Commissioners, Schmieder Check Out County Roads
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By MARK EVANS
STE. GENEVIEVE HERALD
Ste. Genevieve County commissioners estimate they drove some 150 miles recently, looking over county roads.
“We covered a lot of ground,” Presiding Commissioner Randy Ruzicka said at last Thursday’s commission meeting.
The idea was to see which areas needed to be priorities for 2024 roadwork.
They will be working with Scott Schmieder, road and bridge foreman, to prepare a plan for 2024.
SCHMIEDER GIVES ROAD REPORT
Schmieder reported that Truck 12, a 2012 International, was back from being repaired in Jackson and was running fine.
He said the leased tractor to pull the bat wing mower had been returned. He doesn’t think the county will owe any additional fees for damage.
“I don’t think they’ll find anything wrong with it,” he said.
Schmieder thinks it is unlikely the county will continue the practice of leasing a tractor to operate it. He and the commissioners will be looking at other options.
Schmieder said his crew was working on patching roads and putting in more pipes. He said he might order a few more pipes and try to install them if the weather stays mild long enough.
Meanwhile, there are trees to cut and trim.
“We have more than enough work to do,” Schmieder said.
REPORTS GIVEN ON MEETINGS
Reports were given on various meetings the commissioners had attended in the past week.
First District Commissioner Karen Stuppy reported on a Fair Board meeting. The board has one opening it needs to fill. A firefighter, police officer or EMT would be ideal for the position.
Stuppy said the board is already working on the 2024 fair. The Beef and Swine Club is taking over the building that has lately housed the bands. Therefore, the board is looking at possible portable stages and tents for the bands.
Meanwhile, they would like to set up internet service in the fairgrounds for the weekend of the fair, in order to operate an ATM. Stuppy said she would talk to Ryan Grass to get some ideas of how they could proceed.
The board is holding an appreciation dinner at Mimi’s Restaurant in January for the fair volunteers.
Second District Commissioner Mark Marberry reported a meeting of the new 911 board. The board is having trouble negotiating with a property owner where a new tower was planed in the southern part of the county. Another site may need to be located.
The commissioners stressed that the county will never turn to eminent domain to get land.
Presiding Commissioner Randy Ruzicka said he “will not be a party” to eminent domain land grabs. The others agreed.
Meanwhile, Stuppy reported on the Community Services forum meeting. It was a special 30-year anniversary meeting, with one of the original members, Judy Schilli, talking about its founding in 1993.
The keynote speaker was Dr. Robert Pautler, CEO of Ste. Genevieve Memorial Hospital. He gave a 20-minute overview of the hospital, its growth, its offerings to the community, and comparisons of how Ste. Genevieve ranks with other counties in health and healthcare.
A separate story this meeting is on Page 5A.
Notes
• During the Monday, Nov. 6 meeting, the commissioners voted to pay the $393,200 invoice from Braun Excavating for work on the Ditch Road and Misplay Road bridge projects.
• Jeremy Manning of Smith & Company Engineering, reported on Monday on Off-system Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation (BRO) and Federal Land Access Plan (FLAP) grant projects.
• Also on Monday, a representative of B&W Guttering reported on repairs being done on the courthouse and on upcoming work to be done on the art guild building and Chamber of Commerce building.
• Don Heil Oil won the monthly fuel bid for the department.