Local News – Tuesday, January 11th, 2022

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning for their regular meeting. In the road report, District 1 Road Supervisor Jason Akins gave the report for Commissioner Wes Mobray who was not in attendance due to other commitments. Akins said crews would be replacing a crossover pipe on Dent County Road 2400 and adding material to an undermined area around a culvert pipe on county road 2410. Akins went on to say workers would be removing left over debris from tree trimming on Dent County Roads 5440 and 5450. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said a crew would be working on the spreader box on Truck #72 as the chain has been giving them problems. He said two men would be taking truck #116 with a snowplow to Knapheide in Jefferson City as the snowplow mechanism will only move one way. Larson said a crew this week would be picking up old culverts on Dent County Road 2090. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said he would be attending a Public Housing Authority meeting and MRPC meeting on Thursday, and would be in Jefferson City Friday for a CCAM Executive Board meeting. He said Friday is also the day the trial will be held on the legality of how Senate Bill 53 was passed in the Cole County Court. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said work continues on the 2022 County Budget. She also wanted to remind all political entities that they must submit their final certifications for the April election in the county clerk’s office by 5:00 PM, Tuesday, January 25th whether an election is occurring or no election is needed. State Representative Ron Copeland was in attendance. He said the biggest issue being discussed was redistricting at this time as the committee has agreed on 112 of 163 districts, but 51 others are still being disputed. This may end up going to court where the judge allows the 112 to stay and will only rule on the 51 other districts or throw the whole thing out and start over. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams presented the sales tax monies received by the county this month. In the General Revenue Fund and Law Enforcement Sales Tax Fund, the county received $91,064.52 and that is $34,878.01 more than the 2021 figure of $56,176.51. She said the Road and Bridge Fund received $43,938.97 and that is $19,673.71 more than the 2021 figure of 24,265.26. In the Jail Operating and Trust Funds, Williams indicated both funds received $87,816.54 which is $39,285.13 more than the figure for January of 2021. Skiles said the courthouse would be closed on Monday, Martin Luther King Day, so the commissioners will be meeting on Tuesday, January 18th at 9:00 for their regular meeting. At the meeting last Monday, January 3rd, Corky Stack with Stack Engineering came in to update the commission on the cost of the work on the outside of the courthouse. Stack estimated the total project cost to be between $570,000 and $730,000. It was also decided at the last meeting that beginning February 1st, the commission will go back to meeting twice a week on Monday and Thursdays at 9:00. The meetings were reduced to one per week in the height of the COVID Pandemic in 2020. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Tuesday, January 18th at 9:00 at the courthouse and that meeting will be open to the public.

The Creative Arts Center will be holding a four-week stained glass class beginning tonight and lasting through February 1st with Jennifer Curry. There will be two sessions to choose from: either 3:30 to 5:30 in the afternoon or from 5:30 to 7:30 at night. Learn the art of Stained Glass and create a panel of your own. All the supplies and safety equipment are included. The cost is $150 for all four weeks. For more information or to register, call 247-0651 or 247-5306, or sign up on the Salem Arts Council Facebook page.