ROAD AND BRIDGE
Osage County Presiding Commissioner Darryl Griffin provided news from Osage County Road and Bridge Foreman Ron Kempker. The department is busy hauling rock while Kempker works on the 2021 budget. Osage County Second District Commissioner Larry Kliethermes expressed special interest in what Kempker will propose regarding the maintenance of the county’s asphalt roads.
Commissioners traveled together to evaluate CR 511 Tuesday, Jan. 5. A stretch of it has been recently de-annexed by the city of Westphalia and is now the responsibility of the county to maintain. Some regular road gravel has been added recently, but “road rock’s just not going to get it. You need to use some bigger rock to build the base,” said Kliethermes.
First District Commissioner John Trenshaw received a citizen’s call on CR 313. It needs material, also.
“We need to run these trucks constantly to get the material out there, hopefully, some creek gravel, too,” said Kliethermes. “It stays better.”
“We need to concentrate on that this year,” agreed Griffin.
Trenshaw is optimistic the new tractor/belly dump trailer rig will help. “We’ve been at a deficit for equipment to do this,” he observed. “That new equipment we purchased should help a lot.”
Another citizen on a rural county road recently had internet service interrupted when a cable was cut by road crews. Griffin observed many of the fiber lines are not buried well. Nor does AT&T seem too interested in fixing that problem. “You try to get AT&T to do something, now you have to talk to somebody in San Francisco,” he observed. The citizen calling has a student in school, and this isn’t a good time for internet outages to students.
Commissioners approved payment of $51,203.13 to Mera Excavating, LLC, Loose Creek, for construction of the new bridge on CR 274A.
BUILDING AND GROUNDS
Osage County Building and Grounds Janitorial and Maintenance Worker John Kennedy obtained a bid for window film. The commission is interested in reducing solar heat in the summer in the Osage County Administration Building. The front of the building, on both floors, would cost $3,489. The two sides would be $4,989. The contractor would provide an $844 discount, making the final total $7,594.
“What we save in electricity for cooling will pay for it,” commented Trenshaw.
Commissioners approved the bid from Brady’s Jefferson City Glass and Paint.
Trenshaw had not been privy to the process for obtaining the bid. Kliethermes explained several companies were contacted to make an offer. Very few responded. The desire for tinting had been expressed by foot traffic in the building, and drivers struggle with the glare reflected from the windows onto Main Street.
Kliethermes told the other commissioners the new lenses for the courthouse porch lights are in and Verslues Construction will install them soon.
Trenshaw visited with the owner of a vacant lot between Lincoln and Benton streets, just west of the Administration Building. Commissioners are interested in using it for additional employee parking. The owner is interested in having someone maintain it for grass and brush control. She “more or less implied we can start using it today,” said Trenshaw.
Commissioners discussed an offer to lease it for five years. They may request the first three years be free in lieu of clearing and grading to make it suitable for parking. Trenshaw volunteered to draft a lease agreement and have Osage County Attorney Amanda Grellner examine it.
“I’ll have that for you (at the) next meeting,” he promised.
911/EMA
Osage County 911/EMA Director Ron Hoffman brought three service agreements to renew and sign for 2021. One was with Remote Computer Systems (RCS), Westphalia. Another was with Rayfield Communications of Springfield. The final was with AT&T. All were approved and signed.
Hoffman also had the commissioners sign the official letter for his appointment as department director. A similar letter was signed and sent to the Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC).
Hoffman announced his goal to get the emergency trailer moved by the end of last week. There is a scheduled update to a cable and the repairman would find it easier to do that work if the unit stayed in its present position behind the Administration Annex. However, if he doesn’t get to it quickly, Hoffman intends to move the trailer. The repairman will have to struggle with it at a different location.
The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) needs new carpet. The fabric on the floor now has been around for 10-15 years. Hoffman has an estimate from one vendor with others coming. However, he wants to think about it for another week before recommending a purchase.
“I’m still not getting in a hurry on anything,” said Hoffman.
The vendor told Hoffman the old carpet had, at one point at least, been steam-cleaned. This was a mistake, for the rug was glued to a false floor. This is common in commercial rooms where many electrical lines run underneath. The steam damaged the glue and shortened the fabric’s life. Nevertheless, it has served several years although it’s not as attractive as it would be if it hadn’t been abused.
Hoffman also updated the commission on a proposal to install an electric lock on the Annex Building’s east entrance. He asked the commission to set a new key security program when the installation is done.
SHERIFF
Osage County Sheriff’s Office Captain Travis Schaffer presented a proposal from Securitech Systems, Inc., of Irving, Texas, to update the Osage County Courthouse security system. The present system is based on “panic buttons” in courtrooms, judges’ chambers, etc.
When pressed, a button transmits on an analog receiver. All other law enforcement radio is now digital so this old receiver is no longer constantly monitored.
“The parts are so old, they don’t even service them anymore,” said Schaffer. “They’re still working, but they just don’t service them anymore.”
Updating the system would, first and foremost, convert it to a digital signal. This could be programmed to broadcast on virtually any device desired. The number of personnel to receive it could be modified in any number of ways. The proposal which Schaffer detailed is structured to program 20 different computers.
“This is just instant notification with no delays,” he asserted.
Commissioners took the proposal under advisement and will do some further research.
MISCELLANEOUS
Griffin welcomed Trenshaw to the Osage County Commission. He was elected in 2020 and just recently inaugurated. He also congratulated Osage County Second District Commissioner Larry Kliethermes on his reelection to a third term.
Commissioners commented on the recent Missouri Association of Counties (MAC) Conference, which was held in a virtual format. They agreed the material was as good as ever, but “I missed being able to visit with the other commissioners,” said Griffin.
Kliethermes agreed the informal exchange of ideas is as productive as formal presentations.
The commission reviewed these expenditures for 2020, listed by department: 911 ($799,078.66), Assessor ($249,334.16), EMA ($133,471.52), Road & Bridge ($1,306,274.29), Building & Grounds ($62,206.91), Circuit Clerk ($9,064.49), Collector ($99,355.38), Coroner ($22,276.07), County Clerk ($105,882.89), Commission ($88,794.64), Elections ($122,861.04), Employee Fringe Benefits ($215,695.59), Jail ($255,373.05), Juvenile Officer ($32,157.31), Prosecuting Attorney ($129,209.33), Public Administrator ($25,741), Health Department ($337,527.28), Recorder of Deeds ($48,357.82), Sheriff ($913,694.46), Other Government ($196,306.93), Professional Organization Fees ($69,255.72), Surveyor ($6,050), Treasurer ($44,501), and Transfers Out ($6,600) for a grand total of $2,790,910.94. There were no expenditures from the emergency fund, leaving a balance of $70,339.
Commissioners approved paying bills from Dec. 22 through Jan. 4 as follows by department: Assessor ($85.18); Building & Grounds ($49,920.14); County Clerk ($139.20); Health Department ($14.95); Miscellaneous ($2,322.97); and Road & Bridge ($8,824.19) for a total of $61,316.63.
An income report from the County Clerk for December showed a total of $245, including notary ($70), and plat books ($175).
The December jail report showed 50 male and 20 female inmates, of which 57 were released. The daily average population was 9.4, with the average stay for an inmate of 4.2 days. The cumulative totals for 2020 are 366 male and 130 female inmates, a total of 496, with 470 released. The average population is 7.9 with the average stay for an inmate of 4.8 days.
Commissioners signed outgoing checks.