Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Posted 5/26/21

County battles supply and worker shortages

Osage County Eastern District Commissioner John Trenshaw has heard, because of supply shortages, many culvert pipes are now being manufactured and …

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Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Posted

County battles supply and worker shortages

Osage County Eastern District Commissioner John Trenshaw has heard, because of supply shortages, many culvert pipes are now being manufactured and delivered with walls of lighter gauge than advertised. 

“I’ll keep an eye on that,” Osage County Road and Bridge Foreman Ron Kempker responded. The county remains a steady buyer of such culvert piping.

Kempker has heard reports of semi-trailer trucks driving a route from Rt. JJ to CR 634 and CR 631, and on to Rt. E. Of particular concern on CR 631 is a bridge regulated, and signs posted, for eight tons only. The drivers say Global Positioning System (GPS) direction software is instructing them to travel that route. Besides making sure the signs are posted, there’s not a lot the department can do. “We’ve done that already,” said Kempker, referring to the sign.

The recently ordered material shed has been manufactured and is ready to deliver. “They’re ready to go,” said Kempker, “but I’m not.” 

He must have the foundation blocks placed before the vendor can place the building. Supply chain concerns for the building itself have proven to be unfounded but those concerns for the concrete blocks are not.

“You’d better speak for them,” said Osage County Western District Commissioner Larry Kliethermes. “Sometimes they’re so far behind, it’ll keep us from getting them.” 

He has heard there’s a line for them better than two weeks long.

Commissioners approved a request from a resident for a “Dead End” sign on CR 262. “We have it out at the shed,” said Kempker.

Kempker has still not received applications for the position of equipment operator. As the months-long red tape continues to drag on for funds from the American Rescue Plan (ARP), commissioners hope those dollars may help improve compensation for “essential workers.” That might, in turn, help the county recruit and retain employees. The time it’s taking, though, is of increasing concern. 

“We’re going to get way behind,” Osage County Presiding Commissioner Darryl Griffin observed. 

In the meantime, commissioners and Kempker are considering contract haulers as the department needs to get more rock to some of the troublesome roads.

Griffin called attention to some unusual erosion threatening CR 424 on Cedar Creek near the junction of CR 423. An old low-water slab was replaced years ago by a bridge structure but the concrete from the slab was not moved away from the water. That concrete is directing the stream to scour the bank close to the road. Straightening the flow will require coordination with Osage County Flood Manager Andrea Rice. 

“We’re going to lose that road,” warned Griffin. “Let’s get on top of that.” 

Kempker promised to contact Rice right away.

Near that junction, the owner of a mobile home too close to the right-of-way promised to move it within a couple of weeks. The Osage County Sheriff’s Office has been in contact with the owner, who was on vacation when receiving the call.

Department employees hauled rock on CRs 416, 712, and 731; crew members performed service on Truck #26; brush mowers worked on CRs 753 and 754; and grader operators worked on CRs 232, 233, 251, 263, 300, 303, 321, 412, 413, 414, 416, 508, 514, 526, 532, 533, 605, 613A, 621, 711, 716, 717, 718, 731, 733, 734, 754, 801, 803, 809, 810, and 811.

SHERIFF

Sheriff Mike Bonham has received approval from the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) Water Patrol Division to place buoys on either side of the wreck of the Pentecostal Bridge on the Maries River. He had the order forms filled out, and the commissioners signed them. Bonham was unsure how soon they would arrive but was skeptical of them being in place before Memorial Day weekend. 

“We’ll be happy to place them as soon as they arrive,” said Bonham.

Bonham reported that crime in the county is down 16% in the last month and 23% for the year. This follows an unusual spike in 2020. 

“Last year’s one of those years you have to throw out,” said Bonham, reminding commission of unintended consequences of the COVID-19 lockdown.

He also related the improvement to the number of arrested individuals now being held. They’re in jail because of “failure to appear” violations. This is the delayed effect of the Missouri Supreme Court’s recent order of leniency. That liberality caused record numbers of violators to be released without bond. Now, many have no bonding options due to their predictable failure to appear on multiple occasions. 

“We’re putting a lot [of those] people in jail,” explained Bonham. “Keep them in jail, crime goes down.”

“Isn’t that ironic?” Griffin asked, rhetorically.

Osage County K-9 Officer Zed has been transferred to the Camden County Sheriff’s Office. The trade includes two vehicles coming to Osage County in exchange for Zed’s K-9 modified car going to Camden County. 

“If we need him, they’ll bring him out,” said Bonham. “So will MSHP, Maries County, and Cole County,” all agencies with K-9 officers.

Bonham was rather attached to Zed and hated to see him go. So were the recently certified Osage County Junior Deputies. The move was necessitated by the departure of Zed’s handler from the Sheriff’s Office. There was also the cost of either training or hiring a certified replacement. Camden County has personnel in place to make Zed’s transition there easier.

K-9 handlers aside, Bonham continues to suffer personnel shortages similar to Kempker’s. Bonham’s department has received recent raises, but so has his recruiting competition. “I promise you, salaries will continue to go up,” said Bonham. He made note of nationwide issues in the field.

Cell and shower repairs in the Osage County Jail are still ongoing.

Bonham expressed gratitude to the Linn “Lion’s Club for their support and letting us use their facility.” 

Last week’s ATV training course at the Osage County Fairgrounds was successful. Deputies from neighboring counties attended as well as newer Osage County officers who needed certification. “We had a lot of good feedback for the course,” said Bonham, adding that the course material was written here in Osage County.

Of the sheriff’s office’s recently ordered new vehicles, the Dodge Durango SUVs have been delivered and are now in service. Ordered trucks are still in Detroit, waiting for computer chips. They are victims of COVID-related supply chain issues. “They’ve been built since March,” said Bonham. “They’re just waiting for the chips. We may get them in June. We may get them in August, or later.”

911/EMA

Osage County 911/EMA Director Ron Hoffman recently attended a meeting of emergency management directors at the Callaway Nuclear Generating Station. One of the major topics of conversation was route alerting. Hoffman contributed his experience in the field and one of his suggestions was adopted. “I was happy everybody thought it was a good idea,” said Hoffman. A dress rehearsal for a plant emergency is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 19, and a graded drill is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 21.

On the topic of route alerting, Hoffman has been notified of a coming closure of the Hwy. 100 bridge over Cedar Creek near Luystown. All first responders in Osage County have been notified. They must come up with alternate routes to travel in case of an emergency call. The exact dates are not yet set, but “we’ve already been working on it,” said Hoffman, adding he expects some calls to endure 20-minute increases in response time when the bridge is actually closed sometime in 2022.

Hoffman is still looking for a full-time employee to fill a long-standing vacancy. There have been some applications but either they were not what Hoffman was looking for or the applicant took other employment. He’s particularly interested in an individual who can serve as a shift supervisor or has some Information Technology (IT) expertise. This shortage in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) came to Hoffman’s increased attention during a recent vacation taken by EOC Supervisor Travis Holtmeyer, who fills both roles when present.

There is still an opening on the Osage County 911 Advisory Committee. This member should be a community business leader. Any individual interested in serving, or nominating someone they know, should contact Hoffman or an Osage County commissioner.

OCHD

Osage County Health Department Administrator Kim Sallin announced 40 more COVID-19 vaccinations were administered at a clinic in the Commissioners Room in the Osage County Administration Building (Annex) on Friday, May 14. 

“We had a very, very good turnout,” she said. 

Those clinics will continue until there are no more requests for the vaccine. Sallin also said recent clinics at Freeburg and Meta were well utilized.

Her COVID-19 update to the commissioners included 1,714 total cases, with nine active. The fatality total remains at 16. State figures show 24% of the county completely vaccinated. Federal numbers have that at 28%.

As the United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has loosened its guidance for face coverings, Sallin announced her nurses will continue to wear them while interacting with the public. Like guidance for other county employees, they may remove them when working alone. 

“I don’t feel like there should be any [additional] written rules,” said Sallin, in response to the new developments.

The child recently hospitalized with a very serious case of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) is still receiving care but is slowly improving. “The child will have two good days, then take a step backward and have a bad one,” Sallin observed. Another case from that child care has been diagnosed but is now completely recovered.

MISCELLANEOUS

Commissioners approved a payment of $500 for annual dues as the county is a member of the Gasconade Valley Enterprise Zone (GVEZ).

The Missouri Department of Revenue distributed $58,133.33 of transportation taxes and fees to Osage County in May, up from $49,668.58 in January. Motor Fuel Tax yielded $34,400.75, up from $34,106.44. Motor Vehicle Sales Tax amounted to $16,768.64, up from $9,961.69. Motor Vehicle licensing fees came to $6,963.94, up from $5,600.45.

All county offices will be closed Monday, May 31, in observance of Memorial Day.