Winter diesel blend to get better
By HB Dodds

Osage County Road and Bridge Foreman Ron Kempker announced the results of the testing done on fuel taken from the trucks and other machinery that failed to start during the recent cold snap. Both the Missouri Department of Agriculture and the University of Missouri concluded the "winter blend" provided by the county's supplier was simply not strong enough. All tanks are now topped off with a better blend and all machinery is running well. Commissioners asked about a possible increase in price but Kempker assured them it was negligible. "With what we went through," he said, "that would be cheap.”
He went on to explain how the supplier blamed the pipeline from which they purchased the fuel. Through the years, they've trusted the refiner to use a good winter formula but were let down this time. Other machinery besides Osage County's was affected. However, the county was able to find at least one supplier whose blend held up fine. Kempker pledged to get documentation of good mix when more cold weather is forecast.
"You'll hold them accountable," said Osage County Eastern District Commissioner John Trenshaw. "And if it happens again, we hold you accountable."
As Kempker was briefing the commission, all trucks and graders were running full bore. "We're trying to catch up with the potholes caused by the weather," he said.
Kempker recently had the fire extinguishers tested at the Road and Bridge Shed, as well as the units on all trucks and other machines. Around 20 of them are due to be replaced. "We'll have a bill of more than $1,000 before it's all done," he said.
The department got a call from a fairly new resident who drives across the new Shawnee Creek bridge on CR 274A. Not far from the bridge is a stretch of road where water can cross in extremely heavy downpours. The citizen felt a high-water warning sign would be appropriate. He thought the spot was especially dangerous at night. Kempker did some counting. With 76 low-water slabs and 49 other bridges over running water that can back up in heavy rain, "it would be a lot of signs we'd have to post."
Osage County Western District Commissioner Larry Kliethermes pointed out the new bridge deck is several feet higher than the span it replaced. Since the location had never been posted before, he felt it was, if anything, safer now. Osage County Presiding Commissioner Darryl Griffin concurred. He added, "those signs come up missing as fast as we put them up."
Besides the bridge itself being higher, Kempker added, "The level of the roadway hasn't changed."
"It should take a lot more water there now than it did before," Kliethermes concluded.
The county has a presently unfilled position of Assistant Road and Bridge Foreman. Kempker wanted to fill all his operator and driver positions before addressing it. He now feels, though, he needs to change his mind.
"I need help out there," he said. "There's not enough of me to go around."
Kempker has what he feels to be a good application from within his department. He will schedule a full interview for the individual with the commission in the coming weeks. Other applications may come in, as the application window is still open. The successful candidate will be able to substitute for Kempker, Office Assistant Lori Clenney, or any driver/operator in the department.
While working to bury a culvert, the department's 1997 Case Backhoe #12 had its front axle lock up. Then a universal joint broke. Crown Power & Equipment Co., LLC, Jefferson City has provided a $13,749 estimate to repair the machine. That would bust the department budget for equipment repair but the machine is necessary and it's not scheduled to be replaced yet for a few years. The estimate might be high, so the commission approved going ahead with the repair.
The department hauled rock on CRs 501, 514, 515, 632, 806, and 822; crew members performed service on trucks #26, #31, #35, #49, and Grader #06; crews installed a culvert on CR 806; and grader operators worked on CRs 318, 501, 632, 806, and 822.
911/EMA
Osage County 911/EMA Director Ron Hoffman spoke about the Integrated Public Advance Warning System (IPAWS). The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is trying to make some improvements. The focus is on messages about possible trouble at the Callaway County Nuclear Power Plant. As it stands now, "when sirens go off, everybody thinks weather," said Trenshaw. "No one ponders the possibility it might be the nuclear plant which has a problem."
Upgrades would have the first messaging specify the emergency with sirens to follow. Those messages should be designed to address every cell phone in the county. That's whether or not people are signed up with Smart911, which is still encouraged.
All the flooring projects in the Emergency Operations Center and the 911 dispatch offices are now done. "The dispatchers thank you very much," said Hoffman. "It's a lot brighter."
Sheriff
The Osage County Sheriff's Office is interested in updating the "panic-button" alarm system now in place at the Osage County Courthouse. The system installed in 2008 has become outdated in more than one way. It's hard-wired from the courtrooms only and the signal is picked up on an analog frequency no longer monitored by every radio in the department. The company which installed it, SecureTech Systems, Inc., of Dallas, Texas, presented an updating option. Cpt. Travis Shaffer represented the sheriff's office, which has initiated research into the idea.
SecureTech founder Steve Kirby came with Shaffer before the commission. Shaffer has endorsed a system created by Kirby, which provides wireless transmitters to as many county employees as desired. There would be base receivers at the courthouse, the Osage County Administration Building (Annex), and the Osage County Road and Bridge Shed. The press of a button alerts any and every deputy. It could, if desired, include Linn Police Officers and Missouri Highway patrolmen within range of the signal. Options exist which can expand the system to other mobile devices. Every office or county employee can transmit a customized signal, codified if desired. The program presented comes with a four-year warranty, and requires no recurring cost. Competitors frequently charge for monitoring and other periodic premiums. Another feature attractive to the Sheriff is it would work with existing radios. This includes manual portable as well as car radios.
Commissioners were impressed with the presentation and promised to study the issue further. They also discussed polling the various county departments to determine their interest.
OCHD
Osage County Health Department (OCHD) Administrator Kim Sallin announced a current load of nine COVID-19 cases. That brings the total 1,614 total cases in the county. None are currently hospitalized but the county death toll remains at 12. Sallin was aware, though, of five more cases pending which might add to the total. They have not yet been officially certified.
Some of the county's schools have been provided with rapid testing kits and are hustling to use them up since they expire in April. "That's been a really fantastic resource," said Sallin, who is hoping for more to come.
The OCHD administered 333 booster shots Monday, March 1. Unfortunately, they came up 23 doses short for those who got their first shots in February. The discrepancy was unavoidable. Counties remain at the state's mercy for their supplies. In this case, syringes and vials came in different sizes than they did in February, so they drew a different total of doses.
"We didn't know this until the patients were in the building," explained Sallin. "I had to turn them (the 23) away. It was totally out of my hands."
She did add she was as unhappy as were the citizens who took the trouble to come in. "It puts me in a very tough place," she concluded. "We're doing everything within our power."
She reassured the commission everyone turned away has or will get their second doses. Sallin simply regrets they have to show up another time after already paying the price to get in. Tier 1 patients are usually elderly and often cope with disabilities. Another trip when one is supposed to do is no picnic.
Tier 3 of the vaccination program begins Monday, March 15. This is to be for "essential workers" of any age. There is very high demand already, simply among those who have already called in to get on the list. The pressure is even higher now, because, "We're not getting allocated more vaccine just because a new tier is opening," said Sallin.
Since this will be a much younger population, as a rule, the OCHD is employing a different plan to get shots into arms. Younger people don't go to the doctor as often, so taking the vaccine to workplaces should be more efficient. This will take more effort, more people, and more time out of the office for Sallin's staff. Not only that, she can't plan a clinic until late in the week before the shots must be given.
"I don't ever know until Thursday or Friday how much I'll have by Monday," she explained. "I just scrounge every week."
"You're kind of at the mercy of the hospitals what they're willing to give you," Kliethermes sympathized.
There were questions about the new single-shot Janssen vaccine from Johnson & Johnson. It doesn't affect the OCHD, though. It will be funneled through the Missouri National Guard, according to Gov. Mike Parson.
Sallin thanked the commission for the additional OCHD voicemail branch, used for scheduling COVID-19 vaccinations and answering related questions. She said it's working well. She also thanked the many unpaid volunteers who have helped her department's effort.
Commissioners asked her approval to open the front door of the Annex. That canceled the one-way traffic which has been in effect for the past few months. Thanks to the reduction in county COVID-19 cases, she granted that approval. The front door is now available for entrance as well as exit.
Miscellaneous
Commissioners reviewed the following expenditures through Feb. 28, listed by department: 911 ($105,769.33), Assessor ($33,400.46), EMA ($13,606.93), Road & Bridge ($394,651.34), Building & Grounds ($10,061.58), Circuit Clerk ($1,481.12), Collector ($17,041.38), Coroner ($5,604.89), County Clerk ($17,761.84), Commission ($17,771.19), Elections ($465), Employee Fringe Benefits ($37,837.93), Jail ($36,676.68), Juvenile Officer ($1,319.46), Prosecuting Attorney ($20,483.57), Public Administrator ($8,061.07), Health Department ($60,147.97), Recorder of Deeds ($7,566.06), Sheriff ($125,941.30), Professional Organization Fees ($9,562.60), and Treasurer ($7,244.23); for a grand total of $385,017.87. There were no expenditures from the emergency fund, leaving a balance of $68,370.
The commission approved paying bills from Feb. 12 through March 1 as follows by department: 911/EMA ($2,613.85), Assessor ($6,334.50), Building & Grounds ($442.37), Circuit Clerk ($353.36), Collector ($2,309.97), Commission ($2,662.22), County Clerk ($19.45), Health Department ($2,565.28), Miscellaneous ($8,679.61), Prosecuting Attorney ($420.58), Road & Bridge ($4,244.19), Sheriff-Jail ($17,622.52), Lease Purchase ($75,955.87), and Treasurer ($872.97) for a total of $125,096.74.
An income report from the county clerk for February showed a total of $3,510.65, including Notary ($10), Conservation ($12), Plat Books ($140), and Election ($3,348.63).
Commissioners signed outgoing checks.
Bids are now open for the replacement of fencing around the Osage County Courthouse antenna tower. They will close Wednesday, March 31 and Griffin announced one bid has already come in.
Commissioners are scheduled to attend the presentation of the Missouri Bicentennial Quilt at the Osage County Historical Society at 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 18.
The Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) Annual Dinner is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 21, at Missouri State Technical College. The 2020 dinner was canceled, so there will be two years worth of awards given. Local government and other community leaders will be invited.