OSAGE COUNTY — Health Department Administrator Kim Sallin asked the Osage County Commission on April 30 whether to move forward with interviewing a nurse practitioner for a proposed quick care clinic, drawing questions from commissioners about funding, scheduling, and expectations for the position.

Health Department Administrator Kim Sallin said she identified a nurse practitioner candidate who is seeking $60 per hour, or $124,800 annually.

“I went on ZipRecruiter and advertised for a nurse practitioner, and I received several resumes,” Sallin said. “One of them I spoke with yesterday seems like a perfect fit. I mean, I just couldn’t be happier with (them).”

Sallin said the candidate is accustomed to working without an on-site physician, which matches the county’s planned clinic model.

Sallin also relayed the candidate’s suggestions for building patient volume, including outreach events and mobile services if clinic traffic is slow.

“My concern about that is, why did we build million dollar building if we’re mobile with everything,” asked Presiding Commissioner Darryl Griffin.

“Well, you got to get out there and,” Sallin began.

Griffin interrupted, “No, that’s the reason why, you got to get out there?”

“You do, yes,” Sallin said. “Because if they’re not coming to you, you’ve got to go to them. Now, you don’t have to continue going to them. But if you go to them, show them what services you have and what things that you can do, and they’re like, ‘Oh, we have a health department?’ Which is what I hear all the time, ‘We have a health department?’”

Then they know about you, and then they start coming. They tell their friends and family, they start coming. We’ve definitely seen that, you know, going out to Senior Connections, doing blood pressure checks, doing different things. We see those people then coming into our building after that. So yes, I truly believe you’ve got to go out and get your name out and start doing things.”

Griffin then questioned the availability of the Health Department’s foot care clinic, saying, “My understanding was, when we bought all the equipment, that person was going to be full time.”

“That was never... I had never had that impression,” Sallin responded.

Griffin replied, “You might not have had it, but I did. Understand what I’m saying?”

“I mean, I guess,” Sallin said. “But when I did my budget and showed everything, like, it was for one day a week. And there was never a plan to have her for more than one day a week, because when I proposed this to you, she had a full time job, and we signed her to a contract for two years. So, this person who had a full time job for two years was going to be our foot and nail person, which meant she wasn’t going to give us more time.”

“But, we had to get it going, so we had to go to the clerk (who) offered their credit card because you already spent yours,” Griffin said. “So, we had to get that equipment sooner than later. Remember that?”

“Is there a problem with, I mean, why are you bringing this up,” Sallin asked. “Because we’ve already made enough money to cover the costs of the equipment that we have bought.”

“Why am I bringing it up? I’m asking questions to satisfy myself,” Griffin responded.

“Is there an issue or a problem that you’ve encountered,” Sallin asked.

“I just want to know how many hours this person is going to work, and who’s going to set the hours and I want it to be available to the public,” Griffin said. “Not, like I said, a rolling deal.”

“She doesn’t travel,” Sallin said. “The only place that she goes is to Harbor Place, to the individuals there.”

“You asked me why I was asking,” Griffin said. “I’m saying on the nurse practitioner, is she going to be in that building, or are you going to have her rotating all time?”

“I can’t speak for her, but I’m gonna say she’ll probably be in it, unless it’s really, really slow, and then you have to get out and do different things,” said Treasurer Valerie Prater.

“Well, how can you go and do something else,” asked Eastern District Commissioner Jeff Peters. “Somebody shows up there to urgent care and there’s nobody there to treat them.”

“I’m not criticizing you,” he continued. “I mean, you can’t advertise having a quick care and not have quick care, correct?”

“That’s what I’m looking at,” Griffin agreed.

“If I was taking the nurse practitioner out to a health fair or to, you know, something, and then she wouldn’t be in the office,” Sallin said.

“I don’t have a problem with that,” Griffin said.

“So, I mean, that would have to be posted in plenty of advance, like, we’re not going to be open for quick care,” Sallin said, adding that the candidate might not even want to work five days a week. “I haven’t gotten that far, because I’m coming here first, because I know what she wants and, before I waste her time having her come and visit with us and try

to figure anything else out, I need to know if this is even going to be on the table, because this is what we’ve been waiting for.”

“I’d interview and see what she’s offering on hours,” Griffin said.

“She wants to know if she can get support on funding, because you can’t offer someone a job if there’s no money,” Prater said.

“How can we fund it if we don’t know what they’re going to offer us on performance,” Griffin countered.

Sallin said the person would be expected to work 40 hours per week, but she had not polled the community regarding what hours would work best, or what possible location(s).

“I want them in the office,” Griffin said.

“If we’re going to hire nurse practitioner do the quick care, in my opinion, it needs to be available,” Peters agreed.

“I’m confused,” said Western District Commissioner Dale Logan. “I guess, myself, I’ve never heard you say anything about the nurse practitioner doing anything other than running the quick care.”

“When I talked to her yesterday, she said ‘If the business isn’t coming for the quick care, like, if it’s really slow, you’re not making money, if you don’t have people coming in, that she had ideas of things,’” Sallin said. “Like, you could go visit State Tech. She could go out there and do an event to let them know that she’s there. Let them meet her. Just doing different things, going out in the community to help promote this service. Not, ‘Every Thursday we’re going to be out at State Tech and doing wellness exams or whatever.’ Just things to help promote. And that is not something that I have to say yes to, either. (If) we don’t want her ever to be outside of the building, then I don’t have to allow that.”

“You get where I’m coming from,” Peters said. “If you’re advertising this business, and then (someone) shows up with a sick child to get care and nobody’s there, then they gotta get back to the car and drive somewhere else. I think it’s going to be a worse look on us doing something like that rather than not having enough business. I think that would drive us into the ground extremely fast, having that salary and then not having somebody in there all the time.”

“Well, we started this train rolling down a track,” Logan said. “We can’t stop now until we get these answers. So, I say, yeah, interview.”

“I just want to know if you guys are on board with the funding before she interviews and does the process,” Prater said.

“I’m 100% on board,” Peters said. “I just want it to be a well oiled machine that runs every day. I don’t want to pay somebody $130,000 and it’s every third Thursday of the month from eight to two. You get what I’m saying?”

“I’m right there with you,” Griffin said.

The commissioners agreed to proceed with interviewing the candidate.

• Commissioners discussed a damaged bridge on CR 705, where someone reportedly felled a tree that struck and cracked the concrete bridge deck. Peters said the individual “confessed to what he did, and thought it was funny,” and the commission agreed that person would be responsible for repair costs. No formal vote was taken, as commissioners said liability was clear. The county plans to obtain a repair estimate and pass that cost to the individual responsible.

• The commission also approved a motion to hire BFW Engineering and Consulting to conduct an $8,000 study for a low-water crossing on CR 508. The study will provide three replacement options for the structure, which does not qualify for certain Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) funding. However, Logan said the project may still be eligible to accrue soft match money.

• Discussion of the locally approved senior property tax credit focused on implementation timelines and administrative logistics.

Collector Denise Nolte said the credit would apply beginning with the 2027 tax year, with applications expected to open around March 1, 2027, after the 2026 tax books are closed.

She outlined a process in which eligible residents would submit applications verifying residency and qualification, either in person or online. Applications would likely be accepted through late June so the assessor’s office can incorporate the information before finalizing tax rolls.

Nolte said the first year will require additional staff time to process applications, though that demand should decrease in later years.

Nolte also indicated she wants to review draft ordinance language to ensure it matches what voters approved before it is adopted.

• A separate discussion addressed SB3-related provisions that were also on the ballot.

Nolte said 43 counties are currently involved in litigation related to SB3, including questions about whether the state must fund implementation of the law.

She recommended the county take no action on SB3 at this time and “set it aside” until the legal process plays out and clearer guidance is available.

Commissioners agreed with that approach, noting the uncertainty surrounding both funding and implementation.

• A lengthy discussion focused on whether to implement random drug testing for county employees. Western District Commissioner Dale Logan argued against blanket testing, calling it unnecessary for courthouse staff and raising concerns about regulating off-duty behavior. He said testing should be limited to safety-sensitive roles or cases involving accidents or visible impairment.

Other commissioners questioned whether drawing those lines would create more complications than a universal policy, noting that most county employees could fall under testing requirements anyway. Presiding Commissioner Darryl Griffin also raised liability concerns, suggesting the county could be exposed if it does not have a policy in place.

The commissioners decided to discuss the issue with county attorney Amanda Grellner before making a decision.

• Logan asked Higginbotham representative Alan Faye for information on the possibility of the county self-insuring its employee health plan. Faye said the approach would require additional analysis and provided examples of potential cost savings.

• Commissioners approved a $500 membership payment to the Gasconade County Enterprise Zone.

• During bill review, Peters raised concerns about gravel usage, noting that about 45 loads—approximately $12,000 worth—were applied to a single road over two days. He compared that to previous annual totals and said the amount appeared unusually high. Commissioners agreed to look into the matter further but took no formal action.

ROAD & BRIDGE

Road and Bridge Foreman Neil Mantle questioned the cost-effectiveness of the county’s current employee uniform service, estimating annual expenses at approximately $14,000, along with additional insurance costs.

“You guys ever thought about just, like, going out to one of these places that make shirts and just getting some shirts printed up and get away from the uniform people,” Mantle asked. “That’s costing me a lot of money, and it’s like $60 a week just for the insurance. And by the time you figure out, half the guys aren’t wearing their uniforms anyway, so you’re sitting there paying for them every week for them not to use them.”

“Man, if we’re spending $14,000, we could buy some shirts and have made up with their names on them,” Logan said. “They just gotta do their own laundry.”

Mantle suggested the county could reduce expenses by purchasing work clothing, such as shirts and jeans, in bulk and requiring employees to maintain them. Commissioners acknowledged the potential savings, though they also noted legal requirements to provide certain personal protective equipment (PPE).

Additional concerns included delays in receiving properly fitting uniforms and ongoing costs tied to lost or unreturned items.

• Mantle said recent storms had kept crews busy clearing debris and repairing damage. He said multiple large trees had fallen across county roads, some requiring several truckloads to remove. Crews were also addressing washed-out areas, culvert issues, and debris buildup on bridge decks following heavy rainfall.

• Quarry rock was hauled on CR 574 (124.52T), 731 (204.19T), 733 (101.10T), 734 (102.99T), 727 (113.66T), 751 (31.95T), & 804 (62.93T); culverts were replaced on CR 412 & 602 (33.77T of rock placed at culvert site); road work was done on CR 731; ditch work was done on CR 735; trees were removed on CR 623, 631, & 737; debris was cleared from Sestak Slab & CR 551; brush mowers were working on CR 316 & 317; and grader operators were active as follows: G01 (CR 804, 8045, 807, 808), G04 (CR 622, 623, 631, 634, 635), G05 (CR 731, 733, 734, 736, 737), & G06 (261, 313, 314, 315).

• Truck T51 (2018 International LT625) was serviced out of house.

FINANCIAL

• Bills totaling $129,626.87 were approved by commissioners, with the following totals by department: 911/EMA ($5,935.21), Building & Grounds ($146.03), Circuit Clerk ($720.18), Collector ($0.00), Commission ($3,125.35), Coroner ($334.02), County Clerk ($2,310.43), Health Department ($3,040.23), Misc. ($1,692.33), Prosecuting Attorney ($2,364.98), Public Administration ($993.08), Recorder ($632.26), Recorder Technology Fund ($576.00), Road & Bridge ($64,338.76), Sheriff-Jail ($14,844.64 plus $39,805.02 for new vehicle), and Road and Bridge Misc ($28,573.37). • County Aid Road Trust (CART) distribution received from the state of Missouri for the month of April was $80,179.31, including Motor Fuel Tax ($62,171.86), Motor Vehicle Sales Tax ($12,654.78), and Motor Vehicle Fee Increases ($5,352.67).

• Checks were submitted for signatures.