The Dent County Commission met for its weekly meeting Thursday, Nov. 21. In attendance included presiding commissioner Gary Larson, first district commissioner Wes Mobray, second district commissioner Gary Polk, and county clerk Angie Curley. Commissioner-elects Jimmy Williams and Keith Greene were also in attendance.
During the meeting, the commissioners heard a budget presentation from MU-Extension and heard from 100 Acre Wood rally organizer Curt Faigle. Concerns regarding the new well to be installed outside of city limits were also heard by the commissioners.
Curley reported that bills are to be approved, and that candidate filing for the April 8 municipal election will begin Dec. 10. Potential candidates will need to file in their respective district offices.
There will be no meeting held on Monday, Nov. 25, due to commissioners attending a MAC conference in Jefferson City. The courthouse will be closed both Thursday, Nov. 27 and Friday, Nov. 28, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.
MU-Extension’s Dent County office visited and gave a presentation on its annual report, programs, as well as its 2025 proposed budget for consideration. It is requesting an additional $9,000, due to salary increases.
Brandi Richardson, extension engagement specialist, reported that one of the key successes for the year were 800 youth contacts being made during the reporting period through October. Eric Meusch, field specialist in livestock, relayed it was a busy year that’s only just beginning to wind down. Meusch informed of a research project underway called “grassland partnership” with two participants in Dent County utilizing biochar as a pasture amendment. It will be a five-year program with participants doing extensive soil sampling. Ray Walden, community development, shared that him and Richardson worked on a grant project through Missouri S&T for rural infrastructure. MU Extension is also part of a multi-state grant effort related to housing development, shared Walden.
Curt Faigle, 100 Acre Wood rally organizer, visited to inform the commission that there will not be much difference for this coming rally than previous years other than organizers using County Road 5550. The rally will take place March 14 and March 15, 2025.
A meeting was conducted with SEMA/FEMA on Wednesday, Nov. 20, with commissioners and Derrick Marfitt, emergency management director, attending. FEMA conducted an assessment of the area and the damage. FEMA representatives began the paperwork for Dent County to receive disaster relief funding to repair the damage. Marfitt and commissioners were advised the state did not meet the damage threshold for private property, meaning the two gentlemen that attended commission previously regarding their private road will not be receiving assistance.
“What does this all mean? FEMA will be sending reimbursements to the county as road repairs occur. FEMA does not send the money all at once, they will reimburse the work that has already taken place and then begin reimbursements a few roads at a time. This process will take some time,” Marfitt relayed in a post on the Dent County, MO Emergency Management Facebook page. “For those who had private property damage, there are other avenues to explore: the USDA has options to assist with fence repairs/replacement as well as sand, gravel and debris removal from grazing fields, etc. I will be following up with USDA to receive the specifics for what you will have to do for assistance.”
The commissioners commended Marfitt on a job well done in keeping folks informed and working to assist the people of Dent County.
Marfitt further stated on the Facebook page, “I have spent countless hours working for you all since the flooding on November 4th and will continue until every avenue has been explored to assist with the financial burden this disaster has caused.”
“People are going to have to be a little patient, because [repairs] are not going to happen overnight,” Larson stated in his report, “It’s going to be a year, two years, three years, before these roads are completely back to normal.”
To stay up to date on flood damage repairs or to message Marfitt directly with any questions, visit the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555662417216.
Meanwhile, Denver Ellis visited to speak on the city installing Well #9. The well will be installed near Salem Memorial District Hospital. Ellis expressed concern that the well will be installed outside of city limits on city-owned property and requested the commissioners look into how it may impact surrounding county residents and their own private well usage. Ellis informed that him, among others, have requested an impact study from the city with no response since the well began construction. Larson agreed to investigate the matter.
A county resident visited commissioners to discuss County Road 6600 and request further maintenance on the road. Mobray informed that the road is still in progress and that crew members are continuing to work on it. FEMA was taken to the road and reported that it’s coming along well. The resident requested a written statement from FEMA, to which Mobray agreed to provide.
Alexander Construction Co. came in to discuss the Courthouse roof repairs, along with the Christmas lights. Commissioners informed the lights have not worked properly since initial install. It was recommended to speak with the company and begin the warranty process for the lights. The Courthouse exterior vent that was damaged from the storm was approved, 3-0, to be fixed.
The commission appointed Will Woolman to the CLERF board, 3-0.
Road Reports
District One Commissioner Wes Mobray
Crew members will be grading county roads 5460, 6080, 5110, and 5115, and hauling rock to county roads 5110 and 6050.
District Two Commissioner Gary Polk
Crew members will be grading and hauling rock on County Road 4283. Crews have been working to get the road back into decent shape.
