Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Posted 4/21/21

Bridge inspections

completed

Osage County Road and Bridge Foreman Ron Kempker spoke about the recent Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) bridge inspections in the county between …

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Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Posted

Bridge inspections
completed
Osage County Road and Bridge Foreman Ron Kempker spoke about the recent Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) bridge inspections in the county between April 5 and April 16. “We do have some issues on some of the bridges we have to work on,” he said but did not mention specifics.
As of April 12, Kempker’s department is now prioritizing asphalt repairs. “We have a full crew out working on it,” he said.
Several calls have come in from residents using the county’s paved roads. Kempker asked for patience.
Osage County Western District Commissioner Larry Kliethermes spoke in particular about CRs 610, 615, and 621. “We recognize it,” said Kempker, acknowledging the problem. “We’re going from the worst to the least. It never stops.”
Kliethermes also asked about getting more rock on CR 508 near Meta. “We’re trying to haul as quick as we can haul,” responded Kempker. “We do have it on the board.”
The spot in question requires some base repair as well as surface smoothing. There are some very soft spots. The larger rock necessary to firm them up can cause tire damage while it’s working into the roadbed.
Kliethermes announced that the report promised by Case Linden P.C., Kansas City, has not yet been received. Attorney Kevin Case represents a trucking company and its insurance provider. A driver for that company caused the wreck of the Pentecostal Bridge on CR 611 east of Westphalia.
“I think they’re just stalling,” said Kliethermes, a sentiment with which the other commissioners agreed.
Osage County Presiding Commissioner Darryl Griffin has observed improved crowns on several of the county’s gravel roads. This has been a recent priority for Kempker’s operators, and Griffin said, “Tell them I thank them. We didn’t get to this point overnight, and we’re not going to get out of it overnight.”
He added a resident’s message of thanks for the improvements on CR 421.
Osage County Western District Commissioner John Trenshaw liked hearing it. “We need more of that,” he observed. “Thank them when you can. Don’t just complain.”
Students from Fatima R-3 sent thank you notes to Kempker’s operators, which he posted on the bulletin board at the Road and Bridge Shed.
This year’s trash pickup by the Loose Creek Immaculate Conception School students was expanded from last year. The commission expressed gratitude for that effort. “We’re very grateful they did that,” said Griffin.
The auction of a truck, backhoe, car, rock-hammer and wood-burning furnace put up by the Road and Bridge Department is still in process. Kempker passed on from the Purple Wave Auction House that all the pieces have several bidders except the hammer, which only has one. The backhoe has drawn 24, so far and the truck has 15 bidders. The car and the furnace have each attracted 13 bids.
“There’s some good numbers on there,” said Kempker, optimistic about receiving good compensation from the sale.
The department conducted a safety meeting Friday, April 9.
Kempker concluded by having the commissioners sign a card of congratulation and appreciation to Road and Bridge Operator Dave Dill, who has now completed 41 years of service to Osage County.
The department hauled rock on CRs 271, 307, 421, 501, 604, 621, 712, 801, and 806; crew members performed service on Grader #02, and Trucks #31 and #34; crews replaced a culvert on CR 801; crews removed trees on CR 741; and grader operators worked on CRs 202, 203, 205, 206, 210, 211, 212, 222, 271, 306, 307, 315, 317, 322, 412, 413, 414, 436, 501, 503, 506, 507, 508, 511, 516, 522, 524, 526, 551, 602, 606, 632, 634, 636, 637, 638, 711, 712, 713, 714, 715, 716, 717, 718, 721, 722, 723, 737, 738, 740, 741, 753, 754, 821, 822, and 823.
SHERIFF
Osage County Sheriff Mike Bonham presented a grant for the commissioners to sign. It provides $1,000 to pay deputies for overtime dedicated to Driving While Impaired (DWI) enforcement efforts. “It’s a good grant for us,” said Bonham.
One of the Sheriff’s Office vehicles, a Dodge Durango, suffered a malfunction while a deputy was responding to an accident call. Electrical systems on the vehicle failed, but the engine kept running. The deputy driving lost a lot of control. There was no power steering or brakes, transmission, speed control, or emergency brake. Thankfully, the engine died before the driver had to make a choice of something to collide with or a ditch to hit. Bonham dreads the repair bill.
“I don’t think that’s going to be cheap,” he said, noting the estimate is now in at $6,200. “NTSB (United States National Transportation Safety Board) has to hear about this one. I’ve never seen anything like that, ever.”
Bonham hopes the extremely unsafe condition may spur, or already be subject to, a recall.
OCHD
Osage County Health Department (OCHD) Administrator Kim Sallin introduced her new full-time nurse, Kandiss Hoffman, who will perform a full range of department duties. She relieves Sallin of Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) duties.
The active COVID-19 case total in Osage County is down to seven. Total cases during the pandemic are at 1,678, with the death total frozen at 14.
Recent reports of vaccination totals coming to Sallin’s desk have varied wildly. One stated almost half the county has been vaccinated but it included patients who have only received one of the two shots required. It may also have counted patients twice who have received both doses. Other reports have the number as low as 17%, but Sallin suspects it is subject to a delay of a few to several weeks. What she does know is there’s a lot less pressure on her staff from people requesting vaccines. The clinic she conducted Monday, April 12, provided 130 shots at the Osage County Community Center. Sallin was prepared to administer 250 doses. “Vaccine supply is outweighing the demand at this point,” Sallin observed.
Questioned about the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, Sallin responded, “We haven’t administered it.”
Linn Walgreens was starting to use it before the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) requested a pause. Among 6.8 million doses, seven patients had blood clots within two weeks of vaccination. More than one in 200 COVID-19 victims have died. That includes zero who have received the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, even the blood clot patients. The therapy has so far proven 100% effective at saving lives. Pausing it for one patient in a million suffering a non-fatal malady shows an abundance of caution.
The Osage Ambulance District (OAD) has initiated an effort to help the OCHD administer vaccines to homebound citizens. OAD has received a grant to facilitate the effort. This leaves Sallin’s whole staff free to give vaccines in the OCHD office or at clinics. There will be a clinic in the Commissioners’ Room of the Osage County Administration Building (Annex) from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, April 23.
Sallin presented a draft copy of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Cole County, cooperating on vaccination efforts. A final draft is not yet ready for a vote, pending action by the Cole County Commission. She also showed an MOU with Callaway County for environmental services.
MISCELLANEOUS
Commissioners approved paying bills from March 30 through April 12 as follows by department: 911/EMA ($2,364.47), Assessor ($4,455.33), Building & Grounds ($1,214.05), Circuit Clerk ($214.34), Commission ($160), Coroner ($56.50), County Clerk ($26.70), Elections ($5,756.40), Health Department ($1,163.68), Miscellaneous ($5,429.18), Prosecuting Attorney ($614.24), Recorder ($89.36), Road & Bridge ($64,908.74), and Sheriff-Jail ($83,335.30), for a total of $168,574.01.
Commissioners approved the nomination of Lisa Klebba to the Missouri River Regional Library Board of Trustees.
The commission awarded a bid to remove and rebuild the fence around the antenna at the Osage County Courthouse to Fence Pro, LLC, of New Bloomfield. The contract will contain the stipulation, “Work not to begin until we have guidance on the American Rescue Plan (ARP).”
ARP funds should be awarded before the end of May, which could keep this project from applying pressure to the courthouse renovation budget.
Presiding Circuit Judge Ike Lamke sent a letter announcing the Missouri State Court System will contribute $10,000 to upgrade the sound system in the county courtrooms. The commission has received a proposal for the upgrade totaling $14,300, and commissioners approved paying the difference.
Osage County 911/EMA Director Ron Hoffman asked for appreciation for his call-takers and dispatchers. The commissioners approved and signed a document proclaiming April 11-17, 2021, to be 911 Public Safety Telecommunicator Week in Osage County.
Commissioners signed outgoing checks.
Griffin and Sheriff Bonham will visit the Westphalia city council meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 27.