OSAGE COUNTY — Resident David Godi questioned commissioners Tuesday about road-maintenance priorities, rough driving conditions, and spending on subdivision roads, prompting an extended discussion about traffic, drainage and the county’s ability to keep up with repairs.

Godi asked how much the county had spent on subdivision roads this year. Commissioners said they did not have those figures available. Presiding Commissioner Darryl Griffin explained that a previous commission entered into a maintenance agreement involving CR 420 off Hwy. 100.

Godi also asked when the Pentecostal Bridge was supposed to be completed. Western District Commissioner Dale Logan said concrete testing had delayed work, but barrier construction was expected to begin Thursday. He hoped the bridge would open in approximately three weeks.

Turning to CR 501, Godi questioned why the county was taking care of a business on CR 521 but not the daycare on CR 501.

“That’s not an accurate statement,” Logan replied. “We spend an enormous amount of time and maintenance on 501, an enormous amount of time, and we have the records to back it up.”

Logan said the first six-tenths of a mile receives heavy traffic and speeding contributes to its condition. Eastern District Commissioner Jeff Peters said the road had been graded Wednesday but was already rough when he drove it Friday.

“We don’t have financial abilities to set a road grader over there and grade that road every day,” Peters said.

Godi asked whether commissioners had already lowered county-road speed limits. Griffin said the county had lowered the limit to 35 mph.

When Godi suggested speed bumps, Logan said they would create additional problems for grading and snow removal. Griffin also raised concerns about county liability if warning signs were stolen and someone struck a speed bump.

Logan said commissioners had repeatedly asked the sheriff about increasing patrols on county roads, but the sheriff reported deputies were not seeing vehicles during their visits.

“The county sheriff doesn’t cover any of the county roads,” Godi said.

“They do,” Logan replied.

“I haven’t seen them down in my area,” said Godi, who identified his road as CR 718.

Godi’s questions continued with Road & Bridge Foreman Neil Mantle, who discussed rough roads, drainage problems, and planned storm-recovery work.

When Mantle raised the possibility of a lawsuit if someone were injured on a speed bump, Godi asked whether the county could also be sued if a child riding to daycare bounced out of a seat because CR 501 was rough.

“I would say that’s a mother that didn’t have her kids strapped in the seat,” Logan replied.

Griffin said the driver could control that situation by slowing down. Godi pointed to washboarding on CR 715 near Pilot Knob Church and noted that school buses travel the road and are not required to have seat belts.

Mantle said similar conditions could be found on numerous heavily traveled roads, which would require daily attention to keep smooth. Godi disputed that traffic explained conditions near the church, saying its busiest time was Sunday. He also questioned why his nephew, a grader operator in Gasconade County, could complete a route every month.

Peters said dry conditions prevent gravel from working into the road. When Godi said it appeared the county was putting down more dust than rock, Mantle explained that base rock contains fine material but is used on hills because larger loose rock will not stay in place.

Godi also asked when CR 711 would be straightened, saying a curve forces drivers to slow before climbing a hill, leaving them unable to make it up in winter.

Mantle said roads in the 700s would receive substantial work going into winter and early next spring. Stakes marked culvert replacements, and ditch cleaning was planned as part of the storm-recovery effort.

Godi challenged an earlier culvert-price discussion, saying Peters had quoted $3,600 for a 30-inch-diameter, 30-foot-long pipe, while he found a 24-inch-diameter, 20-foot-long pipe for $736 in Owensville. He questioned whether the county was seeking competitive prices.

Peters said those were not equivalent culverts. Mantle said prices rise sharply above 24 inches and the department had compared suppliers and MFA in Linn had the lowest prices he had found, although a shortage was making pipe harder to obtain.

Godi said older concrete culverts past his home were inadequate to handle runoff. Mantle explained that replacement sizes depend on drainage needs and that the county now uses double-wall plastic pipe with smooth interiors.

“You have to go to the floodplain people and get the DNR, which controls that, and then they have to give you a permit (for the) size to put in,” Griffin said. “We just can’t say, ‘This is what we want to put in.’ We have to go by the law.”

Officials also discussed floodplain and permitting requirements. Godi said he did not consider his location a floodplain. Logan said he was not claiming Godi’s property was in a floodplain, but Peters was more blunt. “What you consider a floodplain and the government (considers a floodplain) are two different things,” he said. “We have to go by rules.”

• Peters questioned whether the county should continue its annual payment to the Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC), citing lack of value for the money. Logan also questioned what the county receives, saying he had attended nearly all the Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) meetings expected of him without seeing much benefit to county government.

The discussion began with the need for human-resources assistance. Griffin said the MRPC employee contacted about updating the county’s handbook had left. Commission Clerk Brandy Boessen said a link sent for the project expired before the employee attempted to open it.

Peters said Osage County struggles to gain support for its transportation priorities within a region whose other counties have different needs. He later clarified that his criticism centered on TAC meetings, particularly the lack of attention to Hwy. 50.

“I’m going to keep going to the meetings, and I’m going to keep doing what I’m supposed to be doing,” Peters said. “I’m just telling you my opinion of it.”

Logan also questioned the group’s priorities. “When you’re down there, we’re not talking about our roads,” Logan said. “We’re talking about parks and trails and (explicit removed) like that. I mean, we’ve got real problems here to deal with. I’m tired of—why are our tax dollars going to these damned trails and all this?”

Peters described worsening congestion through Linn, including traffic backed up to Hwy. 89 North that morning.

Griffin, MRPC’s chairman, said the organization’s work extends beyond transportation. He cited assistance to smaller communities and credited Executive Director Bonnie Prigge and former Western District Commissioner Larry Kliethermes with helping secure Pentecostal Bridge funding.

He urged commissioners to participate in additional committees and build relationships with other counties to gain support for local projects. No action was taken to discontinue membership.

• Logan reported continued difficulty getting Ameren to relocate two poles at the Pentecostal Bridge project. He said an internal work-order problem threatened to delay completion, and commissioners discussed seeking County Attorney Amanda Grellner’s assistance.

Concrete testing had delayed barrier work, but the first side was scheduled to be poured Thursday. Logan hoped the bridge would open in approximately three weeks and proposed a grand opening afterward to recognize the community and those who helped secure the project.

• Paul Winkelman with Howe Company said appraisals for the CR 522 bridge project had been received and would undergo review before offers went to two property owners. Obtaining easements will determine how quickly the project can proceed to bidding.

Commissioners discussed a possible bid opening around the first of the year and construction beginning in early 2027. Winkelman said county crews might need to cut designated trees before seasonal bat-protection restrictions apply if the contractor cannot begin in time.

• Treasurer Valerie Prater reminded commissioners that the jail renovation and capital improvements/building and grounds sales taxes sunset in December 2027, with renewal questions anticipated for the April 2027 ballot. Prop P sunsets in 2030, and the 911 sales tax in 2031.

Prater also requested any additional items for a budget amendment. Known changes include Quick Care, $400,000 for Road & Bridge storm recovery, and the prosecuting attorney’s raise, effective Aug. 28. Prater asked Boessen to compile a list of any other items that needed to be added to the amendment.

• While reviewing bills, Peters questioned 5M quarry tickets without road numbers and asked Logan to determine where the rock went. A phone inquiry identified CRs 506 and 508, but Peters questioned whether the volume attributed to those roads matched conditions he had observed.

Commissioners discussed whether drivers were failing to update road destinations and requested clearer records and signed tickets. The discrepancies were not resolved during the meeting.

• Logan emphasized that commissioners had not decided to switch to self-funded employee health insurance and were gathering information.

• Commissioners expressed no interest in changing phone services following solicitations from two vendors.

• Boessen requested a replacement printer in next year’s budget because the existing machine could no longer scan reliably.

ROAD & BRIDGE

Road & Bridge Foreman Neil Mantle received unanimous approval for a $15,796.37 propane power washer from Commercial Industrial Supply, 20 GPS tracking units, and contracted repairs to CR 315.

Logan moved to purchase the power washer, with Peters seconding. Mantle said the department had money available and recommended the more expensive unit for its expected longevity and ease of use. Installation could occur approximately two weeks after ordering.

Peters said a permanently installed unit would be more likely to be used than equipment workers must roll out, fuel and connect before washing vehicles.

Commissioners also unanimously approved Peters’ motion, seconded by Logan, to buy 20 GPS units at $124.99 each, totaling $2,499.80. Mantle said the devices would track routes, speed, location, and idle time without recurring subscription fees. They retain route history for up to 45 days but do not track service intervals or machine hours.

• Commissioners unanimously approved Peters’ motion, seconded by Logan, to hire Deer Creek Trucking for $11,725 in disaster-funded repairs to CR 315. A landowner granted permission to remove creek gravel and use it to rebuild the road, where water had undermined the bank and flowed onto the roadway.

• Mantle planned a two-week advertisement to subcontract storm-recovery culvert work on connected roads in the 700s. He identified CRs 711, 712, 715, 717 and 718, with CR 716 also a possibility. Stakes indicate pipe sizes and lengths.

The county would supply culverts and pay for rock, while contractors would haul it. Peters requested documentation showing where materials were used. Prater urged timely contractor billing and separation of storm-recovery expenses from other work.

• Commissioners continued debating how to complete promised chip-and-seal projects while maintaining existing paved roads, particularly old Hwy. 50.

Logan supported considering unused funding for maintenance if delayed projects remained funded for next year. Mantle urged a recurring maintenance schedule. Peters said public interest in additional chip-and-seal must be weighed against the cost of both installation and upkeep.

Discussion focused on preparing CR 401, including drainage, width and a resident-funded extension. Mantle said written agreements should establish payment amounts and any necessary fence or tree removal. Future maintenance of the county road would remain the county’s responsibility.

Mantle cautioned that substantial dirt work may need a winter to settle before surfacing. Commissioners discussed whether portions could be prepared with rock to reduce delays.

Griffin supported obtaining a price for old Hwy. 50 work while fulfilling existing commitments. No resurfacing contract was approved.

• Commissioners voted to request figures from Greg Muenks for contracted road rehabilitation. Mantle had relayed a proposal for 300 hours at $250 per hour, or $75,000, with Muenks supplying his own grader, fuel, blades, and maintenance. Commissioners requested an estimate of how much road could be improved before deciding on a contract.

Mantle said staffing remained a constraint after three interns left; one stayed full time. Contracting work could help crews balance storm recovery with routine maintenance.

• Mantle recommended another five-day auction listing for the semi-truck after a $15,000 offer. He favored accepting an $18,200 backhoe offer. No clear final sale vote was recorded.

• Griffin relayed a CR 604 grading complaint and reported an approximately eight-inch driveway drop-off and damaged drainage on CR 306. Mantle agreed to follow up. Commissioners also discussed maintaining access on CR 736 until its anticipated October closure.

• Mantle had no delivery update on the new brush mower, which commissioners expected months earlier. He suggested planning another replacement because repair parts for existing machines were becoming scarce.

• The road report for Aug. 25 to Aug. 31 showed: quarry rock was hauled on CR 202 (65.18T), 251 (27.45T), 252 (92.32T), 303 (235.02T), 315 (180.93T), 319 (62.17T), 401 (160.73T), 402A (53.60T), 433 (15.27T), 433 (51.11T), 741 (114.91T); culverts were replaced on CR 313 and 402A; road work was done on CR 315, 319, and 402A; dirt was hauled from CR 303, brush was sprayed on CR 403, 404, 406, 411, 412, 414, 415, 416, 437, 601, 602, 603, 604, 606, and 608; brush mowers were working on CR 201, 244, and 251; and grader operators were active as follows: G01 (CR 401, 402A, 601, 602, 604), G03 (CR 202, 203, 203, 204, 205, 209, 302, 304, 309A), G04 (CR 524, 622, 636, 637, 638), G05 (CR 721, 722, 723, 741), G06 (CR 251, 252, 310, 312, 315, 319).

• Dump truck DT56 (2025 International HV507) and whipper W43 (2007 John Deere 6615 w/Alamo Machete Mower) were serviced in house.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Osage County Health Department Administrator Kim Sallin said Quick Care’s grand opening is planned for Sept. 25, with a ribbon cutting anticipated at 10 a.m. Staff were arranging vendors and preparing invitations.

County employee discount forms are due by Sept. 15. Employees and dependents pay a $20 visit fee, compared with the regular $40 fee, with additional charges for other services.

• Staff were also busy conducting school screenings.

• Sallin sought confirmation that county employee drug-test results should go to the county clerk for personnel files. She said 911/EMA Director Ron Hoffman had previously advised against sending them because of privacy concerns. Commissioners discussed confidentiality and human-resources assistance.

• Sallin contacted Higginbotham about annual HIPAA and cybersecurity training, seeking consistent instruction for employees handling private information or using county computers.

• Asked about COVID vaccines, Sallin said the department offers them to adults, not children. She also explained that participation in state-supported vaccination programs requires keeping certain vaccines available.

FINANCIAL

• Bills totaling $334,292.81 were approved by commissioners, with the following totals by department: 911/EMA ($5,152.92), Assessor ($556), Building & Grounds ($104.92), Commission ($277.68), County Clerk ($168.45), Health Department ($6,165.25), Misc. ($138,526.21), Prosecuting Attorney ($286.13), Public Administration ($736.66), Recorder ($38,110), Road & Bridge ($119,500.53), Sheriff-Jail ($24,208.06), and Treatment Court ($500).

• The end-of-month bank balances for August showed a total of $16,304,079.44, including - Assessment ($318,826.03), AX08 - Annex Building ($316,055.74), BG89 - Building & Grounds ($274,630.41), CC55 - Conceal Carry ($11,489.25), CI88 - Capitol Infrastructure ($1,554,709.02), DS61 - DSSSF Fund ($210), ES48 - Election Service ($22,910.68), FC46 - Family Court ($35,488.01), GR01 - General Revenue ($1,860,051.78), HD23 - Health Department ($267,136.24), IS63 - Inmate Security Fund ($38,679.42), JR60 - Jail Renovation ($3,011,911.62), LACTF - Local Assistance ($117,461.26), LE25 - Law Enforcement ($1,354.47), LERF - Law Enforcement Restitution ($7,707.06), LF38 - Civil Fees Fund ($5,627.44), OE22 - Emerg. Management ($97,450.21), OPIO - Opioid Settlement ($129,579.99), PA18 - Bad Check ($16,664.29), PA26 Prosecutor Training ($5,971.92), PB21 - Pentecostal Bridge ($507,981.29), RB02 - Road & Bridge ($1,363,227.97), RF36 - Retirement ($79.84), RF42 - Recorder’s Fund ($47,933.74), RR30 - Rollback Reserve ($967,819.59), SE19 - Special Elections - ($5.00), SF49 Law Enforcement-911 ($437,189.59), UT33 - Use Tax ($4,874,897.42), VD24 - Domestic Violence ($1,758.41), and HA56 - HAVA Elections ($8,060.05). Please note that not all of these funds are controlled by the county commissioners. Some are controlled by elected officials or committees.

The county also has $623,567.24 in CDs, including Road & Bridge ($119,808.24), Rollback Reserve ($475,343.13), and Law Enforcement-911 ($28,415.87).