March 15
• Tommy Eastburn met with the Commission to discuss Molder Road, near Powell. He requested the county close the byway. The Commission provided him with the procedure for closing a road.
• The Commission signed and approved accounts payable checks in the amount of $59,827.35.
March 29
• Elizabeth Bowen and Tim Conklin, of Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission, met with the County Commission to discuss walking, running, and biking trails in McDonald County. Bowen presented the commission with an information packet and discussed recently constructed trails in Northwest Arkansas.
April 3
• The Commission signed and approved accounts payable checks in the amount of $28,306.
April 5
• Linda Davis met with the Commission regarding Valley Drive, in the village of Ginger Blue. The Commission could not be of any assistance to her.
April 10
• Western Commissioner David Holloway made a motion to accept a bid of $28,000 from Master Electric for a generator at the Emergency Management Department. The generator is on wheels and can be easily moved as needed during an emergency. The vote passed unanimously.
• The Commission signed and approved accounts payable checks in the amount of $162,418.06.
April 17
• Rex Tilton met with the Commission regarding Moss Church Road, near Anderson. The Commission stated they would review the road.
April 19
• The Commission signed and approved accounts payable checks in the amount of $47,556.82.
• Commissioners attended the Region M meeting in Joplin.
April 24
• Bill Tomlin met with the Commission regarding Sugar Creek Road at Crag-O-Lea, near Pineville. The Commission stated they would review the road.
April 26
• The Commission signed and approved accounts payable checks in the amount of $346,841.45.
May 1
• The Commission reviewed county roads for flood damage. At this time, Big Sugar Creek Road near Pineville is closed; Sugar Creek Road at the Powell bridge is impassable; and the Oscar Talley bridge is solid. However, the approaches on both sides of the bridge sustained damage and will need repair. The bridge will remain closed until repairs are made.
• The Commission visited the jail to inspect the ongoing remodel and addition.
• The Commission would like to thank all Emergency Management personnel, county and city law enforcement officers, Freeman ambulance, 911 dispatchers, local fire departments and Road and Bridge personnel for their assistance in keeping McDonald County citizens safe during the flood, as well as, the clean-up of roads, bridges, and waterways in the county.
They would also like to extend that thanks to all citizens that volunteered to clean debris off roads, bridges, and waterways, using their own equipment, fuel, and time. It is because of these efforts that McDonald County did not have any fatalities during this flood.
May 3
• The Commission checked county roads for flood damage. At this time, the bridge on Reagan Hollow, near Noel, is out of service. The Commission also inspected the bridge on Fry Road, near Washburn, and the NRCS project on Langley Road, near Anderson. Both held up and are in good condition.
May 10
• James and Margaret Bergtold met with the Commission to discuss the low-water bridge on Sugar Fork Road, off of Jaguar Road, near Goodman.
• Representatives from Missouri Farmer's Association, David Middleton and Rob Farmer, met with the Commission, alongside Jonathan Pierce. They discussed the Agri-Ready County Designation program. This program exists at no cost to the county and promotes agriculture business for companies and farmers. An application is required yearly. The Commission unanimously voted to apply for the program.
• Due to the non-stop phone calls and messages regarding damaged bridges and roads, the Commission met with Jerry Mullins, Road and Bridge foreman. Together, they discussed priorities and a plan to rectify the damage as soon as possible. With the amount of damage the county received, it will take many hours of work. FEMA is scheduled to meet with the Commission on Saturday, May 13, to review flood damage.
The Commission asks that all citizens of the county please be patient while the Road and Bridge Department does everything possible to make necessary repairs.
• The Commission signed and approved accounts payable checks in the amount of $45,635.74.
General News on 05/25/2017