It appears perhaps that summer weather is finally going to arrive here in Nodaway County. We have experienced several days of nice drying sunshine but small "popup" thunderstorms are still plaguing us with rain although they are becoming more local and not quite as severe as just a few weeks past. Many of our river bottoms are still too wet for the farmers to replant their crops and there will be thousands of acres of prime farm land that will probably not get planted this year. While having lunch at Barnard this week a friend told me that he had the solution for our flooding problems here in the area. He thought that since we were receiving all the flood waters from Iowa we should just dig a large ditch along the Iowa-Missouri border and send the drainage water west to the Missouri River and that flowing east to the the Mississippi River. I think it is a great idea and believe we should start digging soon.

It seems like my weekly summaries for the last few months have been related to weather issues and the problems ensuing from them. The recent flood waters have created numerous problems with culverts, bridges, and gravel that has washed from our roadways. Many tubes have been plugged from leftover debris from the December ice storm which has either caused washouts, banks caving off, or in many cases the tubes were not large enough to carry the drainage area and water went over the road.

This is an issue that constantly arises throughout the county. For many years township tubes, and also county culverts, were undersized due to cost saving measures. This means that the diameter of many of our road tubes are not large enough to handle the water and then the road and ditches are washed out. The county is responsible for all tubes 30 inches and larger in diameter and we are now facing the responsibility of having to replace many tubes that have traditionally been the responsibility of the townships. This is an additional cost to the county and we also are forced to "upsize" many of our own tubes due to undersizing in the past. These additional pipes, and upgrading the size of our own, is placing additional strains on our limited revenues.

Both road and bridge crews have been busy recently replacing several tubes throughout the county and repairing bridge approaches. New bridge "backings" were installed this past week on a crossing on Road #372 near the intersection of 220th and Hawk Road. Work is in progress on Road #386, or near 230th Street and Jasper Trail and in the same area on Road #384 also on 230th Street and Jasmine Road. Road #210 also is getting drainage repairs near 155th Street and Kite Road. The crews will move within days to Road #244, or on 180th Street and Liberty Road, to repair a structure on Mozingo Creek. Road #44 southwest of Elmo near 170th and Bell Road will get a new tube this week also. If good weather prevails, the crews will soon devote some much needed repair time in the northeast portion of the county in Independence  Township. There are several tube and culvert issues that need addressed in that area.

The newest bridge addition to Nodaway County was opened for traffic this past week. This structure is on Road #896 near the Bethany Church on 390th Street near the intersection of Missouri Route H. An old undersized tube was completely destroyed during last year's May flooding and it was determined that a bridge was necessary to carry the water flow. "Old timers" in the area stated that there once was a bridge on the creek but it was replaced with the culvert in a cost saving maneuver several decades past. The county constructed this bridge but even with our own crews saving the taxpayers thousands of dollars, the final cost was $98,786.84. This bridge will serve the folk in that region for many decades.

The Maffit Bridge flood damage is still a major concern to the commission and we are looking at several options to get this important 102 River crossing back open to traffic. The road and bridge crews were forced to weld beams across both ends of the structure due to self serving individuals that chose to constantly tear our fencing down and remove the road closed signage creating a hazard to the motoring public that was unaware of the approach problems. An engineer from the Missouri Department of Transportation inspected the structure and will submit a report on necessary repairs. An expert from the Federal Emergency Watershed Protection Agency will look at the structure next week to see if the county can qualify for money from the Exigency Fund. This is money that is already appropriated by Congress for such issues. The agency will figure a cost to benefit ratio to determine if the county will receive financial assistance. We must submit the current bridge value, estimated costs to make the structure serviceable, the cost of completely replacing the structure, and an estimated traffic count crossing the bridge. Whatever plan we choose to get this structure open for traffic, it will be expensive. This structure is 222 feet in length and will require a great deal of money to make safe for travel.

Our revenue reports continue to point out a sluggish economy. May vehicle sales tax money received was $18,789.06 and was down from last year's same period $8,974.95. Gasoline tax revenue received was $66,321.56 and also was less than last May's revenue in the amount of $2,396.66. The continual downturn of monies received from these important sources of revenue are concern of the commission and we are watching our budget closely.

Work continues on the Administration Building with all of the lower level concrete poured as of today, (Monday). Nearly all of the structural steel is in place and just as soon as the decking is installed, then the concrete company will pour  those two upper floors as well. The precast walls will soon be arriving and hung on the structure. the dry weather is helping get this project well underway.

As usual, I invite folk to come to the office with concerns or call either myself, or Bob Stiens, or Bob Westfall. Have a happy and safe Fourth of July.