OSAGE COUNTY — Road & Bridge Foreman Justin Bridges publicly announced his intention to go back to part-time, beginning on Oct. 20, prompting commissioners to discuss the need to advertise for a new foreman.

Western District Commissioner Dale Logan suggested advertising for both a foreman and assistant foreman, under the assumption that Assistant Foreman Brad Sneller will apply for the foreman’s position, and a new assistant foreman will be necessary if he is promoted. Bridges agreed that advertising “opens up a better pool of possibility.” Griffin said interviews will be “a little more thorough” this time, focusing on budgeting and time management.

Commissioners set the pay range for both positions at $25 to $30 per hour, based on experience, and directed the County Clerk to advertise for three weeks on the county website, in the Unterrified Democrat, and at several physical locations.

• Logan reported that the Pentecostal Bridge bid opening originally scheduled for Oct. 9 would be delayed to Oct. 16 due to a federal rule change removing “disadvantaged business enterprise” (DBE) requirements. “The federal government has done away with those requirements,” Logan said. “Because of that, contractors will bid differently. It’s going to save the county some money.”

• Interim County Clerk Brooke Dudenhoeffer presented a proposal from Revize, the county’s current website vendor, to meet ADA requirements for visually and hearing-impaired users. The four-year agreement would cost $3,000 for initial upgrades, then $1,200 for maintenance the second year and $1,000 for each of the final two years.

“I need to make sure that we are compliant at 100 percent of all these things,” Dudenhoeffer said.

Peters and Logan said the county should explore local options before committing to another long-term contract. Dudenhoeffer agreed. “It’s not like I’m set on these guys,” she said. “We ought to see if we can get cheaper somewhere.”

Commission Clerk Brandy Boessen mentioned State Tech students might be able to help with web design and compliance research. Commissioners decided to table the proposal while gathering quotes, and Logan said he would speak to State Tech President Dr. Shawn Strong about the possibility of having students maintain the county’s website,

• The commission also discussed a request from former insurance agent Johnnie Fowler, who expressed interest in meeting with the county about taking over its insurance account. Peters said the county’s contract with Higginbotham runs through this year, but the board would welcome a proposal in 2026. Dudenhoeffer confirmed that Fowler previously represented the county before leaving his firm. “He went on his own, and his three-year non-compete expired a couple years ago,” she explained.

• Dudenhoeffer said six county employees had yet to complete required “Form Fire” insurance information, five of whom were from 911, which was holding up the county’s ability to get health insurance quotes. “I’ve contacted them multiple times,” she said. “I thought I had given plenty of time and opportunity.”

Presiding Commissioner Darryl Griffin left a voicemail for 911 Director Ron Hoffman, who was out of town. “They’re holding up the train rolling,” he advised. “I’m wanting to blow the horn.”

• Correction: due to a transcription error, Treasurer Valerie Prater (who is exceptionally competent) was misquoted in last week’s article as saying she had lost the mail. She did not lose the mail; the check was lost in the mail.

ROAD & BRIDGE

Road & Bridge Foreman Justin Bridges told commissioners Tuesday that both of the department’s boom mowers - known as “whippers” - were running at the same time for the first time in months. “We had both whippers running on the same day,” he said, adding ruefully that it was only for one day.

• He also reported a culvert replacement on CR 241 near the intersection with CR 243. “It was in pretty bad shape,” Bridges said of the old clay culvert. “There was nothing left - it was not functioning.”

• Commissioners also sent a request to Gasconade County to maintain Osage County roads 221, 243, and 221 in return for Osage County maintaining Gasconade County’s Mud Creek Road, as these roads are only accessible at the end of roads belonging to the other county. Maintenance will consist of road grading, brush cutting, pulling ditches, and snow removal. Rock placement and culvert operations will be performed by the county that owns the road.

• Eastern District Commissioner Jeff Peters said a resident appreciated new rock near Rt. KK but wanted additional rock on a hilltop where “shelf rock [is] sticking out everywhere.”

Bridges said the department would take care of it once conditions allow. “We’re hoping for rain,” he explained. “If you put a bunch of base rock down on hillsides … you’re going to get washboards if we don’t have enough moisture.”

• Logan asked about a project on CR 512, where the county planned to add rock. Bridges said he had not yet heard back from the land owner but would deliver rock as soon as possible. “It’s literally just dumping rock,” he said.

• Commissioners also discussed the deteriorating concrete slab bridge on CR 508 in the Meta area. Logan said a metal strip across the bridge had come loose and appeared unsafe, and asked Bridges about the possibility of removing the strip. “It’s not doing anything other than making people nervous,” he said. Bridges replied that he would inspect the site again before removing it but agreed the metal likely served no structural purpose.

• Peters asked Bridges to compile labor figures for equipment repair work - both in-house and outsourced - to determine whether the county should hire a full-time mechanic. “We’re spending a lot of money in repairs,” Peters said.

Bridges supported the idea. “That’s probably a good idea, especially if we can find somebody who is trained up technically,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of stuff that’s beyond its half-life.”

Logan said the department already tracks work activity and could easily begin logging maintenance hours. Bridges agreed and said operators will now record time spent on services and turn in signed work orders. “It takes almost zero effort to do it,” he said. “We just haven’t been in the habit.”

• Commissioners debated anniversary raises for department employees. Peters opposed granting additional raises so soon after a $2.50 per-hour increase earlier this year. “We don’t have any more money for raises in our budget,” he said.

Logan maintained that one-year raises had long been standard but should depend on performance. Bridges noted that newer hires are not promised automatic increases. “We aren’t promising that anymore,” he said.

• Bridges said crews planned to replace a culvert on CR 251 the following week.

The existing pipe “is just simply unable to handle the amount of water that comes in from both directions,” he said. “We’re going to pull that existing pipe out and replace it with a larger pipe, and probably not put it so deep so that more will flow.”

He added that ditches on the opposite side of the road would be cleaned to improve drainage.

• Creek rock was hauled on CRs 412 (48 tons), 413 (240 tons), 414 (120 tons), 415 (32 tons), 711 (192 tons), 716 (32 tons), 727 (112 tons), 731 (48 tons), 734 (16 tons); quarry rock on CRs 212 (382.42 tons), 221 (171.81 tons), 241 (143.05 tons), 243 (153.79 tons), 412 (359.97 tons); a culvert was replaced on CR 241; brush mowers were working on CRs 610, 611, 612; trees were removed on CR 274A, 634, and 742, and grader operators were active as follows: G01 (CRs 503, 504, 516), G02 (701, 703, 704, 705, 724, 725, 725A), G03 (CRs 202, 205, 206, 207, 212, 234, 312, 314), G04 (CRs 512, 521, 522, 523, 524, 616, 632, 637, 638), G05 (CRs 310, 403, 412, 416, 431, 432, 435, 436, 803), G06 (CRs 242, 243, 274A).

• Equipment serviced in house: graders G04 (2016 12M3 AWD) and G05 (2023 672G John Deere), and dump truck DT31 (white 2004 Peterbilt). Equipment serviced out of house: backboe B12 (1997 580SL CASE), excavator CE50 (2021 E50 Bobcat), and plow truck PT53 (2023 Chevrolet Silverado).

• Contact was received from citizens regarding driveway placement on CR 736, issues with CR 416, road conditions on CR 413 (two separate citizens), fallen tree on CR 742, and washboards on CR 503.

• Compliments were received about work done on CR 413.

FINANCIAL

• Sales tax distribution received from the state of Missouri showed $493,772.70 collected in September, including $65,806.01 to General Revenue, $73,821.88 to Jail Renovation (JR60), $36,900.82 to Capitol Improvements (CI88, $33,210.74) and Building & Grounds (BG89 $29,889.66), $73,801.78 to Prop P, $74,357.38 to Prop R, $73,821.77 to 911/Law Enforcement, and $95,263.06 to Use Tax.

• The September Statement of Monthly Collections from the collector showed county tax distributions of $995.99 to General Revenue, $2,311.39 to the County Retirement Fund (CERF), $211.50 to the County Assessment Fund, and $2.53 to the County Collector’s Office.

Taxes collected for the school districts were: $681.48 to R-1 (Chamois), $2,975.39 to R-2 (Linn), $4,954.64 to R-3 (Fatima), and $2,597.95 to Maries County R-2.

A total of $660.04 went to special road districts, including Osage County ($509.20), Belle Special Road District ($43.54), Chamois Special Road District ($38.72), West Special Road District ($35.30), and Linn Special Road District ($33.28).

Ambulance districts received the following: Osage ($321.60), Ozark ($211.10), and Maries ($55.59), for a total of $588.29.

Fire Districts received a total of $509.99, including Belle ($212.37), Bland ($12.27), Chamois ($34.97), and Linn ($250.38).

Cities received a total of $297.85, including Belle ($144.51), Chamois ($76.09), and Linn ($77.25).

• Time sheets were approved by commissioners.

• Checks were submitted for signatures.