Osage County Commission News

Tuesday, December 30, 2020

By HB Dodds, UD Staff Writer
Posted 12/30/20

Road and Bridge

Osage County Road and Bridge Foreman Ron Kempker predicted he will announce the hiring of a new employee by Jan. 5. The candidate is now going through the last round of background …

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Osage County Commission News

Tuesday, December 30, 2020

Posted

Road and Bridge

Osage County Road and Bridge Foreman Ron Kempker predicted he will announce the hiring of a new employee by Jan. 5. The candidate is now going through the last round of background checks and other vetting. "He's passed all the tests so far," said Kempker.

Kempker commented on recent experimentation mixing beet juice with salt to treat roads. It is supposed to reduce corrosion to exposed vehicles. It should also mitigate against other damage to the roads. This is in addition to adjacent soil, and the rest of the environment. He told the commission the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) is using it on bridges in the county.

The department has received bids from several vendors for truck and machine fuel. Kempker is not yet prepared to announce the winner but is pretty sure who it's going to be. One last detail includes the proposed purchase of the leased tank in Loose Creek.

All reports are the de-annexation of a stretch of CR 511 in Westphalia has occurred. The commission agreed to inspect the road before ordering Kempker to start maintenance.

Osage County Second District Commissioner Larry Kliethermes has driven it recently. "It actually is in pretty good shape," he said.

Kempker is waiting for the direct order from the commission before dropping a blade.

The department recently completed the repair of a box culvert on CR 412. It required 5.5 yards of concrete grout to fill the erosion behind the structure. "Right now, it's repaired and fixed," said Kempker.

The department hauled rock on CRs 251, 317, 503, 739, and 751; crewmembers performed service on Truck #46; crews repaired culverts on CRs 317, and 412; brush mowers worked on CRs 244 and 252; and grader operators worked on CRs 251, 301, 302, 306, 312, 313, 314, 315, 421, 423, 424, 501, 503, 612, 613B, 706, 709, 711, 714, 724, 727, 740, 801, and 810. Most of the work on Truck #46, an Army surplus plow vehicle, was the replacement of a fairly rare generator. The part cost about $1,000. "You can't pick them up just anyplace," said Kempker.

911/EMA

Commissioners approved the new local government Hazard Mitigation Plan service agreement with the Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC).

MRPC's 2021 fee for administering the agreement went up to $7,666.67, but the commission offers a 50/50 match to "in-kind" activities. All agencies in Osage County can participate in these projects.

911 employee Richard Jones has been recognized as "Tele-communicator of the Year" by the Osage County Sheriff's Office. A story appears in this week’s paper.

Osage County First District Commissioner John Glavin has consulted with Osage County Prosecuting Attorney Amanda Grellner about fines for stolen road signs. The commission and the Osage County 911 Advisory Committee have considered pressing for an ordinance that would raise the penalty to an amount that might more effectively deter these thefts. However, according to Glavin, Grellner has advised him the crime is a Class B felony with a fine of $500. Making arrests and pressing charges should be all that's necessary to reduce thefts.

"We don't need an ordinance," he said. "It'll pay for the signs."

Sheriff

Osage County Sheriff Mike Bonham announced the county is being visited by the sheriff of Eagle County, Colo. The two are Sheriff's Leadership Academy classmates.

Planned repairs to jail call showers should begin soon.

Miscellaneous

Commissioners approved and signed an agreement with legal services of the 12th Judicial Circuit Court.

Commissioners participated in a walk-through inspection of the recent Osage County Courthouse renovations and were satisfied with the work.

The commission approved the payment of bills from Dec. 7 through through Dec. 18 as follows by department: 911/EMA ($14,296.87); Assessor ($6,605); Building & Grounds ($8,029.99); CARES Act ($75,731.45); Circuit Clerk ($282.62); Collector ($112.50); Coroner ($1,396.07); County Clerk ($203.63); Elections ($1,677.53); Health Department ($965.17); Juvenile and Family Court ($4,195.42); Miscellaneous ($130,350.07); Prosecuting Attorney ($1,751.46); Recorder ($84); Road & Bridge ($22,143.43); and Sheriff-Jail ($120,152.09), for a total of $120,152.09.

Osage County Presiding Commissioner Darryl Griffin asked fellow commissioners to look over the County Aid Road Trust (CART) Tax Distribution Deposit Notice from November. Deposited Dec. 14, Osage County's share of the Motor Fuel Tax was $35,686.83. The Motor Vehicle Sales Tax yielded $11,686.83. Motor Vehicle Fee Increases paid $4,874.57. The monthly total was $51,863.84 and $584,854.88 for the year.

Commissioners reviewed and approved county employee timesheets and signed outgoing checks.