Two landowners came to the regular Worth County Commission meeting Monday morning to discuss brush letters that they had received. One has partially cut trees down from his fencerow, while he stated that he plans to cut the rest this summer. The other one didn't have any brush along his section of the road. Commissioners explained the county's policies towards brush enforcement.
When landowners get brush letters, they are not required to build up their road by putting on gravel base; they are simply required to clear the brush from their fencerows along the roads. Landowners are only responsible for the brush that is along their fence; they are not required to cut down brush along someone else's fence. Therefore, landowners who get brush letters who do not have brush along their fencerows can disregard the letters that the county sends out. Landowners are required to remove stumps as well as trees so that the tree cannot grow back in a few years. The purpose of brush enforcement is to allow county vehicles to get through so that they can maintain roads and allow gravel trucks to deliver gravel. It is also used to maintain school bus routes and mail routes.
Commissioner Reggie Nonneman said that the policy of the county was to send out brush letters to all landowners along an affected road. He said that in the past, the county had complaints due to one landowner along an affected road getting a brush letter, but not the others. The county will cost-share on some roads and will reimburse $1200/mile for eligible roads.
The county approved a request by Jerry and Ann Roach to cost-share for a road along the state line north of Grant City.
Governor Jay Nixon has sounded the alarm over tax cuts passed by the Missouri State Legislature after the budget had already been approved. The governor has estimated that both the county and the City of Grant City will lose money due to these tax cuts. However, county officials said that as of Monday morning, the county had not been notified of any specific cuts that are coming down the pipe. The legislature approved up to $776 million in tax cuts. The governor has the authority to withhold funds in order to balance the budget. Missouri has a mandatory Balanced Budget Amendment.
Road & Bridge Foreman Jim Fletchall reported that the Case Grader was making growling noises and that it would cost as much as $1,000 for the people to come up and inspect it from Kansas City. It would cost the county a similar figure to haul it down there. The worry is that it might take several trips and a lot of expense since trip charges are not part of the warranty.
The county is running around $50,000 ahead of last year in its General Revenue fund and around $36,000 in the Road & Bridge Fund.
Jackie Spainhower came to the meeting and met with commissioners. The DNR asked for and the county approved, a resolution for household hazardous waste collection. There will be a joint TAC meeting in King City to discuss transportation needs of the region and two others. This area will get $20 million over the next ten years. The Sales Tax initiative will be on the August ballot this year; Governor Jay Nixon sent a news release opposing it. If approved, it would put more money into transportation funding.
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