The Dent County Commission met for the weekly meeting April 11.
Mike Swyers made an appearance to the commissioners to have a discussion regarding broadband, high-speed internet and advocate for its necessity to Dent County.
Swyers referenced an article on the ReConnect Program that provided the USDA with $76 million in grants and loans to connect rural Missouri to high-speed internet – the three projects included within the program would help benefit the counties of Schuyler, Scotland, Howell, Shannon, Texas, Crawford, Franklin, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, and Phelps. Noticing Dent County was absent from the list, Swyers wanted to bring the issue to the commissioner’s attention.
“High-speed and rural broadband – that’s crucial to your economic development,” stated Swyers. “If you want businesses to come here, they’re going to need that. So, I don’t know where we stand as a community, but I’d like to see something more being done about that.”
Swyers mentioned that the topic of bringing high-speed internet to Dent County was a hot issue back when COVID-19 began – but has seemed to drop out of notice since then.
County clerk Angie Curley noted that when she attended the Missouri Association of Counties meeting, one of its current top priorities is working with state and federal legislation on the issue of broadband internet. Data is still needed to be gathered to modify the FCC and coverage maps.
Mobray and Larson mentioned attempts to remedy the issue in the past have failed due to a lack of funding and how much the undertaking would cost potential providers.
Wilson noted that the Office of Broadband Development for Missouri is hosting a webinar on Friday, April 26 to give updates on Governor Parson’s plan to implement and rollout broadband in all of Missouri.
Larson informed Swyers the county commission will be staying on top of the issue and share his concern.
Treasurer Denita Williams gave a sales tax revenue report for April. For general revenue and law enforcement sales tax, there was $98,610.46 received – this is up from last April $19,157.38. This is up YTD $3,610.28, 0.98%.
Road and bridge received $43,386.02. This is down YTD $1,173.18, 0.70%.
Operation and trust received $87,193.68. This is down YTD $1,155.95, 0.35%.
Collector Shannon VanKirk also attended to give a monthly report. She collected $187,196.16.
Grant Wilson, representative of Jason Smith, visited to mention Smith will be attending Dent County Lincoln Days on April 18 as the keynote speaker.
Lancer Blair, candidate running for Missouri House of Representatives 120th District in the Aug. primary election, announced he would be attending Lincoln Days in Dent County. He attended Crawford County’s Lincoln Days and a We The People meeting and reported there was a turnout of roughly 250 people with Ron Copeland as the guest speaker.
Presiding commissioner Gary Larson reports that he, Mobray, Williams, and Curley attended the MAC legislative conference in Jefferson City on Monday evening and Tuesday. SB190 was a big topic of conversation at the meeting. According to the Speaker of the House, SB190 will be receiving further work. Larson states they visited with some of our legislators and discussed concerns with them. Mobray said they were able to visit and speak with Governor Mike Parsons.
County clerk Angie Curley attended a MAC Board meeting Monday where they discussed transportation infrastructure, justice and mental health, SB190, agriculture and environment, and economic development. She was able to go over to the capitol and meet with several senators and representatives.
Curley also notes she balanced with the collector and assessor on all monthly collections for March – all abatements, all add-ons. She reports there are bills to be approved. Now that filing is over, they are starting to prepare for the Aug. primary election.
Larson reports he will be attending meetings Thursday, April 11. He’ll be attending a TAC meeting and a MRPC meeting in St. James.
April 15
Dent County Commission met for its regularly scheduled meeting April 15.
Blair announced he’s been speaking with citizens and noticing a similar trend of concern for inflation and uncertainty for the future. He says everyone is worried how far their money will go for groceries and necessities.
In Larson’s report, he mentioned that within the Standing Rock Bridge email shared with Curley and the commissioners last week, there was further clarification provided to him by Preston Kramer, Meramec Area Engineer. MoDOT will not just be building half the bridge – MoDOT acquired enough land to build the whole bridge in phase one and phase two.
Larson attended the MRPC meeting. It wasn’t well attended, stated Larson.
Larson was nominated and appointed to be on the Meramec Regional Community Foundation (MRCF). The committee oversees foundation funds that are granted in scholarships by MRPC. There might be a tourism commission meeting April 15 (yesterday).
Curley reported there are bills to be approved. She balanced with the treasurer on all county accounts for the month of March.
Road and bridge took phone bids for 7,500 gallons of diesel fuel – it received three bids: MFA Oil for $3.0622; Phil-Mart bid $3.05; and County Fuels LLC bid $2.93. County Fuels LLC was awarded the bid.
Bids were opened on chip and seal for the road department.
• Blevins Asphalt Construction Co, Inc., Mt. Vernon, MO bid $1.91 per unit single coat, double coat $3.65 per unit, and $.91 per unit for primer, only on the double coat. It can begin in June.
• West Contracting, Pacific, MO, bid $2.24 per unit on single coat and $4.86 per unit on double coat with no extra cost for primer.
The commission voted unanimously to go with the lowest bid of Blevins Asphalt Construction Co., Inc., Mt. Vernon, MO.
Road Reports for April 15
District One Commissioner Wes Mobray
Crews will be grading county roads 6380, 6020, and 5410; hauling rock to county roads 5410 and 6020; and cutting brush on County Road 6470.
District Two Commissioner Gary Polk
Crews will be grading county roads 5245, 4400, 4403, 2500, and 4030, and hauling rock to county roads 2500 and 2540.
Road Reports for April 11
District One Commissioner Wes Mobray
Crews will be digging up a soft spot in one of the chip and seal roads that will be redone this summer on County Road 4185. Crews will also be cutting brush on County Road 6470.
District Two Commissioner Gary Polk
Crews will be stockpiling rock at the shop. Crews will be doing maintenance on several vehicles: road grader number 40 will be serviced, a new fuel tank will be installed on truck number 82, and the exhaust on dump truck number 122 will be worked on.
