News – Friday, May 30th 2025

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning at the courthouse. Deloris Gray Wood was in attendance to talk with the commission about a celebration centered on the 155th anniversary of the Dent County Courthouse. She said the 150th anniversary celebration could not be held due to COVID. She said the celebration could start around 10:00 around the courthouse with gospel music, local musicians performing and she suggested the high school band could play military songs as well as other selections. She also said this celebration could be held to also honor Dent County’s part in World War II as she said there was an Army Air Corps B-17 Flying Fortress that was on a training mission when it crashed in the Meramec Township on September 4th, 1943, which killed pilot William Dean from Dyersburg, Tennessee and other crew members. She said the celebration could be held in late August or early September, depending upon when the sidewalk renovation work begins at the courthouse. She also said she would like to have a 2-foot by 3-foot wayside created telling the story of the plane crash that could be permanently placed on the courthouse lawn. The commissioners said they will try to get a more definitive time frame as to when the sidewalk work would begin so a date could be selected for the celebration and get back with her, but Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson said the commission receives a lot of requests to have a monument or items placed on the courthouse lawn and they would have to talk about that before making a decision. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green said he has two men out and the remaining crews will be cleaning out pipes on Dent County Road 6400. He said right now crews are filling a lot of potholes with rock on roads that are to be graded soon, but he is asking the public to be patient as they are working on the worst roads now and will get back to other roads as soon as they can. Green also reported men from District 1 are working with a crew from District 2 on Dent County Road 5400 where rock is being hauled and grading continues. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams echoed Commissioner Green’s report on county road 5400, plus added that rock is being added to county road 5330. Williams went on to report that work is also being done in the Boss area, mostly on county road 5323. Presiding Commissioner Larson said he attended the Tourism Tax Committee meeting on May 19th and said an application by the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce was approved after there were some reductions in the amount requested, and two requests for reimbursement were approved. He also reported the roof on the Judicial Building needs to be replaced and it may still be under warranty which could reduce that cost. He also said the roof on the county annex building will be looked at Monday where repairs need to be made for leaks. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley wanted to remind any Dent County Business who has a liquor license needs to have their application for renewal into her office before June 30th. She also said she received the financial audit report from Deidiker, Alvarado and Associates, LLC. They said audit was good and Mr. Deidiker confirmed that the county maintains strong fiscal management, operates with a responsible budget, and prioritizes transparency. The county achieved a balanced budget and conservative cost saving measures to ensure financial stability. Sean McGonigle with Missouri Association of Counties Workers Compensation Trust came in to update the county on their Workman’s Comp and he said they have had only one claim filed so far this year. He also updated the commission that the legislature is discussing that $1.75 of the prisoner per diem received by the county will go to the Sheriff’s Retirement Fund. This is due to voters defeating Amendment 6 in the November election. McGonigle said a human resource seminar is going to be held at Farm Bureau in Jefferson City next week on personnel and all members of the Workman’s Comp Board including Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams are invited to attend. Brian Williams with McCoy Construction came in to talk about John Deere graders. The commissioners held a closed session with no decisions made before adjourning the meeting. The next meeting of the commissioners will be Monday at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.