Local News – Tuesday, December 22nd, 2020
Congratulations goes out to the three winners of this year’s KSMO Big Christmas Giveaway drawn this past weekend. This year’s winners were Sierra Miller from Echo Bluff State Park, Bonnie Quick from Southtown Furniture and Tiffany Smith from Fairground Auto Plaza. KSMO Radio, Echo Bluff State Park, Southtown Furniture and Fairground Auto Plaza want to thank everyone that participated in the contest and wish everyone a very, Merry Christmas!
The Dent County Commission met Monday morning at the courthouse for their regular meeting. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams presented the CART taxes received this month and they came to $59,041.53 and that is down from December of 2019 by $676.46. Year-to-date, the CART funds received are down $32,164.32 in 2020 and that comes to a reduction of 4.6%. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell stated grading would be done on Dent County Roads 4210, 5680, 6610 and 6620 while brush would be cut on county roads 4160 and 5650. Purcell said he attended the South Central Missouri Community Action Agency meeting last Tuesday and they still have money available for weatherization, and home repair, and they still have emergency assistance available for those who may need help with their utility bills as well as rent or mortgage. There are income guidelines to qualify for this assistance. For more information, contact Sarah at 729-3500. Purcell also said that on Thursday, he virtually attended the Corridor Advisory Team meeting on the replacement or rehabilitation of two bridges on Highway 19 south. For those interested, public comments can be made by going to modot.org/roundspringbridges. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported materials would be added and grading done on county roads 2030, 4050 and 4055, while only grading would be done on Dent County Road 4480. He added brush would be cut on county road 4030. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said the assessor’s office has been quarantined and would be closed until December 29th. If you have a question, call 729-6060 or e-mail dentcounty@embarqmail.com. He said he attended a CCAM meeting with the executive officers Tuesday and they worked on the virtual commissioners February training and also discussed possibly having a half day special training for newly elected commissioners. Skiles also said they discussed possible legislative issues including the publishing of county condensed financial statements. He also said they support having the prosecuting attorney’s salary paid by the state. He went on to say the courthouse would be closed Thursday and Friday for Christmas. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said she balanced with the treasurer on all accounts for the month of November, and she is still working on the 2021 county budget. At 10:00, the commission opened bids for the county’s auto, liability as well as errors and omissions insurance. They received three bids and the commission awarded the winning bid to the Hollida Insurance Agency, LLC from Poplar Bluff for $115,581 for the 2021 year. At the last meeting, Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk brought in her turnover report of $1,314,323.79 for the month of November. The Commissioners also approved CARES Act funding for All Accounted For of $15,888.18, Shelton Fabrication at $50,000, KSMO Enterprises of $2,968.17, Oak Grove Baptist Church of $2,681.98, the Dent County Health Center at $17,985.49, Plank Investments of $50,000, Curley and Co. Salon at $10,670, Cornerstone, Inc. of $4,210.98, Williams American Construction, Inc. of $50,000, SACBA at $13,052.55, Wisdom Drug, LLC for $50,000, the Montauk Rural Fire District of $1,590.00 and the Vogue family Hair Care at $4,024.52. The next meeting will be Monday, December 28th at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public. The next meeting will be Monday, December 28th at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.