OSAGE COUNTY — Osage County commissioners discussed the recent withdrawal of three Republican Central Committee incumbents from the August ballot during last week’s meetings, while also approving the purchase of a new skid steer for the Road and Bridge Department, discussing ambulance district annexation paperwork, and receiving updates from the Health Department and Road & Bridge Department.

Candidate Jerry Voss mentioned the recent withdrawal of candidates from the Republican Central Committee ballot during public discussion. Eastern District Commissioner Jeff Peters suggested the development reflected increased public awareness of issues involving the committee.

In a later conversation, Interim County Clerk Brooke Dudenhoeffer confirmed incumbents Linda Rantz, Craig Rantz, and Joyce Weber withdrew their candidacies the day before the filing deadline.

• The Osage County Commission approved the purchase of a new skid steer for the Road and Bridge Department during last week’s meetings, while also discussing ambulance district annexation paperwork, road maintenance concerns, and county-city cooperation with Linn Mayor-elect Mike Troesser.

Road and Bridge Foreman Neil Mantle presented commissioners with quotes and information on several skid steer options, including Kubota, Bobcat, and John Deere models. While Mantle said he did not have a preference among the manufacturers, he suggested the county standardize future equipment purchases with a single brand to simplify parts inventory and maintenance.

Commissioners ultimately approved the purchase of a Kubota SVL97-3 from Crown Power in Mount Sterling for $83,100. The purchase will be funded through the county’s capital improvements budget.

Eastern District Commissioner Jeff Peters said the county’s current wheeled skid steer is not well suited to road department work, particularly in wet conditions.

“You can’t operate in soft ground with a wheel machine,” Peters said during discussion. “We need something out there they can use.”

Treasurer Valerie Prater confirmed Road & Bridge would take responsibility for adding the skid steer to the county’s insurance policy.

• Linn mayor-elect Mike Troesser stopped by to introduce himself and discuss county-city cooperation in Linn. Troesser, who has not yet been sworn into office due to the ongoing mayoral election dispute, said he attended the meeting after reading an article in the Unterrified Democrat reporting that commissioners wanted to meet with Linn’s new mayor to discuss ongoing annexation issues. He said he hopes to work closely with county officials once the matter is resolved.

“We got to do these things together,” Troesser said. “This city is in your county.”

Commissioners expressed interest in meeting with city officials after the election dispute is resolved.

• Commissioners also discussed the use of calcium chloride dust-control treatments on county roads. Presiding Commissioner Darryl Griffin raised concerns about private applications of the product on short stretches of roadway in front of individual homes.

Peters said the expensive treatment can reduce dust and help stabilize road surfaces, but noted that problems arise when only portions of a road are treated. If road crews are unaware a section has been treated and grade the road, the treatment is rendered ineffective. Avoiding treated sections, however, requires operators to know exactly where the product has been applied and raise the grader blade, creating inconsistencies in the road surf

“If you can do the whole road right, that’s great,” Peters said. “The hit and miss is the part that’s going to cause problems.”

Commissioners discussed the need for better communication regarding treated road sections and how those areas should be identified for road crews.

• The commission also approved displaying a state resolution honoring Jerry Berry on a courthouse wall. The resolution was presented to the county during a recent Memorial Day ceremony at the Chamois Cemetery recognizing Berry, believed to be the last Civil War veteran buried in Osage County.

Griffin praised organizers of the event, calling it well attended and well organized.

• EMS Chief Josh Krull asked commissioners to approve an order related to the Osage Ambulance District’s annexation of territory formerly served by Community Ambulance after that service ceased operations in 2023.

Krull explained that although voters approved the annexation and all required election procedures had been completed, the Missouri Department of Revenue recently informed the district that the county commission must also formally declare the territory annexed before state records can be updated.

After discussion regarding the legal descriptions involved, commissioners unanimously approved the order.

ROAD & BRIDGE

Road & Bridge Foreman Neil Mantle updated commissioners on plans for several county roads scheduled for reconstruction and chip-and-seal work.

Contract grader operator Greg Muenks reviewed proposed improvements on roads including CR 801 near Linn, CR 303, CR 401 near the veterinary clinic, and CR 611 near Westphalia. Muenks said the work will involve re-establishing ditches, improving drainage, reshaping roadbeds, and correcting cross slopes before new rock and chip-and-seal surfaces are applied.

Muenks emphasized that drainage improvements will require work within county right-of-way areas adjacent to private property.

“There are a lot of places where the yard is a foot higher than the road, and then the ditch shows up,” Muenks said. “I’ll try to get all those straightened out.”

Mantle said no landowners had yet been contacted because a firm construction start date had not been established.

That led to a discussion among commissioners about who should notify residents whose property may be affected by ditch work.

Presiding Commissioner Darryl Griffin suggested posting construction notices at both ends of the project areas, publishing information on the county website, notifying Osage County 911, and placing a notice in the newspaper. Eastern District Commissioner Jeff Peters said he believed direct conversations with affected property owners would be preferable.

“I think on a personal level it’d be better if we talked to them and let them know that, hey, we’re going to be cutting a ditch through your front yard now,” Peters said. “It’s not gonna be rushing down the road anymore. There’s gonna be a ditch.”

Griffin agreed that speaking with residents was a good idea.

“We want to be a good neighbor and work with the people, let them know,” Griffin said.

“Since you’re up for reelection, I think it’d be a good (opportunity to) get out and get a little personal time with your constituents,” Peters quipped, as the commissioners discussed who would contact the land owners on each affected road.

The commissioners discussed splitting the outreach among themselves before work begins.

Mantle also reported that the department is arranging to rent a larger roller needed for the road work and is evaluating options for replacing an aging pressure washer used to clean county equipment.

• Creek rock was hauled on CR 701 (16T), 702 (16T), 736 (356T), & 740 (48T); quarry rock on CR 727 (32.97T), 734 (60.69T), 735A (50.79T), 740 (135.28T), 751 (47.14T), & 754 (93.34T); a culvert was replaced on CR 412 (17.25T of rock placed at culvert site); a private culvert was replaced on CR 300 (16.45T of rock placed at culvert site); road work was done on CR 301, 512, 615, and Old Mill Rd; a tree was removed on CR 306; brush mowers were working on CR 320 & 321; road groomers were active on CR 501 & 606; and grader operators were active as follows: G01 (CR 403, 412, 423, 427), G03 (CR 751, 754), G04 (CR 514, 515, 526, 637, 638), G05 (CR 734), G06 (CR 321, 425).

• Graders G04 (2025 140 15AWD) & G05 (2023 672G John Deere) were serviced in house.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Health Department Administrator Kim Sallin told commissioners the department continues to search for both a nurse practitioner and a nurse while existing staff work to maintain services.

Sallin said discussions are continuing with the nurse practitioner who previously met with county officials about joining the department. Sallin drafted a proposed contract and submitted it to county attorney Amanda Grellner for review.

The proposed agreement included a two-year commitment and repayment provisions if the employee left before the end of the term. Sallin said Grellner questioned whether a contract was necessary and expressed concerns about repayment requirements. Sallin also said the candidate indicated she would not agree to repayment obligations.

“We’re kind of waiting on Amanda at this point,” Sallin said.

Sallin also reported that another nurse practitioner recently contacted the department and appears highly qualified, but is currently living in North Carolina and has not yet decided whether she will return to Missouri.

The department’s efforts to hire a nurse have also been unsuccessful so far. Sallin said one candidate declined an offer because of the salary, while another chose to remain in a busy clinical position.

“I can’t keep — Kandiss and I are the only nurses — and we just can’t keep this up,” Sallin said. “I mean, without having a disruption of nursing services, so we really need to get that spot filled.”

Sallin also announced that the department’s child and babysitting safety class had filled all 16 available spots. Participants will complete CPR certification during a follow-up session Saturday.

FINANCIAL

• Bills totaling $604,521.76 were approved by commissioners, with the following totals by department: 911/EMA ($6,876.48), Assessor ($2,461.74), Building & Grounds ($817.00), Circuit Clerk ($400.00), Collector ($250.00), Commission ($35.00), Coroner ($552.00), County Clerk ($1,209.99), Election ($286.44), Health Department ($2,184.53), Misc. ($5,799.68), Public Administration ($697.51), Recorder ($64.93), Road & Bridge ($52,873.86), Sheriff-Jail ($8,957.88), Treatment Court ($500.00), and Road and Bridge Misc. ($520,534.72).

• County Aid Road Trust (CART) distribution received from the state of Missouri for the month of May was $94,115.86, including Motor Fuel Tax ($70,540.73), Motor Vehicle Sales Tax ($16,836.18), and Motor Vehicle Fee Increases ($6,738.95).

• Checks were submitted for signatures.