Local News – Tuesday, July 2nd, 2024

The Dent County Commission met for their regular meeting Monday morning. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray stated grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2430, 5530 and 6370, plus a man would be going to Springfield to get oil for chip and seal repair. He also said one of the crew members of District 1 was helping the guys from District 2 install the new “No Truck” signs. District 2 Commissioner Gary Polk said men would be installing the new “No Truck” signs on chip and seal county roads 3210, 3260, 3280, 3290 and 3300. Polk went on to report rock would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 2120 and brush would be cut on county road 2300. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson said Tuesday the MCEC budget was approved. Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk presented to the commission an estimate from Anita Ridenhour from A Ridenhour, LLC on creating the Senior Tax Credit System for the Dent County Collector’s tax collection computer program that would be required to determine the senior tax credit from Senate Bill 190. The estimate indicates the cost to be between $16,500 to $19,500 with the final cost to be determined by what is required by the county. The new Senior Tax Credit system would have the ability to add and modify senior credit amounts on unpaid accounts, tracking of all modifications and necessary reporting to each taxing district, the auditor as well as any other reporting that may be required by the county. The work to be done in the tax collection system would have to modify and update all programs related to real estate accounts to include the Senior Tax Credit amounts including inquiry, all collection programs, abatement and add-on screens, statements, paid receipts, all reports and website changes. Further, VanKirk attended a workshop on Senate Bill 756 (which the governor has not yet signed) that attempts to remedy some of the confusion from Senate Bill 190 allowing people, who are 62 years of age, to qualify for the credit and if those on a different retirement plan other than Social Security such as a state pension plan would qualify. She stated certain things cannot be “frozen” from taxes such as bond levy increases and the blind discount pension from any reassessment. She also said applicants would have to get copies of their deed from the Recorder’s office and the Assessor would have to check each application as well and this would have to be an annual event. It is still unclear how many applications would be submitted and what the effect would be on the taxing districts. The county commission reiterated they are doing their due diligence before making any final decision and will wait until all the facts and figures have been collected. They also plan on doing a poll to see what the citizen support is for the credit as well. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said the last day to register to vote for the Primary will be July 10th and the excused absentee voting continues in her office. At the last meeting, the commission approved putting out bids for a concrete pad and four-foot walls at the Road and Bridge Department that will be due by July 15th at 10:30. The courthouse will be closed on Independence Day but the lights on the courthouse will be left on featuring red, white and blue colors. The next meeting of the commissioners will be Monday, July 8th at the courthouse at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

An accident happened in Franklin County Sunday afternoon at 3:50 on Interstate 44 at the 234.2 mile marker that took the life of a man from Cuba, Missouri. According to the highway patrol report, 73-year-old Ruben Caldera of Cuba was operating a 2023 Harley Davidson Tri-Glide heading westbound on Interstate 44 when he lost control causing the motorcycle to go off the right side of the roadway where the Harley Davidson struck a rock bluff and overturned, ejecting Caldera from the motorcycle. Caldera was pronounced dead at the scene by the St. Clair Ambulance personnel. His body was taken to the St. Louis County Morgue by Superior Mortuary Transport LLC. The motorcycle was removed from the scene by Vogelsang’s Towing. Caldera was wearing safety equipment at the time of the accident.

The Dent County Health Center (DCHC) Board of Trustees held their regular meeting Thursday, June 20th. Administrator Zach Moser presented the Service and Statistics report. In the Communicable Disease Report, he stated that there were 21 COVID-19 cases reported and the new strain is circulating, 37 lead cases, 37 screenings for sexually transmitted infections, no cases of Influenza and 9 animal bites. There was a brief discussion about the Avian Flu that has broken out in dairy cattle and has spread to a few humans, but is not spreading from human to human. The Environmental Report by Assistant Administrator Roma Jones showed there where 5 total inspections conducted, no recalls, no sewer complaints, and 31 environmental questions were fielded. The Maternal-Child Health (MCH) statistics showed there was one CPR Course, one consultation for Childcare Health, no Show-Me Healthy Women appointments, 13 Title X appointments, no Presumptive Eligibilities (Temporary Medicaid) and 304 WIC appointments. The Community-Specific Services Summary showed 496 total appointments other than WIC, 99 Nurse Practitioner appointments, 117 Treatment Court visits, 224 lab appointments and 42 immunization appointments. Nurse Practitioner service details showed no Show-Me Healthy Women appointments, 6 family plannings, 7 well-child visits, 12 online appointments, 2 other well-woman exams, 9 other physicals, 10 SEMO physicals, 10 other visits, and 53 acute illness appointments. Laboratory details showed 253 individual patients, 3 appointments for Rapid Test for COVID, Flu, RSV or Strep, 3 pregnancy tests and 11 lead tests. There were no Immunizations for COVID-19 in May, while there were 5 for Influenza and 98 other vaccines administered, including the new RSV vaccine and new formulations of pneumonia vaccine. In the Administrator’s report, Moser reported that there will be a Lead Poisoning Town Hall meeting that is open to the public on August 1st at 5:30 at the Community Center @ the Armory. Progress on the DCHC Strategic Plan was discussed. Moser was asked about insurance adjuster results from the April 18th hail storm. He reported that an insurance adjuster has not yet been to the DCHC to determine damage. The Health Center financial reports for May, including the overall results from H & R Block, were reviewed. Discussion was held on the balance sheet, income statement, and budget statements. After these questions were answered, the financial reports and the report from H & R Block were approved. In news business the Financial Audit was approved by the Board. The next regular meeting of the DCHC Board was set for Thursday, June 20th at 5:00.