The Dent County Commission met for a regular meeting Monday, Sept. 8, and Thursday, Sept. 4. Those in attendance included Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson, District One Commissioner Keith Green, District Two Commissioner Jimmy Williams, and County Clerk Angie Curley.
Also attending included Derrick Marfitt, Emergency Management Director and Deputy, and Canyon Goodbar, Deputy.
Marfitt reported he has applied for a grant to be utilized for the Dent County Emergency Management. The grant is known as the Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG.) The grant requires Marfitt to receive further certifications, to which he has completed in order to qualify. Several certifications will be paid for by SEMA. The grant will double the annual salary received by Marfitt at no cost. All it will require, explained Marfitt, is that the emergency operations plans be reviewed every two years, and a resolution that the county will use the National Incident Management System, or NIMS, which it already does, said Marfitt. Whether or not the application was approved will be revealed in the coming weeks.
Further, Marfitt reported as EMD that he attended an MLA PD board meeting. Hazmat planning will be conducted for counties that have a preliminary plan.
Goodbar reported that the Dent County Sheriff’s Office is applying for a grant to help pay for radios, as the majority of them are from 2011 and past their end of life date. The grant being applied for is the Local Violent Crime Prevention Grant through the Missouri Department of Public Safety, which will supply $25,000 to be utilized for radio replacements. This will require putting out bids for radios. The grant will not be able to cover all patrol cars—Goodbar estimated four will be able to be covered by the grant. The grant is a reimbursement grant, meaning it will be paid for out of general revenue and then reimbursed.
“The reason for this [grant application] is there are several areas throughout the county that our radios don’t work,” said Goodbar.
The commission voted unanimously for the Dent County Sheriff’s Office to pursue the Local Violent Crime Prevention Grant.
Levada Erickson requested permission for the Current River Cruiser’s to use the courthouse lawn and square for a car show, vendors, and food trucks on Oct. 11. Money raised will go toward the Project Win cancer program. The commission unanimously approved.
Larson welcomed the new County Assessor Alisa Brookshire. On Monday, he reminded the public that MRPC will be having collections in Salem on Saturday, from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Curley reported that bills and payroll. She also reported all monthly collections, abatements, and add-ons have been balanced by the collector and assessor.
Denita Williams, county treasurer, reported on sales tax received:
• General revenue received $107,727.54. This is up YTD $69,840.76, up from last September $4,580.05, and up 8.3%.
• Road and bridge received $50,897.05. This is up YTD $36,453.82, up from last September $2,398.83, and up 9.4%.
• Jails received $102,215.83. This is up YTD $72,985.62, up from last September $4,797.82, and up 9.3%.
Zach Moser, health department, provided a report that the DCHC will now be providing a transportation service in town, as paid for by the Opioid funds. Flu shots are now available at the DCHC.
Meanwhile, Brookshire requested a new vehicle for her office, in order to keep miles off her own vehicle when traveling to trainings. Larson said its cost savings to charge mileage versus buying a car, but the commission will review her budget at budget time.
Road Reports, Monday
First District Commissioner Keith Green
Crew members are planning on cutting brush on county roads 6210, 6220, and 6390. They will be retrieving oil for the chip and seal roads. Pipes will be inserted in county road 2460 and 2470.
Second District Commissioner Jimmy Williams
Crew members are planning on cutting brush on County Road 2060 and hauling rock on County Road 3140. Grader #40 will be receiving full service maintenance. Chip and seal patching will be completed next week.
Road Reports, Thursday
First District Commissioner Keith Green
Crew members will be putting in pipes throughout the county and working on County Road 5015 chip and seal patching.
Second District Commissioner Jimmy Williams
Crew members will be grading on County Road 5260, 5340, 4405; brush cutting will be done on County Road 2050; and hauling rock on County Road 3140. Crew members will be pulling ditches.
