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The Dent County Commissioners regular meeting was held at the Dent County Courthouse Thursday morning. At the meeting, Meredith Sisco and Matt Meacham from Ozark Action, Inc. came in to discuss the feasibility study for the Ozark Highlands National Heritage Area with the commissioners. The study was funded partly by the Ozark Community Action Agency and Ozark Preservation, Inc., which is a subsidiary of the West Plains Council on the Arts, and took about nine months to prepare. They stated that the study was done to gather information about the area that can be used to market the region, regardless if there is a National Heritage Area or not. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles then asked them if the study indicates that the idea of a National Heritage Area was supported by the Dent County Commission, and they said that the study doesn’t say that. It says that the Dent County Commissioners supported the feasibility study, but as of yet had not endorsed the plan. Both Skiles and Commissioner Gary Larson took issue in the study that stated that county commissioners, businesses, not-for profits and individuals have contributed to this plan through meetings that had been held, and they said that they were not aware of any meetings that had been held. Skiles and Commissioner Dennis Purcell also took exception in the study that stated that the National Park Service would be a partner in this process contributing guidance, planning and finances. Stan Podorski from KSMO Radio interjected that last summer the county had heard how the National Park Service would partner with the commission on the trails and trace issue, but when push came to shove, they were going to do it their way without regard to the public opposition. He also said that National Park Service has a history of not fulfilling promises including heritage related commitments from 1964 when the Ozark Riverways fell under their jurisdiction through a congressional act. Sisco said that there is currently a public comment period on the study that would expire on March 5^th, but Podorski stated that he had not received any press release indicating any public comment period or where copies of the plan are available. Sisco said that a copy is available at the Salem Public Library, and at a number of online sites that she would make available to the media. She also said that they would extend the public comment period to March 15^th since that information has not been available locally. After they left, Bill Benton came in to discuss the National Heritage Area and provided the commissioner with a Resolution and an addendum that they could use to opt out of the study area. Skiles thanked Benton for providing the material and said that the commission may want to use a portion of the resolution and the addendum in their response to Ozark Action, Inc. Podorski then asked Skiles if the commission was going to vote on the issue as no vote had yet been taken. At that point the commissioners voted 3-0 in opposition on supporting or endorsing the Ozark Highlands National Heritage Area project. The commission will submit comments to Ozark Action, Inc. and Ozark Preservation, Inc. on a number of inaccuracies in the feasibility study that need to addressed and corrected. Copies of the comments would be sent to Senators Roy Blunt and Claire McCaskill, Representative Jo Ann Emerson, State Representative Jason Smith and State Senator Dan Brown. In the road report, Commissioners Larson and Purcell said that road crews continue to remove snow and ice where possible, and they are spreading salt and sand on slick areas to provide traction. Presiding Commissioner Skiles said all three commissioners met with the Salem R-80 and rural school superintendents on Wednesday to discuss how the county handles the road conditions during adverse weather conditions. Skiles said that it was a very informative meeting, and they were invited back to attend future meetings to keep the superintendent’s updated. Skiles went on to say that sales tax revenues received in February were up $11,968.87 over last year. He said that year-to-date, the sales tax revenues are up $2,558.89 over last year. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley submitted the financial statements to the commissioners for their review. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the Dent County Courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The University of Missouri Extension will host a “Winter Grazing Workshop” at the University of Missouri Wurdack Farm from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm on Wednesday, February 23rd. This workshop is designed to teach and demonstrate the benefits of grazing stockpiled fescue during the winter months and participants will be provided class room instruction as well as the “hands-on” training necessary to successfully winter graze. Topics for the workshop will include how to grow and manage stockpiled fescue, feed value of stockpile, meeting the nutritional requirements of various classes of beef cattle with stockpile, allocation and feeding of stockpile, winter fence and water systems, and stockpiling economics. Additionally, participants in this workshop will have the opportunity to tour two farms that are grazing stockpiled tall fescue. Cost of the workshop is $20 per person, which covers the cost of materials, a hot lunch, and refreshments. Class size is limited, and reservations are required by February 18th. For more information or to reserve a space, please contact Ted Cunningham, Livestock Specialist at the Dent County MU Extension Office at 573-729-3196.

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