Local News – April 14, 2017

The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning at the courthouse for their regular meeting. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams brought in the figures for sales tax money received from the state in April. In General Revenue, a total of $69,879.94 was received which brings the year to date increase over last year to $7,520.39 which is a 2.76% increase. Last year in April, the county received $70,974.40. For the Road and Bridge Department, a total of $32,109.92 was received in April versus $31, 829.57 received last April. So far in 2017, sales taxes for Road and Bridge are up about 4.84% amounting to $5,932.74. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell stated grading is being done on Dent County Roads 6280 and 6287, while materials are being added and grading done on county road 4160. Purcell went on to say that one man was screening brown rock and a crews was patching chip and seal on Dent County Road 4110 with the Durapatcher. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson indicated materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 2200 and 3240 while only grading would be done on county road 3240. He did say a man would be cleaning debris from around bridges on county roads 4280 and 5260. Presiding Commissioner Darrel Skiles said all three commissioners and County Clerk Angie Curley attended the Missouri Association of Counties annual legislative conference where they learned that HB104 repealing the prevailing wage has passed out of the House and a Senate committee and will be going to the full Senate for a vote. They also heard about the statewide 9-1-1 bill and others. In other news, the Commission voted 3-0 to approve signing a Quit-Claim Deed for property owned by Lou Trombley to remove a road easement in the original plat. The Quit Claim Deed was prepared by Dent County Prosecutor Andrew Curley. Skiles reported the county had received the contract for the creation of the Dent County Hazard Mitigation Plan. The Dent County Commission, SEMA and MRPC have to sign off on it to get the plan moving forward. The Commission voted 3-0 to sign the contract. It was also brought to the commissioners’ attention a request from Sheriff Bob Wells to purchase five DV-1 patrol cameras made by Watchguard Video for $11,000 which includes the hardware and software. There was no other bid submitted as Watchguard Video is the exclusive and sole manufacturer of these types of patrol cameras. The money to pay for the cameras will come out of the LERF fund. The commissioners opened bids for new culverts for the Road and Bridge Department at 10:00 and they received bids from Viebrock Sales and Service, LLC and Metal Culverts, Inc. Bids were received on metal culverts and as well as on new Polypropylene pipes. A discussion was held but no decision on the bids was reached. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) encourages hunters to remember safety while in the woods turkey hunting. Regular spring turkey hunting season begins April 17th and runs through May 7th. Shooting hours are from a half hour before sunrise to 1:00 p.m. MDC offers the following safety tips for spring turkey hunting: Identify a turkey’s head and beard before aiming; Never shoot at sound or movement. Assume it is another hunter until you can clearly see a turkey’s head or beard; Wear hunter orange when walking through the woods. Use hunter orange to identify your hunting location; Wrap a bagged turkey or decoy in hunter orange when transporting it; Dress defensively. Never wear red, white, blue, or black clothing because it resembles a turkey. Be sure of your target and what lies beyond; Never follow the sound of a gobbling turkey or attempt to sneak up on turkeys; Always call turkeys to you. Sit against a large tree or other natural barrier to shield yourself from hunters approaching from the rear; Shout “STOP” when another hunter approaches. Don’t move, wave, whistle, or make turkey calls to get their attention. Find detailed information on harvest limits, allowed hunting methods, hunter education requirements, permits, MDC hunting areas, tagging and checking procedures, regulations and more in MDC’s 2017 Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet available from MDC offices and nature centers.