Local News – Tuesday, December 3rd, 2019
The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the courthouse. At the meeting, Pat Tackett with VIP Properties came in to ask what criteria would be needed to make a private drive into a county road. Commissioner Gary Larson explained the private drive needs to meet the county’s specifications before it can be absorbed in the county road system. He said he would take a look at the road in question and let her know what he finds. Salem and Dent County Economic Development Director Sally Burbridge was in to give the monthly economic activity report to the commissioners for the month of November. David Gray also came in to inquire of any requirements on building a low water crossing. Commissioners Dennis Purcell and Larson told Gray how they have built low water crossings using footers and pipes or a concrete culvert. Gray was satisfied with the information provided on how to proceed with his project before leaving. In the road reports, Commissioners Purcell and Larson stated both district received between 1.5 and 2.5 inches of rain Thursday through Saturday. Because of this, work crews were out checking for any washouts, downed trees and blown down limbs. They also said materials would be added and patch grading would be done where needed. Larson also reported that Dent County Road 4280 was closed Sunday when a car was stranded on a low water crossing. The vehicle was removed and the road was reopened Monday morning. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles stated he would be attending the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District full council meeting at 5:30 followed by the awards banquet at 6:30 at the MRPC offices in St. James tonight. He also wanted to remind everyone that Dent County Assessor Tina Whitaker would be retiring December 31st and if anyone would be interested in that position, they need to let the commissioners know of your interest. The commissioners will have 14 days to name a temporary replacement for that position who would remain in office until the governor appoints a permanent replacement. Skiles also said they would re-bid the financial audit for the county for the 2018 and 2019 fiscal years and those bids would be opened on Thursday, January 23rd at 11:00 in the morning. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said her office continues to work on the 2020 Dent County Budget and filings for the April Municipal Election will begin on December 17th. She said people interested in running for all the local political offices except for the Dent County Health Board need to file at those respective entities. Those interested in filling for the Dent County Health Board will need to file in her office. She also said Commissioners Skiles and Larson signed off on the request for some of the funds on the CDBG grant for the work being done on the Dent County Fire Station. The next meeting of the commission will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.
In honor of National Miners Day on December 6th, the Doe Run Company celebrates the achievements of its skilled mine rescue teams. Doe Run’s Maroon team won first place for the team technician competition, and the Gray team won first place in first aid at the Missouri Regional Mine Rescue Contest that was held in Rolla September 30th through October 3rd. In addition, Charlie Walker, the development miner at Doe Run’s Brushy Creek Mine and captain of the Gray team, was inducted into the Missouri Mine Rescue Hall of Fame in recognition of his nearly 30 years of significant contributions to the field of mine rescue. Congratulations to Charlie and both rescue teams!