During the March 30 meeting of the Dent County Commission, District Two Commissioner Gary Larson was appointed acting presiding commissioner by County Clerk Angie Curley, due to the vacancy of the presiding commissioner position.
After the commission approved the agenda and minutes, Deloris Gray Wood with the Dent County Historical Society spoke to the commissioners about an ongoing project, “Telling the Story of the Current River from the Road,” which will feature interpretive signs placed throughout the Current River area.
Wood reported holding scoping meetings every month starting in December, and planned one for Saturday, April 1, where she says Rick Mansfield was set to portray a former Missouri governor.
Wood said she’s waiting for a certain grant to open. She said the day before, she and Stan Podorski of KSMO Media met with Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) about adding digital media to the project. Wood said there’s a possibility that the grant she’s going for might have stipulations about not using parks service land.
Wood said MRPC was looking into other grants that might be available for the project.
“This was before it became a national park. What people don’t realize, there really was a very active community after the original landowners came with a half dozen grist mill, the sawmills, even a carding mill,” said Wood. “So, from Ashley Cave and what became Montauk State Park, all the way down to Akers Ferry, that was all a very commercial area. Then of course, William Henry Ashley had oxen and carts hauling saltpeter out of Saltpeter Cave in Potosi for gunpowder for the war of 1812. Before we became a state, Dent County was very active commercially on the river, and also with the saltpeter.”
Wood said progress on the project was being made, and that the scoping meetings help get interested people involved with the project.
“I have a half dozen or more people who are really glued into the idea of telling the story of the Current River from the road,” said Wood.
Treasurer Denita Williams reported CART tax. According to Williams, the county received $73,146.81, compared to $54,803.55 this time last year. Williams says revenue is up from the same time last year by $19,343.26, and year to date $42,131.41, a 23% increase.
District One Commissioner Wes Mobray gave his report.
“I’ve got three trucks stockpiling rock in the shed, because we’ve been hauling it out of there because there’s no rock in Dent County,” said Mobray. “It’s hurting us.”
It was reported that rock had to be hauled in from other locations, such as Houston.
“We’re trying to stockpile the shed for this rain coming on Friday,” said Mobray.
Mobray reported that crews were fixing a washout on county road 5520, and grading was set to be done on 5650, 4210, 4080, and 2410.
Mobray also reported that 900 trees were set to be planted at the recently completed Cooley Bridge. He reported 300 willows, 300 spruce, and 300 birch trees would be planted 1-2 feet apart.
Larson reported that crews were grading on county roads 2590, 2593, 2160, and 5240. Material was being hauled to 2590, and brush was being cut on 2160 and 2350.
Curley reported that no-excuse absentee voting would continue through Monday, April 3. Election day is Tuesday, April 4. Curley said voters could still update their information if needed. Polls will open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.
Curley also said the commission had agreed to seek bids for 40 grader blades. She said bids would be due and open on April 13 at 10:30 a.m.
Larson said there were two graders that needed to go back this year, and that the commission needed to see about getting new ones ordered from John Deere.
The commission adopted the MAC Trust seatbelt usage policy, which states that a seatbelt must be worn by all employees of Dent County when operating county vehicles, or operating any vehicle on county premises, or while on county business. All occupants must also wear seatbelts.
The commissioners then reviewed bids for banking services. Two bids were received, one from Progressive Ozark Bank, and one from the Bank of Salem. No other banks submitted bids, according to county officials.
The Bank of Salem’s bid was opened first. The interest rate was listed as FEDFUNDS (Federal Funds Effective Rate) minus 0.525%, adjusted quarterly in October, January, April, and July. For example, the current FEDFUNDS rate is 5.00%, so the interest rate would be 5.00%-0.525%=4.475%. A floor rate of 1.00% would apply during the term of the agreement, therefore the rate will not drop below 1.00%. Interest would be accrued monthly. The bank said they would provide ACH services for direct deposits to county employees free of charge. Stop payments, return checks, and wire transfers would also be provided at no charge.
Progressive Ozark Bank was opened next. The proposal listed the FEDFUNDS rate minus 1.25 basis points, which is 1.25%, from the period of July 31, 2023, through July 31, 2027. The current 5.00% rate means that based on this year, the interest rate would be 3.75%. The floor of the bid is 0.25%.
Williams suggested that the commissioners table the topic pending further review of the propositions. The commissioners agreed, and no action was taken on the bids.
April 3 meeting
During the April 3 meeting of the commission, Larson was once again appointed acting presiding commissioner. Field Representative for Congressman Jason Smith, Grant Wilson, attended the meeting and updated the commissioners.
“Right now, the House is in their Easter recess, so they’ll be off until after Easter,” said Wilson. Wilson also said that the President’s budget has come out, and it’s caused concern for Congressman Smith.
“Currently, since President Bident took the oath of office, inflation is up 14.4%. In the budget it also includes $4.7 trillion in tax increases. $1.8 trillion in taxes alone are on small businesses.”
Wilson said the Congressman, who is the chairman of the House Ways and Means committee, wants to put small businesses, the working class, and farmers first.
Wilson said the Congressman and the Ways and Means Committee are looking at tax provisions to help the working class.
“That’s why he’s got the lobbyists in Washington D.C. up in a tizzy, because they don’t know how to lobby someone who’s not looking out for the bigger businesses and corporations and everything,” said Wilson.
The commission also spoke with Bryan Williams of McCoy, an equipment dealer, about buying two new road graders. The current graders are on a five-year buyback program, and are due to be swapped out. The new graders will be bought on a state contract, which doesn’t require the commission to open bids, according to the commission.
During road reports, Mobray reported that he would have crews grading and hauling rock to county roads 6090, 5650, 5630, and 5170.
Larson reported that crews would be grading county roads 4030, 4020, and 5260, and also hauling material to 4030.
