Local News – Friday, September 9th, 2022

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning for their regular meeting. Salem and Dent County Economic Development Director Sally Burbridge was in attendance and gave her report for the month of August. Mary Lou Long and Mona Martin from Phelps County Road 4270 were in to talk with Commissioner Gary Larson about the condition of the first half of their road which is in Dent County at the end of county road 3010 at the Phelps County Line. They stated in 1999, the Phelps County Commission chip and sealed their road but has not really maintained it as there are ruts, it is chipping up and there are numerous potholes. They were told by the Phelps County Commission they would like to asphalt the road in Phelps County and in Dent County with the cooperation of the Dent County Commission, but Commissioner Larson said when they spoke with Dent County, there was no money in the budget for that to happen this year. Commissioner Larson did say that he would personally check the road next week after seeing pictures of the condition of the road as brought in by the ladies. He said Dent County may tear the road up completely to establish a new base for possible chip and seal next year if Phelps County is still considering asphalting the other half of the road. Engineer Corky Stack was in attendance to see if the commission had discussed any of the bids for the work on the exterior of the courthouse. He suggested to the commission that since they have a line item bid, the commission could approve all the exterior masonry work and items related to those repairs as well as the electric rerouting into the courthouse. Stack said that work would have to be done before any of the other work was even started and he was thinking the cost would be around $180,000 from the current bids which are good until September 24th. He said by approving a portion of the bids, they would secure the contract for the other work to be done at a later date, but there may have to be some price alterations as time goes on. The commission approved the two items of the bid. Tod Kinerk and Sherman Odom attended the meeting to update the commission on the Construction Trades and Computer Technology building for the high school. Odom said the Industrial Development Authority board on Wednesday night approved contributing $20,000 to the project, plus Intercounty Electric pledged $5,000 and another donor pledged $20,000. They were also waiting for a check from the Community Foundation of the Ozarks for $5,045.45 from a stock sale to arrive which left the required local contributions needed at about $29,200. They asked the commissioners if they would consider using some ARPA funds to reduce the amount still needed as time is starting to run thin. They suggested $20,000 but after some discussion, the commission approved by a unanimous vote to agree to contribute $25,000 to the project leaving just a few thousand dollars left for the fund-raising project to be completed. Following that contribution, the commissioners wanted to go on record that they would be freezing any further distributions of ARPA funds until the Missouri Department of Revenue and Dent County can come to some agreement how the remaining monies still owed due to the sales tax error are to be paid back. That amount comes to over $925,000 and Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said Senator Brown’s office and the Department of Revenue are discussing the issue. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray said materials were being added and grading done on Dent County Roads 5440 and 5450 and if time allows, 5460. He said brush was being cut on county road 4210. District 2 Commissioner Larson said materials were being added and grading done on Dent County Roads 5200 and 5225 while only grading was being done on county roads 2405, 3200, 3220, 6120 and 6123. Larson went on to say brush was being cut on county road 2050 while tree limbs were being cut back on county road 2120 that were striking a school bus. Larson also stated signs were being replaced on county road 3185 and that trash that was dumped on county road 3180 has been removed. Presiding Commissioner Skiles wanted to congratulate the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce for a very successful rodeo Saturday and Sunday night. He also said he attended the SMDH “Meet and Greet” Wednesday and met with the new hospital CEO Wayne Reid. At the last meeting, the commissioners met with Matt Lloyd of Fabick and Company about the buy-back of the Caterpillar graders and getting a new man to work on the ongoing problems. Dan Jones of John Deere was also in attendance and discussed the commission buying new graders with arrival by the first part of October. He also mentioned rental contracts could be set up for graders until the new graders arrive. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

Correction to yesterday’s story on Veteran’s Free Fishing Day at Montauk State Park. The park will be hosting Veteran’s Free Fishing Day on Saturday September 10th. This free fishing day is sponsored by Hooked On Vets to provide veterans free access to trout fishing. Veterans can pick up their free trout tag from the Moss-Covered Pavilion as they enter the park. Lunch will be provided for vets. Hooked On Vets will have fly tying and fly-casting lessons, as well as having folks throughout the park to assist fishermen in the river. If you don’t have gear, they will set you up with the essentials for the day. For more information contact the park at 573-366-9527.