Local News – Friday, February 2nd, 2024

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning at the courthouse. Amanda Sapaugh with the SB 40 Board brought in the appointments to her board for commissioner approval. The appointees are Wendy Pryor, Cathy Diehl and Phil Christensen and the commission approved all three. Thom Haines was also in attendance and told the commissioners that in his research on the Gladden Bridge replacement (or Standing Rock Bridge), he said that MoDOT is only planning to make it a 26-foot wide bridge instead of a 30-foot bridge like the one on Highway 32-72 East near MFA. He wanted to know if the county knew anything different or talked with MoDOT about the bridge and they have not. Haines said he would continue to call Senator Brown and Representative Copeland and plead his case in his efforts to try to expand the width of the bridge that would allow for hikers and those riding bikes to be able to cross the bridge safely with shoulder room. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray said rock would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 6240 while only grading would be done on county road 6630. Mobray said work on the hangers for the salt spreaders continues when workers are available as there is a lot of welding to be done. District 2 Commissioner Gary Polk said rock would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 2260 and 5340 while only grading would be done on county roads 2240 and 3220. He also reported brush would be cut on county roads 3300 and 3310. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson reported that the Meramec Regional Planning Commission will be working with the county on the distribution of the opioid settlement funds. More information will be released on that once all the agreements are in place. Zach Moser with the Dent County Health Department came in to talk about RSMO Chapter 205.100 where the county commission appoints a County Public Health Officer, so the Health Center can perform their duties following the law. Moser said it is just a formality. The commission then unanimously approved appointing Moser as the County Public Health Officer. Moser also discussed the new food safety regulations and those will go into effect July 1st. The Health Department also has hired a lead inspector to go into houses and see where citizens are being exposed to lead. Corky Stack from AEA Engineering brought in a pay request from Alexander Construction Co for $10,018.99. This was for the change order the commission approved last week. At the last meeting, Commissioner Larson signed the LLEBG Grant with the Missouri Department of Public Safety for the Dent County Sheriff’s Department. This is for a Law Enforcement Block Grant of $9,505.97. The next meeting of the commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting will be open to the public.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey reported that Iron County Sheriff Jeffrey Burkett resigned from office Wednesday which is the day he was to appear in court to be impeached. Bailey had filed the petition of quo warranto to remove Iron County Sheriff Burkett from office last summer. The quo warranto alleged that Burkett “has knowingly or willfully failed and refused to perform official acts and duties with respect to the execution or enforcement of criminal laws of the State, and has engaged in willful acts of misconduct, malfeasance, misfeasance, and nonfeasance in office.” The petition alleged that Burkett was unfit to hold office after allegedly helping Rick Gaston, an Iron County resident, with a plot to kidnap Gaston’s children from their mother after a domestic dispute. After the quo warranto was issued, the Washington County Prosecutor criminally charged Sheriff Jeffery Burkett with one count of participating knowingly in criminal street gang activities, a class B felony; one count of tampering with a victim, a class D felony; one count of attempted kidnapping in the third degree, a class B misdemeanor; one count of stalking in the first degree, a class E felony; one count of stalking in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor; one count of unlawful obtaining of criminal history information, a class A misdemeanor; one count of unlawful disclosure of criminal history information, a class A misdemeanor; one count of misuse of emergency telephone services, a class B misdemeanor; and one count of making a false report, a class B misdemeanor. The Attorney General’s Office argued that Burkett “abused his power and authority as an elected sheriff by encouraging two deputies to make illegal arrests and detentions, knowing that he had no jurisdiction or authority, and knowing that the arrests and seizures lacked any probable cause or reasonable suspicion.”

A beginner’s beekeeping class will be held Saturday, February 17th from 9:00 in the morning until 4:00 in the afternoon at VIP Properties at 102 East 4th Street. The cost is $55 per person or $90 for a couple. A traditional lunch will be provided and payment is due on Monday, February 5th. To register or more information, contact Gregg at 573-689-2254.