Local News – Friday, May 6th, 2022

The Dent Country Commissioners met Thursday morning at the courthouse. During the public comments, John McIntyre was in to discuss road conditions in the Adams Subdivision on county road 4170. He said the water is washing out the sides of the county road, starting to undermine it as well as some other drainage issues. Commissioner Wes Mobray said he would check it out once the area dries out. Both District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray and District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said the crews were out checking roads for flooding, washouts, cleaning out clogged pipes, clearing out low-water crossings and addressing any other road issues created by the rain. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles and Commissioner Larson attended the meeting Tuesday at the offices of Senator Justin Brown with the Missouri Department of Revenue Director Wayne Wallingford and his legislative director, Zach Wyatt. State Representative Ron Copeland was also in attendance at the meeting. Skiles said he gave a breakdown of what happened to Dent County with the sales tax issue and provided a working log of all communications with the department that he and Treasurer Denita Williams made in an attempt to get an explanation of how this could happen. Skiles said he felt it necessary the director hear the county’s perspective of how the events went down. He said it was very good meeting and hopes that it will help the county in their communications to reach a settlement on how to pay back the additional $917,000 the department of revenue says the county owes. Skiles said he was very appreciative of Senator Brown for setting up the meeting and that he and Representative Copeland were both there on behalf of Dent County. Skiles went on to say there will be no commissioner meeting Monday due to Harry Truman’s birthday as the courthouse will be closed. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said she balanced with the treasurer on all accounts for April. Curley said she would be attending a MAC Board meeting on Wednesday in Jefferson City. Commissioner Mobray said he would attend the insurance consortium meeting Wednesday in Columbia since Curley would be unable to attend. The commissioners approved the purchase of 2017 Mack Dump Truck 700 DP from Tony Vaughn from Ash Flat, Arkansas for $180,000 that has 78,500 miles on it. The sale is contingent on the passing of an inspection by Commissioner Larson. Just after 10:00, the commission opened bids for extrication equipment. Two bids were received: the first bid was from Sentinel Emergency Solutions from St. Louis for four sets of equipment for $111,018.56; and the second bid came from Alex Air Apparatus from Boonville for four sets of equipment for $112,392.00. Representatives from both companies were on hand along with Dent County Emergency Management Director Brad Nash. Both companies discussed the units which will be from the same manufacturer. Nash indicated he has had some service issues with Sentinel working with the fire department and none with Alex Air. After reviewing the bid documentation, the commissioners voted to allow Nash to make the final decision on the equipment since he is more familiar with it after he has a chance to review the documentation to make sure the commissioners are not missing anything. Brad Hawthorn from Springdale Tractor made a presentation to the commission about the Alamo Tractor and mower apparatus. He said he will be willing to provide a demo to the commissioners on Wednesday, May 18th. David Massengale from the US Forest Service brought in the signed Road Service Agreements between the county and US Forest Service, which were signed last week by the commission. At the last meeting, the commission agreed unanimously to add in the policy handbook that office holders and employees shall be reimbursed eligible milage expenses at the current Missouri state rate. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Thursday, May 12th at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

A one vehicle accident happened early Thursday morning just after 4:45 in Maries County on Highway 63 about 2 miles north of Highway P. According to the report released from the highway patrol, a 2002 Dodge Dakota being driven north by 52-year-old Gary Frisbie of Rolla traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck several trees. Frisbie, who was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident, was taken by Osage ambulance to Phelps Health Hospital in Rolla for treatment of minor injuries. The Dodge was totaled and towed from the scene by C & C Towing.