I am filled with consternation and apprehension concerning this week's Nodaway County report. A couple of weeks ago I pointed out that I would attempt to utilize the vernacular when reporting business and was severely chastised this past week for my efforts. One Aquila official pointed out that I should not have used the term “live wires” when telling how our road and bridge crews rescued some residents from the Nodway River flood waters. He said that I should have called the electrical lines “energized conductors.” I am certain everyone would have known what I was referencing. Furthermore, when I utilized plain “country” terms such as “have not got,” I received an English lesson at the morning coffee shop from a distinguished, well educated, and cosmopolitan “uptown” businessman. It is evident that I stand not a chance, nevertheless, I shall withstand such jealousy and continue to keep the tears that fill my eyes from the sight of those who scrutinize these articles not for content, but for the merriment of finding mistakes and will continue to make an effort to inform my constituents of their county business.

The flood waters have subsided and our road and bridge supervisor is working on the numerous reports of tube and culvert problems, damaged bridge approaches, and a few roads that had to be closed temporarily due to various issues. I wish to remind and emphasize that we have not completed several of the problems that last year’s flooding caused and now we have many more but we will get the most serious addressed first and then the remainder. I, as well as my associate commissioners, have received numerous calls from residents all over the county complaining about road problems. As I always state, we welcome these calls and if it is a county issue we will address it; if it is a township issue, we will contact the appropriate township official in that particular area of the problem.

I believe that this is a good place to remind residents that Nodaway County is a township form of government county. In “plain” language that means that the county disperses the “cart-rock” money the state provides to the 15 individual townships in the county and they haul, or have it hauled and spread. They are also in charge of all maintenance issues concerning grading, road ditches, drainage, and if the township has an additional rock bond for gravel purchase, they are in charge of that as well.

The county does not, and I repeat, does not have the authority to dictate to those elected township officials their maintenance issues or problems. They are elected office holders who have received the votes of those residents in their townships to handle the afore mentioned issues. They should be contacted if there is problem or concern. The commission's role in road maintenance issues are tubes and culverts 30 inches and larger in diameter and all bridges on county roads. I wish to emphasize though that the commission will forward any resident’s complaint to the township official in their jurisdiction.

I mentioned some months past the names and addresses of those folks who need contacted in the townships and believe that their names and phone numbers need repeated because they need be the first person to contact if there is a problem and if it is a county issue, then we will address it. The townships in alphabetical order, the contact person, and their telephone numbers are: Atchison Township, Alvin Reed, 660-729-4416; Grant Township, Jimmy Farnan, 660-652-4481; Green Township, Brenda Beason, home 660-562-4801 and work 660-562-2525; Hopkins Township, Eldon Young, 660-778-3734; Hughes Township, Richard Warner, 660-935-2501; Independence Township, Phillip Auffert, 660-986-3530; Jackson Township, Charles Redden, 660-937-2355; Jefferson Township, Edward Holtman, 660-944-2464; Lincoln Township, Tammy Dye, 660-742-3220; Monroe Township, Norman Maurer, 660-928-3647; Nodaway Township, John Blackford, 660-725-4567; Polk Township, Mark Stiens, 660-582-2657; Union Township, Robert Jobst, 660-927-3377; Washington Township, Stephen Meyer, 660-652-3662 and White Cloud Township, Bill Dudley, 660-652-4493. These individuals are elected officials of their areas and are charged with road maintenance issues, but the commission also is concerned about problems and will help if needed.

Construction on the Administration Center is progressing but slowly due to the rains. Nearly all of the “red iron” has been erected and the construction company has started putting the floor panning for the concrete decks. The construction manager informed the commission this past week that the concrete company is expected back soon to complete their portion of the job and the pre-cast walls will soon be arriving. this portion of the job will not take too many weeks to complete and will give the viewer the finished look of the structure.

The construction manager also suggested that the steel crew start working four 10-hour days due to the setup and travel time that is required. He believes that this will be beneficial not only saving the company money but will help finish the job quicker. The company is checking to see if they are allowed to do so due to union restrictions.

The Maffit Bridge is still closed but we are getting bids on repairing the west approach of the structure. The bridge crew is nearing completion on the new crossing near the Bethany Church and will start several smaller projects soon but have been forced to spend some valuable new construction time on repairing flood issues. I will attempt to give greater detail next week.

Call or come by the courthouse if there is a concern.