OSAGE COUNTY — The commissioners voted in closed session Thursday to approve a $1.47 per hour pay increase for road grader operators, bringing their minimum pay to $25/hr. They also created a new Lead Grader Operator position to help standardize road work across the county. The changes are set to take effect April 6, when the new Foreman starts. Bradley Sneller will be the Lead Grader Operator.

• The dispute over candidate vetting surfaced again during Tuesday’s Osage County Commission meeting, as former Eastern District Commissioner John Trenshaw accused the county’s Republican Central Committee of effectively engaging in voter suppression.

“Does the Osage County Commission believe, as I do, that we may be seeing voter suppression in the form of preventing me and you from picking, supporting, and voting for a candidate of our choice?” Trenshaw asked commissioners. “I’ve got a candidate right here I can’t vote for as a Republican because my vote’s being suppressed, is how I view this thing.”

The discussion centered on the committee’s requirement that candidates complete a vetting process and its position that those who do not comply should not appear on the ballot as Republicans.

“I agree everybody should be vetted, but they should not be able to require it,” Trenshaw said. “We have town halls. We have the Osage County Fair. You can walk up and vet your candidate, talk to them, find out what they think, and then pick the one you think is going to do the best for you. But I’m not being given that right; it’s being suppressed.”

“I don’t have a problem vetting,” agreed Western District Commissioner Dale Logan. “I have a problem with the process they’re forcing down everybody’s throats, and the radicalism of it.”

“If they came to me and said, ‘Hey, would you like to vet and we’ll put your answers out in the public so they can choose,’ I’m all in,” Trenshaw said. “But if they want me to go answer their questions and they keep them secret and decide amongst their three or four or 10 people - whatever they currently are, four people - that I can or cannot run. I mean, what prevents them from keeping me off so their brother-in-law can run?”

Presiding Commissioner Darryl Griffin said his understanding is that the statutes don’t allow a political committee to keep someone off the ballot, and asked Interim Commissioner Brooke Dudenhoeffer to confirm. Dudenhoeffer confirmed that is her understanding as well, but said the issue could ultimately be decided in court.”.

She said candidates who have filed as Republicans are currently being treated as Republicans for ballot purposes, but that could change depending on a court ruling.

“If this goes to court and a judge says, ‘No, they cannot run on Republican,’ there will be no name on the Republican ballot for August,” Dudenhoeffer said. “Now, come November, candidates can run as Independents.”

Attendees also raised concerns about inconsistent application of the vetting process, including allegations that requirements have differed between candidates. The rules for vetting remain unclear, as the committee has not publicly produced its bylaws despite requests.

“I just remind you, I don’t think the judge or the prosecutor vetted, either one,” said Sheriff Michael Charles Bonham. “So, that should tell you everything you need to know.”

“If the committee is elected, they should have open meetings, and we should be able to ask for minutes and all that,” Trenshaw said. “But, no, no, we’re a top secret organization.”

“I asked to speak at a meeting,” Logan said. “They told me no, because they were closed meetings.”

“I don’t think that’s legitimate for elected officials,” Trenshaw said. “I think they’re opening themselves up to lawsuits.”

Trenshaw suggested the county explore placing a measure on the ballot to address the issue.

“Can we actually create a ballot measure that clears this all up, in the form of that ‘any and all persons, for any and all parties can run in our Osage County, by simply giving the fee to that party,” he asked. “I want to clear this mess up, that they cannot require and prevent a candidate from running.”

While no formal action was taken on the issue, commissioners acknowledged the likelihood that the dispute could end up in court.

“I may be wrong, but I think this is voter suppression,” Trenshaw said. “Somebody’s got to test it, and I’m proud of Osage County for being a test case, although it might cost us a few bucks.”

Western District Commissioner Dale Logan revisited the issue on Thursday, after reading letters to the editor in last week’s Unterrified Democrat. “It had some good responses to the rant I had a couple weeks ago,” he said. “I laughed when I read the response myself. The first thing I thought of was Senator John Kennedy down in Louisiana, and how he deals with AOC out there. I think that’s what we need to do here in Osage County, is operation ‘Let Her Speak,’ because she just continues to make herself look like a fool and show the conservatives in Osage County that her best interest is not what the Republicans and conservatives in Osage County are looking for. So, operation ‘Let Her Speak’ is underway.”

• Commissioners also discussed the cost of recent state-mandated election changes, including Senate Bill 3, estimated at roughly $11,000-$15,000. The costs include ballot language and related legal work. Dudenhoeffer told the commissioners their cost might be slightly higher than expected, then asked which account to charge it to, and they told her to charge it to Elections.

“Or just add it on the Senate and House’s bill,” Griffin joked. “Charge it to them.”

Logan seized on the idea. “I think that’s something we ought to do.” he said. “I think we ought to generate a bill and send it to the legislature in Jefferson City.”

Commissioners discussed how legislation such as Senate Bill 3 and Senate Bill 190 could reduce revenue streams that ultimately support local infrastructure and operations. Unlike many larger counties, Osage County does not collect sufficient sales tax to help absorb those losses, raising concerns about long-term effects on road maintenance and other essential functions.

During the conversation, concerns were raised about who would ultimately bear the burden of those changes. Bonham characterized the shift as disproportionately impacting lower-income residents, describing it as “a tax on the poor.”

• The commission approved a $2,900 agreement with Revize, the county’s current website company, to upgrade the county’s website to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance requirements. Officials noted the upgrade is mandatory and falls within an existing contract, with an estimated completion timeline of four to six weeks. Funding for the project will come from use tax revenues.

• Commissioners reviewed a list of county employees who have not paid required property taxes, as outlined in the county employee handbook. The commission agreed that department heads should communicate with affected employees to ensure compliance, rather than handling the issue directly through the commission office. Per the employee handbook, employees who do not pay their county taxes are subject to termination.

• In other business, the commission revisited a recent change to the county’s phone service contract. Osage County Health Department Administrator Kim Sallin reported unexpected charges tied to switching from a 24/7 service plan to a lower-cost 8-to-5 plan. While the change initially saved about $500 annually, Sallin said additional fees for routine service requests, such as updating phone extensions—, may quickly offset those savings.

Commission Clerk Brandy Boessen said she has requested a copy of the county’s contract from the provider, Towner Communication Systems (TCS), but has not been able to get one.

Commissioners agreed more information is needed and plan to meet with the provider to review contract terms and identify any hidden costs.

ROAD & BRIDGE

A significant portion of the discussion centered on road maintenance needs across the county, including deteriorating surfaces, drainage issues, and the availability of rock for repairs. Commissioners and staff reviewed multiple problem areas, including portions of CR 315, where officials said base rock and grading work are needed.

• The commission also discussed the importance of building up stockpiles of materials for future projects and emergencies, noting limited access to rock sources in some parts of the county. Hauling costs and manpower shortages were cited as ongoing challenges.

• Bridge and culvert concerns were also raised.

• The commission also touched on ongoing discussions with neighboring counties regarding potential road maintenance agreements and jurisdictional adjustments.

• Quarry rock was hauled on CR 315 (127.29), 503 (215.44), 722 (62.15), 723 (30.48T), and 724 (51.12); culverts were replaced on CR 303; road work was done on CR 315, 503, 805, & 811; trees were removed on CR 275, 612, 634, & 711; brush mowers were working on CR 303, 307, 401, 421, & 422; and grader operators were active as follows: G02 (CR 703, 711), G03 (503, 805, 807, 811), G04 (522, 523, 524, 612, 613A, 613B, 621), G05 (403, 404, 604, 606, 607), & G06 (310, 314, 315).

• Grader G02 (2014 772G John Deere) and dump truck DT56 (2025 International HV507) were serviced out of house.

• Contact was received from citizens regarding complaint about CR522, concerns about CR 303 and 315, bridge on CR 705, whipper complaints on CR 303, and road conditions on CR 508.

• Compliments were received about whipper job on CR 303.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Osage County Health Department Administrator Kim Sallin said her department would be short staffed this week, as they will be doing an annual health fair for Quaker Windows and Doors.

• Salling said the online survey about the proposed quick care had 336 participants as of last Thursday’s meeting, and they were overwhelmingly very positive.

“You gotta get up pretty early to get in front of her,” Peters complemented, after Sallin was able to answer all questions the commissioners had.

911/Emergency Management

Osage County 911/EMA Director Ron Hoffman discussed ongoing work at the county’s new property of Hwy 100, and finalized information for relisting the grader the commissioners want to sell.

FINANCIAL

• Bills totaling $106,983.49 were approved by commissioners, with the following totals by department: 911/EMA ($8,057.01), Assessor ($3,720.00), Building & Grounds ($638.13), Circuit Clerk ($201.24), Collector ($500.00), Commission ($1,175.55), Coroner ($55.50), County Clerk ($312.00), Election ($300.00), Health Department ($1,403.16), Highway 100 ($15,283.98), Juvenile & Family Court ($3,236.23), Misc. ($16,004.50), Prosecuting Attorney ($250.46), Road & Bridge ($34,746.30), Sheriff-Jail ($8,716.88), and Treasurer ($2,500.55). • Checks were submitted for signatures.