Dry weather continues here in Nodaway County. I mentioned last week that after enduring several months of too much moisture, we are needing rain and we have not received much since my last report. Although the crops are still looking fair, the corn and soybeans definitely need "a drink of water" and a widespread inch or two of gentle rainfall would help, but we do not need any of the golf ball size hail that was reported in the Parnell area this past Monday.

Although we have had dry weather, the steel erection company has not completed their task on the Administration Center. They are beginning to work on the third floor decking but very little of it has been installed. Our local concrete contractor, Andrew Spire Construction, is beginning to pour the second floor and is doing a superb job. He has plans to pour every day this week completing that level and then will have to wait for the top floor to be finished. The commission certainly appreciates his patience and dedication in working around the steel company. I believe he is as anxious to get this project completed as we are.

The concrete pre-cast wall company was in town this past week and coordinated their preliminary installation requirements with Andy and are getting all of their necessary bolting attachments poured in the concrete floors. They are also waiting on the steel company to complete their job. We were hoping that they could begin to install the walls by the first week of August but that time line is looming quickly. This portion of the job is going to require a very large crane to lift the heavy walls and place them on the steel skeleton. The job will also be complicated due to the close proximity of City Hall and the overhead power lines but this company is accustomed to working in very tight places. Although we need dry weather for this job, we still would like one day off due to a needed rain.

The dry weather is helping our road and bridge crews move forward with the countless repair jobs scattered all over the county. One crew just completed a tube replacement on Road #712 north of Missouri Route VV on Meadow Road in Jefferson Township. They also worked in conjunction with that township hauling fill dirt and rock for a ditch stabilization project. Numerous tube washouts are getting attention including Road #727 on 330th Street near Keystone Road north and east of Dobbins Woodland in Grant Township. A tube will be replaced this week on Road #519 near the intersection of Empire Road and 250th Street east of Quitman in Green Township. Another tube will also be replaced this eek on Road #565 on Empire Road and 270th Street in the immediate vicinity of the afore mentioned culvert. The crews also completed work in the very far northeast part of the county in Independence Township repairing a bridge wash-out on Road #193 between Olympic and Orion Roads on 130th Street. A tube was replaced in the vicinity on Road #195 between 120th and 130th Streets on Olympic Road. The crews also completed some much needed maintenance in the very far southeast part of the county in Washington Township near the Andrew County line.
I mention these sites to emphasize the immensity of Nodaway County, how wide spread our problems are, and the travel distance that is necessary to address these issues. The repair sites just cited stretch from north and east of Parnell to Conception Junction, south past Guilford, and the far west part of the county near Quitman. It requires a very dedicated road and bridge supervisor to coordinate job site repairs to eliminate as much travel time as possible. We are very fortunate to have an individual with the experience that Larry Dougan brings to work daily.

The commission considered several small items of business this past week including placing permanent markers on the graves of those buried in the county cemetery. A concerned citizen brought this issue to our attention a few weeks past and we are working on getting this problem resolved with minimal cost. A county ordinance was also issued prohibiting political signs on county property and county road right-of-ways. A request by Wal-Mart Corporation was denied concerning lowering their tax base on their old vacated structure on South Main Street in Maryville.

Our emergency management director informed me that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved the Individual Assistance application submitted a few weeks past by the county regarding this year's flooding. Although only four individual homeowners applied for disaster relief from FEMA, there is still time for those affected to receive aid but they need either apply on line at www.fema.gov or call 1-800-621-3362 and information will be provided. All those applying will need to file a Small Business Administration application even if they are homeowners and not business owners.

The commission also met with the Circuit Court and Missouri Department of Probation and Parole concerning getting community service sentences implemented for assistance in keeping the courthouse grounds landscaped. We will soon be receiving some help from these folk. I was disappointed that my request in last week's article did not get more attention in the local papers. A very small portion of a paragraph concerning lightning protection created the headline in one paper while nearly one-third of my article mentioning the need for volunteer help for weeding did not get any editorial comment. I would hope that those who are at the helm of our local newspapers would promote the community and its needs.

I must mention again after being chastised by a constituent that the commission always invites everyone to call or come by the office with a comment or concern. Please be involved, county business is everyone's business.