike by a patrol vehicle near Honey Creek. In this case, the animal charged into the side of the car near the front fender. There's a dent in that location, and some other material was torn off from inside the rear wheel well. "That's the only damage I can see," he said, noting it’s been turned into the insurance and the Dodge Durango is still drivable and in service.

"Crime is down," said Bonham, reporting on his overall workload, "but the calls we're getting are much more complex. These are taking a lot more time to investigate."

SECURETECH

Steve Kirby, founder, and owner of SecureTech Systems, Inc., Irving, Texas, reviewed a proposal he had made in January to replace the aging "panic button" system in the Osage County Courthouse. SecureTech installed that system in 2004 and has maintained it since. However, parts and software support are now unavailable should any component of the system fail. 

"There's not a way to grow or repair that system," Kirby reiterated. "It's time to upgrade."

The new system would be entirely wireless. Any time upgrades become available, they can be installed immediately via email. Plus, it's a simple one-time expense. There are no monthly monitoring or maintenance charges. When a "panic button" is activated, it broadcasts straight to law enforcement, eliminating delay through 911 dispatch. 911 will, however, be notified.

Kirby has an offer on the table to replace it in the Courthouse and Administration Building (Annex) for $16,631.50, and add a complementary system to the Road and Bridge property for $7,943.50, for a total of $24,575.

Commissioners know some kind of system should be installed in the new OCHD building as part of its remodeling. They are waiting for word on possible assistance available from the Missouri state court system for help in the Courthouse. It would be similar to that which was made available for the new sound system in the courtroom. Whatever is done in the OCHD building will be eligible for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding.

Commissioners agreed to contact Kirby once they know what's available from the state. They're ready to have the OCHD remodeling planned.

911/EMA

Osage County 911/EMA Director Ron Hoffman has his staff training for the advent of Text 911. ProQA is sending their training software to completely implement it.

He has succeeded in getting attention from Solacom Technologies, Inc., Downers Grove, Ill., but is not impressed. 

Hoffman noted they're going over some things and making excuses for slow response to a repair request. "We've been waiting on them nine months and I'm not that patient,” he said.

Hoffman said he is still thinking of changing his communications systems to Intrado Viper, which all neighboring counties already use. If there is a communications crash, he could have his staff go to a neighboring center, log in and take calls.

Socket insists there's nothing wrong with its email service and won't investigate any further. Hoffman says they can't send any emails, so he's changing servers. 

"You know how it is when they say they won't investigate any further because their stuff works," said Hoffman. "We can slowly migrate to … other email."

Hoffman still wants to fill one full-time opening and would like to hire one more part-time call-taker for night shift substitution. "Our dispatchers are our biggest salesmen," said Hoffman.

ROAD AND BRIDGE

Osage County Road and Bridge Foreman Ron Kempker has ordered cinders, salt, and extra grader blades in preparation for winter. The department has also taken delivery of its last load of non-winter blend fuel. All fuel delivered from now on will be winter blend until spring. Osage County Eastern District Commissioner John Trenshaw asked about the stock of blades in light of recent supply chain difficulties. Kempker thinks his preparation has been adequate. "We're plenty good there," he responded.

Permanent signs, to be in place until the new bridge is built, have been placed on the west side of the Maries River on CR 611. Department's temporary signs have now been removed. The same process is waiting for utility placement verification before digging on the east side. "We want to do locates first," Kempker explained. "Then we'll be pulling our signs out."

One result of the county's filing suit against Stutsman Transportation, Inc., of Hills, Iowa, the trucking company whose driver wrecked the bridge, is the revelation of additional liability insurance coverage owned by the company. 

Until forced by the court, Stutsman was only willing to reveal $2 million in property damage liability insurance. It's now known they have an additional $3 million umbrella policy. Unfortunately, Chris Rackers, the attorney hired to represent Osage County in court in this case has ties to the company underwriting that umbrella policy. Therefore, he has had to recuse himself from the case. Commissioners have therefore retained Matthew Clement of Clement, Van Ronzelen & Schulte of Jefferson City, which has agreed to take over the case at the same rate agreed to with Rackers. 

Recent rains have put Kempker's crews behind on road maintenance, especially in the southeast corner of the county. "We're trying to play catch-up," he said. "I ask the public to be a little patient. We're getting to it."

Osage County Presiding Commissioner Darryl Griffin has noticed the blue-painted handicap parking markers in the Osage County Courthouse Square parking lot are fading. He asked Kempker to freshen them up when he has the opportunity.

Kempker is still short-staffed, and he has no new applicants to consider. "We need help," he said.

Department employees performed service on Trailer #29 and prepared for winter; workers cleaned culverts and ditches on CR 416, and repaired a culvert on CR 608; mowers worked on CRs 506, 508, 633, and Loose Creek Highway; and graders worked on CRs 201, 205, 206, 207, 232, 233, 234, 263, 303, 310, 311, 311A, 401 412,  413, 414, 503, 504, 604, 606, 608, 711, 712, 741, 804, and 805.

CARES AUDIT

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 required jurisdictions like Osage County, assigned to distribute CARES funds, to undergo a professional audit of their 2020 finances, especially their stewardship of CARES Act funds. Osage County enlisted Williams-Keepers of Jefferson City to provide that service. The audit is complete, and Amanda Schultz, CPA, of Williams-Keepers presented the report to commissioners on Tuesday, Oct. 5.

The firm issued an "unmodified" or "clean," opinion after performing the audit. It evaluated "the appropriateness of accounting policies, the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates, and the overall financial statement presentation."

"That is the best opinion you can get," said Schultz. "We had no disagreements with management on accounting or auditing issues, we had no difficulties in performing our audit, and we felt we received full cooperation from the county's staff. We appreciate everyone's cooperation and assistance."

The CARES Act provided the funds paid to Williams-Keepers for their services.

"I think it's great we had an independent auditor rather than the state [of Missouri Auditor] do this," said Griffin. All commissioners were happy with the procedure and the report.

MISCELLANEOUS

Commission reviewed these expenditures through Sept. 30, listed by department: 911 ($522,739.43), Assessor ($159,230.83), EMA ($95,095.52), Road & Bridge ($1,212,288.75), Building & Grounds ($46,255.95), Circuit Clerk ($7,189.65), Collector ($78,453.81), Coroner ($14,620.23), County Clerk ($80,733.01), Commission ($81,665.41), Elections ($12,367.74), Fringe Benefits ($194,519.96), Jail ($188,214.84), Juvenile Officer ($16,909.23), Prosecuting Attorney ($93,271.14), Public Administrator ($32,395.38), OCHD ($270,097.78), Recorder ($35,719.04), Sheriff ($647.092.88), Other ($5,812), Professional Organizations ($40,420.54), Surveyor ($7,083.60), Treasurer ($34,196.67), and Transfers ($6,600); for a grand total of $1,893,618.86. There were no expenditures from the emergency fund, leaving a balance of $68,370. Through nine months, expenditures are running at 68.54% of the 2021 budgeted appropriations, better than 6% in the black.

The Osage County Salary Commission will meet at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 13.

An expired drugs and electronics recycling collection is scheduled at Osage County Fairgrounds on Saturday, Oct. 16.

The Taste of Osage County is scheduled at Linn City Park on Saturday, Oct. 16.

Due to the Missouri Western District County Commissioners meeting, no Osage County Commission Meeting is scheduled on Thursday, Oct. 21.

The Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) annual dinner is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 21, at State Technical College. The 2020 dinner was canceled, so there will be two years worth of awards given. Local government and other community leaders will be invited.

University of Missouri (MU) Extension Service and OCHD plan to co-sponsor a health fair at Legends Park in Linn at 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 22.

Pentecostal Bridge lawsuit mediation is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 2. There will be no Osage County Commission meeting.

All County offices will be closed Thursday, Nov. 11, in observance of Veterans Day, and Thursday, Nov. 25, in observance of Thanksgiving.