Dent County Commissioners went to the Dent County Fire Protection District fire station during their Dec. 7 meeting to sign paperwork confirming the new choice for Emergency Management Director following the resignation of former Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director Brad Nash.
According to Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson, Derrick Marfitt was chosen on Monday to fill the position, and the commissioners arrived at the firehouse on Thursday to sign documents making the appointment official. Area emergency management directors were holding a quarterly meeting and presentation at the firehouse that morning.
Earlier during the commission meeting (while the commissioners were still in the courthouse), Jeff Banderet with Great Rivers Engineering (GRE) presented documents regarding proposed Federal Land Access Program (FLAP) and Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) projects that GRE is working on with the county.
Banderet said that road surveying is being performed for the FLAP project and should be complete by the end of the year. He said 100% of the cost of the FLAP project will be reimbursed through MoDOT, and there would be no cost to the county. Construction is tentatively set to begin sometime in early 2025.
The TAP project, which is proposed to refurbish the courthouse grounds, will bring sidewalks and ramps up to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance if completed. The project is estimated to cost a total of $94,896.69, which if approved by the commissioners, will be paid through an 80/20 grant, with the county being responsible for 20% of the total cost.
Larson, District One Commissioner Wes Mobray, and District Two Commissioner Gary Polk discussed reimbursements with Banderet. Larson asked if the county would have to pay out the around $800,000 all at once before reimbursement, and Banderet replied that while the county would be cutting the check, the money would be in the county account prior to paying out, and that it would be billed on a monthly basis.
Banderet provided a contract for engineering services for the commissioners to sign for the TAP project, though he said that until the process with MoDOT is complete, no work will be done or costs to the county generated until GRE receives a notice to proceed. Larson said that before any decisions are made, that the budget needs to be evaluated. Banderet told the commissioners that while there was room to wait, failure to sign would delay the beginning of work after the completion of the MoDOT process, but that the commissioners could sign the contract in February or March.
After discussion of the contract, Mobray and Polk decided to wait on signing the contract. Larson had temporarily stepped out of the room for an emergency phone call.
County Clerk Angie Curley reported that she had signed an order for an election cybersecurity assessment, a bi-yearly review funded by the Secretary of State’s office.
County Collector Shannon VanKirk reminded taxpayers that the collector’s office will have extended hours over the next month as personal property taxes become due. On the dates of Dec. 21, 22, 27, 28, and 29, the office will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. VanKirk also reminded taxpayers that all mail must be postmarked no later than Dec. 31. She suggested taking the mail inside the post office and having it hand-stamped, or to use the drop box out in front of the courthouse.
During his report, Larson reported that he had attended a meeting of the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District, as well as a meeting in Van Buren to discuss recommendations about Next-Gen 911 services.
During road reports, Mobray reported that District One crews would be grading county roads 5130, 6080, and 5450, cutting brush on 2460, and two trucks would be hauling rock to 6080.
Polk reported that District Two crews would be grading on 2075, 3170, and 3173, cutting brush on 3120 and 3090, and hauling rock to 3070.
Monday meeting
Curt Fagle with the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood stopped by the commission office on Monday to discuss arrangements for using county roads during the race.
Fagle told commissioners that the rally would be held on March 15 and 16, and shared the proposed route. He said that the bulk of the Dent County events would be on the 16th. He was unsure how many cars would be registering in the rally this year. He reported that he would be meeting with Interim Fire Chief Dennis Floyd regarding arrangements with the route and emergency services.
Larson asked Fagle what help he needed from the commission.
“All you need from us is commitment?” asked Larson, who said the commissioners were alright with the arrangements, and Mobray said he agreed.
Larson, during his report, said that he would be attending a meeting of the Salem Area Community Betterment Association (SACBA) later that evening, and that he had other meetings coming up that he would announce on Thursday.
Mobray announced that the road and bridge department had upgraded maps for CART tax on all county roads. According to discussion from the meeting, MoDOT sends out a map of all the roads, and the commissioners review them and note any updates or changes, such as widening that has been done, or conversion to chip-and-seal pavement.
County Treasurer Denita Williams reported sales tax for the month. She reported that general revenue and Law Enforcement each received $88,614.48, down 6.27% year-to-date. Operations and Trust each received $83,846.07, down year-to-date by 5.60%. Road and Bridge received $41,712.16, down year-to-date by 6.09%. Williams and Larson noted that the reason revenues are down is because of repayments made to the Department of Revenue, after the DOR mistakenly disbursed more revenue than the county was due in 2020.
During road reports, Mobray reported that District One crews would be grading on county roads 4235, 4237, 6010, and 5780, hauling two trucks worth of rock to 6010, and cutting brush on 2470.
For District Two, Polk reported that his crews would be grading 44403, 5260, 3080, 3090, 3100, and 3110, cutting brush on 3080 and 3090, and hauling rock to 4403 and 5260.
