The Dent County Commission met for its weekly meetings Thursday, Dec. 12 and Monday, Dec. 16. Those in attendance included presiding commissioner Gary Larson, second district commissioner Gary Polk, and county clerk Angie Curley. First district commissioner Wes Mobray was not in attendance Thursday or Monday.
Congressman Jason Smith representative Grant Wilson reported on Smith’s recent activities. Smith was re-appointed as chairman for the Ways and Means Committee. One of his priorities is to extend the 2017 Trump tax cuts set to expire at the end of 2025. Another priority is focusing on disaster relief.
Bills passed in the House recently, as reported by Wilson:
• S.310, the Disaster Contract Improvement Act. The bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish an advisory working group to encourage and foster collaborative efforts among individuals and entities engaged in disaster recovery relating to debris removal. This act is awaiting a signature from the president, having passed both the Senate and House.
• H.R. 9541, the POWER Act of 2024. This bill authorizes electrical utilities receiving certain financial assistance under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act for the restoration of power to also carry out cost-effective hazard mitigation activities.
• H.R. 7671, the Disaster Management Costs Modernization Act. This bill authorizes the President to allow recipients of certain disaster relief assistance to use excess management cost funds for (1) building capacity to prepare for, recover from, or mitigate the impacts of a major disaster or emergency; or (2) management costs associated with other major disasters, emergencies, disaster preparedness measures, or mitigation activities.
• H.R. 2892, the Weather Alert Response and Notification (WARN) Act. This bill directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study the effectiveness of local, state, and federal alerting systems in disseminating timely and relevant information during weather-related emergencies.
• H.R. 2672, FEMA Loan Interest Payment Relief Act. This bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide financial assistance to a local government or electric cooperative as reimbursement for interest paid on a loan used for emergency or disaster recovery activities later paid for by FEMA assistance. The interest that qualifies for reimbursement may not exceed the amount of interest that would have been paid if the loan's interest rate were equal to the most recent prime rate.
Larson attended and emceed the awards banquet for the Solid Waste Management District. He attended two meetings, one with TAC and another with MRPC, with Larson informing commission that he received high scores for several categories at the TAC meeting.
Curley reported that bills and payroll are to be approved. Filing for the April 8 municipal election is underway until Dec. 31.
Curley recently went to the Capitol with other election authorities across the state. Representative Peggy McGaugh filed election harassment Bill’s 479 and 480, intending to eliminate election harassment by amending chapter 115, RSMo, by adding one new section relating to the offense of tampering with an election official, with penalty provisions.
Election authorities were able to hear from plenty of representatives. Curley shared she is looking forward to hearing the legislative priorities for next year, and that she attended the South-Central Clerk’s Regional meeting in Houston.
A gentleman notified commissioners that County Road 6190 needs maintenance. Another visitor notified commissioners that Public Road 401 needs maintenance, following the rainstorm of November, and that a county road nearby is missing its sign.
District One Commissioner Wes Mobray
Crew members will be grading county roads 6010, 6590, 6370, and 6220, and hauling rock to county roads 6370 and 6220.
District Two Commissioner Gary Polk
Crew members will be grading county roads 3160, 2083, and 4410, and hauling rock to County Road 3160.
District One Commissioner Wes Mobray
Crew members will be checking roads and training a new staff member on the brush cutter.
District Two Commissioner Gary Polk
Crew members will be completing maintenance on pickup #82 and dump-truck #116. They will also be installing a sign on County Road 2200 and checking pipes on County Road 3170. Crew members will also be out checking roads.
