ROAD AND BRIDGE DEALS WITH TRANSMISSION
TROUBLE
Osage County Road and Bridge Foreman Ron Kempker briefed the commission on a snow event that occurred Wednesday, Jan. 27. Plow Truck #47 suffered a transmission problem, and it was out of service as Kempker spoke. Snow was followed by heavy rain over the ensuing weekend.
Kempker used the shortage of trucks to begin cross-training a driver onto a road grader. The grader was available because of an operator missing time. This was due to a previously mentioned medical issue not related to road and bridgework. Kempker says more cross-training will follow.
Eastern District Commissioner John Trenshaw asked about Kempker’s recruiting efforts for more full- and part-time help. Finding part-time help as needed, like for snow events, has proven futile. The availability of such employment is well posted at State Technical College and has also been advertised consistently in the Unterrified Democrat.
After the snow and rain, Kempker was well aware of damage to the gravel roads. As he spoke, all available trucks were hauling rock. “Just be patient,” he said. “We will get the rock out there.”
Extremely cold weather was forecast for the next weekend. With the expected freezing of topsoil, running blades on the road would be impossible. Therefore, Kempker was expecting to have his crews working elsewhere. They were to cut trees and clear brush along the roadsides. He also was hoping for repair to his shed’s oil-burning furnace. The unit that heats the garage, with the most cubic feet of open-air, was down at the time. It burns used oil from heavy equipment and trucks. The office space and parts storage rooms are heated with an electric furnace. He doesn’t want the electric meters spinning as they try to catch up. The garage bays will suck the heat out of the smaller spaces into the wide-open ones.
Another issue at the time was area quarries running out of road rock. “We have to bounce around to get what we need,” said Kempker. He wondered why the crushers were not deployed to anticipate the county’s demand. He does have a small stock of river rock stored at the road and bridge yard, but it’s running low. “We always do backhauls when we’re in a place we can get it,” he assured the commissioners. However, spreading rock where it’s needed is outstripping the availability of creek gravel.
Western District Commissioner Larry Kliethermes has heard from a constituent who has recently purchased land and wants to install a circle drive with two culverts. He double-checked specifications with Kempker for private driveway pipes.
Trenshaw has a constituent on CR 311 near a culvert crossing the road. The 18-inch pipe is inadequate to keep from clogging with debris in heavy rain. He is appealing for a larger pipe and has offered to pay the labor to have it installed. Trenshaw has talked to Kempker about it and the issue is now under study.
During the snow, a county employee needed help getting a car out of the parking lot at the end of a workday. Griffin inquired about getting traction material spread in the lot. Kempker replied the standard application is cinders but getting them down at the specific time needed was difficult as snow is falling. He doesn’t have enough personnel to be flexible. At this time, Kempker’s strategy is to cross-train more of his crew into plow trucks.
Kliethermes mentioned the repair and maintenance of asphalt roads in the western part of the county. He’s especially interested in getting chip-and-seal operations done on CR 615, the Pioneer Trail, and Bank Road in Loose Creek. He recently spoke with the Public Works Department in Cole County about the idea of “piggy-backing” those projects with operations scheduled east of Jefferson City. That department gathered information from Kliethermes about the estimated square yardage. Kliethermes passed his contacts on to Kempker. Osage County wants estimates on each project separately. They can be figured as added to Cole County contracts or done as Osage County operations alone. It’s urgent to get these figures now as asphalt companies gear up for spring.
A resident on Bailey’s Creek near Frankenstein has called attention to gravel sediment impeding water flow on his property. He has no problem giving access to the department to harvest rock for the roads. He wants the creek to flow better. Kempker will wait until summer to take equipment to the location. “We don’t want to tear up anything getting in there,” said Presiding Commissioner Darryl Griffin.
There was flooding again on the bridge over the Maries River on CR 521. “It was quite a deal,” said Kliethermes.
When driftwood and other debris pile up on the bridge deck, the water diverts around. Then it washes out the gravel road’s approach to the bridge at both ends.
Griffin mentioned the effort to form an alliance along U.S. 63 from Jefferson City to the Arkansas state line. The group wants input from every county and community. Griffin has already talked to Freeburg Mayor Darryl Haller. He intends to have a letter sent to Westphalia Mayor Tammy Massman to make sure her community is aware of the effort.
The new bridge over Shawnee Creek on CR 274A is nearing completion. Commissioners were scheduled to meet with McClure Engineering Project Engineer Aaron McVicker to make a final inspection Monday, Feb. 8. On Thursday, Feb. 4, they approved what should be the last contractor’s change order. A check for $4,551.31 was authorized to pay primarily for pilings and fencing unexpected in the original engineering. The contractor is Mera Excavating of Loose Creek.
The department hauled rock on CRs 412, 413, 433, 501, 521, 611, and 612; and grader operators worked on CRs 252, 311, 313, 503, 521, 602, 611, and 721.
Sheriff
Osage County Sheriff Mike Bonham presented a statement from his office about the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution. A full account appears on Page 1.
Bonham also had the commissioners sign a block grant award from the Missouri Department of Public Safety for $9,993.
Construction of the new sally port on the south side of the Osage County Jail is underway. It has, however, been delayed by the weather. Bonham presented a bid from Schaefer Electric to wire the structure for $1,700, which commissioners approved.
The new floors in the jail cell showers are now complete.
The January jail report showed 50 male inmates and 16 female inmates, of which, 54 were released. The daily average population was 10.2 with an average stay for an inmate of 4.8 days.
911/EMA
Osage County 911/EMA Director Ron Hoffman reported the Emergency Operation Center (EOC) carpet is now installed and looks good.
“It really lightened the place up,” said Kliethermes.
Hoffman thinks the final bill will reflect a bit of a price break. The new rug fits perfectly under the wall trim without it having to be removed. He expects the contractor to pass on the labor savings when presenting the invoice.
He has changed his mind, though, on what to do with dispatch and other office floors. Fumes from epoxy would interrupt the continuous operation of the department. He still doesn’t want carpeting with static-free chair mats as the expense is unnecessary. He has obtained a bid for snap-together floor planking from Freeburg Home Center for $1,526.80 to provide and install the material, which is water-resistant. It also can be removed to access electricity and other things under the floor. Rolling chairs would eventually wear it out, but not as fast as carpet.
“We can go a long time and not waste money on a chair mat,” he said.
“I think it would be the way to go,” agreed Kliethermes.
“It would hold up a lot better than carpet,” added Trenshaw.
Hoffman had samples for commissioners to view.
Hoffman and commissioners discussed an incident in the parking lot over the weekend. A band working at a restaurant near the Osage County Administration Building (Annex) parked its truck and trailer across the county employee parking lot. It blocked the exit of EOC nightshift workers. They were unable to get their cars out of the lot. They’re the only people working in the building at 7 p.m., especially on weekends. Therefore, weekend diners and others gathering on the square are often not aware of them. However, the nature of what emergency workers do can have them coming and going in a hurry. It might not just be the skeleton shift on duty that has to get in and out of the EOC in the future.
“We need to have access to those spots 24/7,” stated Griffin.
The commission is hurrying to get signs made and posted to prohibit public parking in those areas. They also intend to ask the Linn City Police Department to enforce the prohibition.
“Let’s dial in on what we want on those signs and get something done,” said Trenshaw.
Commissioners discussed how many signs to get and what should be written on each one, and the commission authorized Trenshaw to get prices.
The new Missouri State Emergency Management Agency Region 7 Emergency Operation Plan is complete and was reviewed by commissioners.
Hoffman announced there is now a dropbox at the Linn Fire Department for aging flags needing proper disposal. Anyone with a worn flag not suitable for display can drop it there. It will be taken care of according to proper flag etiquette. The fire department works with the Scouts of America which conducts flag-retirement ceremonies. State flags may be included, and nylon flags can be recycled as part of the process.
OCHD
Osage County Health Department (OCHD) Administrator Kim Sallin briefed commissioners on the first COVID-19 vaccination clinic administered at the Linn Community Center Monday, Feb. 1. Five staff members prepared and administered 228 shots.
“I am just so happy,” she said. “Everyone there was extremely happy to be there.”
She and other workers have received phone calls expressing appreciation. Based on what they’ve been hearing, this is in contrast to what’s going on in other places. In other counties, citizens have complained about workers being in a bad mood and not wanting to do the work.
“You all were very well organized,” said Griffin, who offered his appreciation to the department for their efforts.
Sallin expressed gratitude to the Osage Ambulance District as some employees dropped by to help.
So far, just the first round of the two-shot regimen has been given. However, the second round is now scheduled. Sallin confirmed residents of the General Baptist Nursing Home of Linn have now been vaccinated. She plans vaccination clinics on Mondays for an indefinite period, subject to the uncertain vaccine supply.
At the time of her briefing, there were 1,569 total COVID-19 cases in Osage County, 11 of them fatal. There were 38 still active, down by half from the week before.
“Everybody is seeing a significant decrease,” she noted.
However, the flow of vaccine supply remains constricted. She continues to take what she can get with no opportunity to choose one or the other. “I don’t have the option yet to be picky,” she explained when questioned about varieties.
BUILDING AND GROUNDS
Osage County Building and Grounds Janitorial and Maintenance Worker John Kennedy has been coordinating with Trenshaw on getting quotes for parking-lot signage, including a choice of mirror hangers for county employees to display in their cars.
Technicians from Cummins Sales and Service, Columbia, were scheduled to maintain backup generators at the Osage County Courthouse and Annex Monday, Feb. 8.
Kennedy presented bills from Schaeffer Electric for $287.21 and Brady’s Paint and Glass for $7,594. They were for running power to the west entrance of the Annex and window tinting in the Annex. The electric line will power the new lock system to be installed. The commission approved payment.
The lease agreement for the vacant lot northeast of the Annex has been signed. The property will provide additional parking for county employees.
“Thank you John [Trenshaw] for getting that accomplished,” said Griffin in appreciation of his colleague’s efforts to secure the deal. “It’s very much needed for county employees.”
Commissioners also approved a service contract with TCS Communications, LLC, to maintain the Courthouse and Annex phone lines. There was an option to add more lines for an additional fee but the commissioners were skeptical and deferred. The contract they approved and signed was for $2,484.
CARES ACT
The Missouri State Treasurer’s Office has certified that Osage County is in compliance with Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act regulations.
Amanda Schultz, CPA, of Williams Keepers, LLC, will conduct a CARES Act audit hearing in the Commission Room, hopefully before 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18. All department heads that received CARES Act funding must attend with their records of funds stewardship. This hearing is in preparation for the Williams Keepers audit, required by the CARES Act for jurisdictions tasked with administering relief money.
MISCELLANEOUS
Commissioners reviewed these expenditures through Jan. 31, listed by department: 911 ($461,888.07), Assessor ($15,764.58), EMA ($4,781.27), Road & Bridge ($233,201.40), Building & Grounds ($4,306.37), Circuit Clerk ($316.44), Collector ($8,962.17), Coroner ($1,252.50), County Clerk ($8,875.18), Commission ($9,505.47), Elections ($55), Employee Fringe Benefits ($22,991.24), Jail ($19,780.87), Prosecuting Attorney ($10,227.02), Public Administrator ($3,458.33), Health Department ($30,339.05), Recorder of Deeds ($4,026.43), Sheriff ($49,696.84), Professional Organization Fees ($2,507.30), and Treasurer ($3,559.61); for a grand total of $179,919.82. There were no expenditures from the emergency fund, leaving a balance of $68,370. The total spent represented 6.51% of the total annual budget.
An income report from the county clerk for January showed a total of $353.25, including liquor license ($28), notary ($20), plat books ($280), election ($25), and miscellaneous ($.25).
Commissioners signed outgoing checks.
County Offices will be closed Friday, Feb. 12, for Lincoln’s Birthday and Monday, Feb. 15 for Presidents’ Day.