COUNTY COMMISSION: Conference call held with governor

Parson said the state will be getting about $13 million in federal aid to help fight the outbreak. The biggest concerns are the high-risk population of the elderly and those with compromised immune systems. The state has established a hotline at 1-877-453-8411.

Mobray reported on local efforts at Monday’s meeting.

In other business, Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said he attended an MREP committee meeting where it was discussed holding anhydrous ammonia awareness training for law enforcement.

Skiles also attended an Ozark Regional Solid Waste Management executive board meeting March 10 where $24,960 in grant funding was reallocated. The group also heard reports on an illegal dumping cleanup of National Forest land in Washington County. A similar event is planned this fall in Dent County.

Treasurer Denita Williams reported that general revenue and law enforcement sales taxes each produced $89,360 in the past month is up year to date. The road and bridge tax brought in $41,791, up 2.8 percent from last year, and the two jail sales taxes each produced $83,470. They are up 3.25 percent year to date.

Under commission reports, First District Commissioner Dennis Purcell said crews would be grading on county road 4080, repairing a crossover pipe on 5420, brush cutting on 5520 and performing maintenance on dump truck No. 25.

Second District Commissioner Gary Larson said crews would be grading on county roads 2135 and 3020, hauling material to those roads and brush cutting on 2570 and 4380.

At Monday’s meeting, Purcell reported 1.1 inches of rain Saturday would prevent any grading Monday. Crews were out replacing down and stolen road signs, cleaning out culverts, cutting brush on county road 5520 and removing a large leaning pine tree on 5690. Trucks No. 123 and 119 were being serviced.

Larson said he had a crew working on brush cutter No. 6, and another crew out checking for washouts and needed repairs. He said he has received requests from residents to grade their roads, but the current wet conditions make that impossible.

“It would be mud if we graded it,” he said. “We’ve got to wait until it’s not quite as wet. My guys would love to be out doing that instead of other stuff.”

On Friday, commissioners attended South Central County Commissioners Association meeting in Houston, where they heard from legislators, heard updates on per diem reimbursement legislation, feral hog issues, and new MDC private property registration requirements. Owners with at least 20 acres must now register their property with MDC to get a hunting permit on their own property, Skiles said.

County Clerk Angie Curley said absentee voting continues for the April 7 election. “We make it as easy as possible for those that are ill or disabled or a caregiver of someone ill or disabled to be able to vote right from home,” she said. To do so, they must call the clerk’s office at 729-4144 by March 25 to get signed up.

The clerk also allows curbside absentee voting so voters stay in their vehicles while paperwork is brought out to them. Absentee voting will also be allowed in the office from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 4, and during regular hours April 6.