COUNTY COMMISSION: 100 Acre Wood Rally letter of support signed; absentee voting begins

The commission signed a letter of support for the 100 Acre Wood Rally. Curt Faigle, 100 Acre Wood Rally representative, came in to visit regarding the road rally March 14-15. The expo will take place at the Courthouse square Saturday, March 15 beginning at 8:00 am.

Rick Letchworth, Chairman of the Opioid Committee, came in with applications for Opioid funds. He discussed the applications that the committee approved and those that MRPC approved.

After discussion by the commission, a total of four applications were approved:

• Dent County Sheriff, $75,380

• Dent County Health Center, $53,900

• Council for a Healthy Dent County, $55,108

• Salem Memorial District Hospital, $65,522.97.

County Treasurer Denita Williams reported on the CART Tax: $88,273.83 was received. This is up from last February $10,520.04; YTD, this is up $17,477.88 or 11.2%.

Grant Wilson, representative of Jason Smith’s office, reported that Congress is going back to session this week after a President’s Day recess. A vote on the budget resolution will occur this week, said Wilson, including President Trump’s tax priorities such as no tax on tips, no tax on Social Security, no tax on overtime, and providing incentives for manufacturing in the United States.

Commissioners will be attending training on Wednesday and Thursday, reported Larson. No meeting will take place on Thursday, Feb. 27.

Larson reported that on Sept. 13, 2025, Solid Waste Management District will be having a collection day. He noted that it will be on the corner of Third and Grand street, at the old city shed.

Curley reported that the MAC Board meeting in Jefferson City was cancelled due to the weather and held on Zoom instead. Attendees were able to hear from Ray McCarty of Associated Industries in Missouri. McCarty spoke on the local use tax; Trent Watson, Legislative Consultant on SB10, HB170, and HB10; and Travis Elliot, MAC Attorney.

Curley also attended a County Clerk Zoom meeting to prepare for the April 8 municipal election. Bills and payroll were approved.

Curley has applied and was awarded an election efficiency grant—Dent County was awarded $3,135.60 through the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office to go toward new equipment.

Shannon VanKirk, county collector, spoke on the ClearBasin quote. The program will cost $5,000 a year. The commissioners agreed 3-0 to pursue the program. The application will be on her website page and the Chamber of Commerce website page

VanKirk is waiting on her FoxPro programmer to send a quote for her software cost.

VanKirk will be sending out delinquent tax bills this week.

The commission signed a letter of support for Conexon Connects Bead Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program. This is high speed internet, which is building within multiple counties in Missouri.

The commission updated the policy handbook for 2025. The handbook had not been updated since 2021.

Dave Cowell, who lives down Highway 119, would like to put in a family cemetery on his property. He let the commission know—the family cemetery will be less than half of an acre. A road has already been built for public access. Cowell will be recording it in the Recorder of Deeds office.

Cowell further notified the commission he is doing a project called the Confederate Medal of Honor. The men who served in the units would pick someone for that medal. Dent County is home to one such gentlemen named James Hulsey, relayed Cowell. The project would see a medal and certificate given to be publicly displayed at no cost to the county. The commission discussed it. No decision has been made at this time.

Municipal election voting reminders

Entities having an election are reminded that their estimated election cost is due for the April 8 municipal election. Absentee voting begins Tuesday, Feb. 25 (today). Voters must have an excuse and photo ID. Sample ballots can be requested from the County Clerk’s office.

The only districts having an election are the City of Salem, Dent County Fire Protection District, Rolla Fire Protection District, Bunker School District, Rolla School District, and Iron County C4 School District.

Voters are asked to follow Dent County Elections/County Clerk-Angie Curley on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/p/Dent-County-ElectionsCounty-Clerk-Angie-Curley-61565563240935.

Curley will be posting updates and voting reminders to the page as they approach.

Road Reports Feb. 20

Crew members for both district one and district two will be out working on county roads—grading, plowing, and salting.

Road Reports Feb. 24

District One Commissioner Keith Green

Crew members will be removing spreader boxes. Crew members will be out checking roads and providing needed maintenance.

District Two Commissioner Jimmy Williams

Crew members will be replacing snowplow blades on truck #122 and removing spreader boxes. Crew members will be completing UMP patching on chip and seal roads.