OSAGE COUNTY — County officials reported that Osage County weathered the recent extreme cold and snowfall without major incidents.

“We had a real good weekend,” said Osage County 911/EMA Director Ron Hoffman. “The citizens of Osage County were staying cordial. We didn’t have one reported incident that we had to manage, that was weather-related. You know, we all stopped and helped people as they needed it, but nothing bad. My dispatchers stayed all night in the cots that we got from the hotel.”

Hoffman told commissioners that emergency operations were not formally activated, but law enforcement, fire and emergency personnel remained on heightened alert throughout the event. He said the county’s longstanding cold-weather plan emphasizes preventing motorists from being left stranded in dangerous conditions, with responders assisting disabled vehicles and ensuring people reached safe shelter when necessary.

Hoffman noted that emergency personnel were able to monitor conditions remotely using WebEOC rather than fully staffing an Emergency Operations Center, saving county resources. Unlike some neighboring counties that fully activated emergency centers around the clock, Osage County relied on field coordination and existing protocols. Hoffman said no significant power outages occurred, a factor that helped prevent the situation from escalating.

“Anyway. I just wanted to let you know I thought everything went real well,” he said. “Citizens can be proud of it.”

“Ditto. That’s all I had,” joked Sheriff Michael Bonham, before telling commissioners his deputies were instructed not to leave anyone stranded in sub-zero temperatures. Deputies assisted stranded motorists and waited with drivers until help arrived. “There was unreported slide-offs, which don’t count,” Bonham continued. “Somebody called ‘Farmer John,’ and they came and pulled them out of the ditch, which is great. That’s just Osage County.”

Commissioners credited the Road & Bridge Department for keeping primary routes passable despite challenging conditions. While gravel roads in shaded areas remained slick, officials said crews did as much as possible given the frozen ground and limited options for treatment. Hoffman reported that the officially reported snowfall was six and a half inches, noting that the snow’s dry texture made removal easier than wetter storms in recent years.

Hoffman also confirmed that warming locations were available across the county if needed, including sites in Linn and Loose Creek, though no formal shelters were opened. He emphasized that community connections often function as informal safety nets during severe weather, with residents helping family members and neighbors.

• Commissioners spent considerable time discussing Senate Bill 190 and Senate Bill 3, two pieces of state legislation tied to property tax relief for senior citizens. Interim Osage County Clerk Brooke Dudenhoeffer explained that a citizen petition will place specific language on the ballot, but Senate Bill 190 itself does not require a ballot vote and could instead be implemented by county ordinance.

The discussion centered on whether the commission should proactively adopt an ordinance or wait for voter action and further legal clarification. Dudenhoeffer cautioned that while the intent of the petition and the legislation may align, the wording differs, and the county is obligated to place only the petition language on the ballot. Senate Bill 190, she said, remains under the commission’s control as a separate matter.

Commissioners expressed concern about potential retroactive effects, implementation timelines and how the measures would interact if both were approved or enacted. Questions were raised about whether tax rollbacks would extend back to 2024 and how such adjustments would be calculated, particularly given existing partial rollbacks already in place.

Dudenhoeffer said she plans to seek additional guidance from state agencies, including the State Tax Commission, to clarify how any retroactive provisions would be applied and whether counties would be required to revisit prior assessments. Commissioners ultimately agreed that more information is needed before taking action, particularly given the financial implications for both taxpayers and county revenue.

• Election administration was another major topic. Dudenhoeffer presented an estimated cost of approximately $25,670 for the April election, with the county’s share projected at $11,481.68. She emphasized that the figure is an estimate and that final costs will be reconciled after certification, with entities either billed or refunded accordingly.

Dudenhoeffer noted that actual costs could come in lower than projected, particularly if fewer election judges are needed at certain polling locations. She also reminded commissioners that 2026 qualifies as an “on year,” meaning the county will conduct multiple elections, including overlapping filing and preparation periods for April and August elections.

• One of the lengthiest discussions last week focused on employee overtime and compensatory time, particularly as it applies to Road & Bridge crews during winter weather events.

Dudenhoeffer explained that recent guidance from county clerk associations and consultations with accounting professionals suggest that comp time may no longer be banked beyond the payroll period, and instead must be paid out at time-and-a-half. She said the goal of the policy is to ensure compliance with labor law and prevent departments from accumulating large, untracked comp-time balances that can strain budgets later in the year.

Commissioners pushed back, arguing that rigid payroll-period limits do not reflect the realities of snow removal and emergency work. Eastern District Commissioner Jeff Peters said winter storms often require crews to work long hours over consecutive days, making it impractical to immediately “flex” time without leaving departments understaffed during ongoing events.

Peters argued that eliminating the option to bank comp time removes flexibility from both supervisors and employees. They expressed concern that workers could be forced to take time off during periods when crews are already stretched thin, or conversely, be paid out overtime when they would prefer to take time later once conditions stabilize.

Western District Commissioner Dale Logan said preliminary research suggests there may be flexibility within existing law, particularly around what constitutes a “reasonable” timeframe for using comp time. He said additional review of federal Fair Labor Standards Act provisions may be needed, as recent discussions appear to conflate federal and state requirements.

Dudenhoeffer maintained that until clearer guidance is received, the county must err on the side of compliance. She acknowledged the operational challenges but emphasized that her role is to interpret and apply the law as written, not to set policy. Commissioners agreed to seek further clarification from legal and accounting sources before making any changes and indicated the issue will return for further discussion.

• Peters said he’d ordered the hoop building for the property on Hwy. 100, and hoped it would be installed by spring.

• Presiding Commissioner Darryl Griffin mentioned the country’s upcoming 250th anniversary on July 4, and that he thought the county should have a parade to celebrate. “I think we ought to do something to celebrate that, because there’s a lot of good people that worked hard to get this country going, and a lot of people appreciate it,” he said.

Griffin said he’d reached out to several people to see if there was support for the idea, and Hoffman recommended putting something in the paper to see if there was public support.

ROAD & BRIDGE

Osage County Road & Bridge Foreman Brad Sneller presented commissioners with two quotes for a new dump truck, and his opinion. The commissioners asked him to get a third quote before any decisions are made.

• Sneller also asked about the possibility of replacing grader blades with carbide cutting blades. He said the blades could reduce labor time and improve efficiency by allowing individual teeth to be replaced rather than entire blades. While the initial cost is higher, he said long-term savings could justify the investment. In addition to the reduced cost of replacement parts, the teeth can be replaced by a single employee, while grader blades require multiple people.

• Additional road concerns included damage caused when a whipper hit a fence, causing barbed wire to snap into the bed of a resident’s truck. Sneller said the vehicle owner was asked to get an estimate for the repairs so it can be addressed.

• Sneller also asked commissioners to proceed with contracting a three-sided structure to cover the gas tanks to protect personnel from extreme weather while refueling. The commissioners instructed him to proceed, but that Road & Bridge should buy the materials and contract the labor. They also reminded Sneller than anything over $12,000 must be bid.

• Quarry rock was hauled on CR 623; road work was done on CRs 609 and 623; all six graders as well as plow trucks T29, T34, T53, & T70 were active in snow removal; and grader operators were active as follows: G02 (CR 738, 741), G04 (516, 541), G05 (CR 424).

• Graders G01, G02 & G03, trucks 31, 34, & 54, and excavator CE50 were serviced in house.

• Contact was received from citizens regarding road conditions on CR 516, plow concerns on CR 274A, damage on CR 306, and plowing on CR 634.

• Compliments were received about hill work on CR 317 and snow removal on multiple county roads.

FINANCIAL

• Time sheets were approved by commissioners.