The Dent County Commission met for its weekly meeting Thursday, Dec. 19. In attendance included presiding commissioner Gary Larson, first district commissioner Wes Mobray, second district commissioner Gary Polk, and county clerk Angie Curley.
Larson presented a policy regarding the ways in which county office holders apply for grants—according to the policy, any office holder who applies for grant funding shall meet with the commission in an open meeting to provide information about the nature of the grant. A copy of all grant correspondence should be retained by the county clerk for proper fiscal compliance. The commissioners unanimously adopted the policy, 3-0.
In Larson’s reports, there will be a CLERF meeting at 3 p.m. Thursday. He noted that the commissioners are aware of the malfunctioning Courthouse lights—the contractors have been contacted and will be working on the lights Monday.
Larson announced that all Rural Addressing correspondence will go to the Sheriff's Department Dispatch office, starting Jan. 1, 2025. The office is located at the back of the Judicial Building at 112 E. 5th Street.
There were three application requests for tourism funds at the Tourism meeting, reported Larson, with two approved and one denied. Four reimbursement requests were approved.
Curley reported that bills are to be approved and that she is working on the county’s 2025 budget.
Denita Williams, county treasurer, reported on CART tax for the month—stating that the county received $92,239.35; 5.6% up from last year, YTD.
In public comments, a resident from County Road 5130 attested that roads 5130, 5150, 5160, and 5170 are in “worse shape than [he’s] ever seen”—and further claimed that requests to replace a culvert have been dismissed. The resident further stated that when a commissioner is voted in, they should be leaving their roads better than they found them. Mobray agreed that commissioners should be leaving their roads better than they find them, but that the historic and unprecedented flood waters of early November have made it difficult to do so. District one crew members are still working on repairing roads that have been impacted—such as roads that are still impassable, and therefore have taken priority over others which only need maintenance.
Polk commented on people positing negative comments on social media regarding road department employees. Polk shared that, due to the cold at 9 a.m., roads cannot be graded due to frozen rock, and further stated that equipment needs to warm up. The negative comments were uncalled for and unfair. He spoke favorably of the road department.
District One Commissioner Wes Mobray
Crew members will be out grading and hauling rock on county roads 6245 and 6460. They will also be cutting brush on County Road 5600.
District Two Commissioner Gary Polk
Crew members will be out grading county roads 5325, 5320, 2090, 3170, and 3173, and hauling rock on county roads 2210 and 4030.
