Bluff Work Completed On Saline Creek Road

By MARK EVANS

mevans@stegenherald.com

Ste. Genevieve County commissioners expressed pleasure with the job Sanford Roth of S & R Excavating had done in removing the bluff on Saline Creek Road.

With road and bridge foreman Scott Schmieder vacationing, Ronnie Karl reported to the commission for the department.

Karl reported that the bluff work on Saline Creek Road had been completed. He also said that Blum Road had been dragged in preparation for paving and that he might be able to drag Cave Road later that day.

Vern Bauman Contracting, he said, would be ready to pave Blum Road after it was dragged.

Meanwhile, a complaint had been received about an individual adding a porch onto a structure just off the road, not far from the road and bridge shed near Weingarten without a building permit. Ordinances stipulate that no structure may be within five feet of the roadway. Later in the meeting, Karl informed the commissioners that he had measured the distance and found it to be six feet.

On Monday a complaint had come in from a Mill Creek Road resident. Presiding Commissioner Garry Nelson  said they had investigated the location and found the complaints “completely justified.” The property owner told him to do whatever needed to be done. Nelson said he thought at least four culverts would be needed to take care of the problem.

COVID NUMBERS KEEP RISING

Jennifer Mueller, administrator of the Ste. Genevieve County Health Department, reported that the number of confirmed active COVID-19 cases in the county had risen to 33 by the previous day, with 10 new confirmed cases.

This gives the county 1,923 confirmed cases since March 2020.

“Thank you for the job you do,” Second District commissioner Randy Ruzicka told her. Mueller replied that she needed the commissioners to continue having her back as the crisis mounts.

FAIR BUDGET, BOARD ARE DISCUSSED

Martha Resinger, long-time county fair board member, went over the profit and loss figures for last month’s county fair with the commissioners. They made several suggestions for better bookkeeping practices.

Initially it appeared that the fair had lost some $12,000. However, with more than $16,000 worth of sponsorships figured it, it came out in the black by about $4,000.

They also discussed expenditures on  bands. Stingray cost nearly $3,500, while other groups cost $1,000 and $1,200. The commissioners questioned whether the money spent on live entertainment was a good investment.

“How many people come just to listen?” Nelson asked. “I doubt if 100 people would come just to hear a band.”

They noted that a lot of beer and other items would have to be sold at the concerts to make a $3,500 band worthwhile financially.

A report was also given on a special fair board meeting held the previous day. Keith Skaggs resigned as fair board president, as well as director of the racing series. He also submitted a letter of resignation to the commission.

This led to a couple of separate discussions of the fair board’s organization. Nelson said it is time to begin following state statutes and reorganizing the board properly.

“If it involves the taxpayers’ property or the taxpayers’ money, the board needs to either be elected or appointed by the commission,” Nelson said.

It was agreed that the best approach would be for the “nucleus” of the board to be appointed by the commission, with that nucleus then appointing at-large members to fill it out. It was agreed that the 4-H and University of Missouri Extension Service should both be represented on the board.

Nelson stressed that this is not an attempt to throw current members off the board.