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The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell stated grading was going to be done on Dent County Roads 5450, 6410 and 6420 while a worker went to get a load of Ultimate Paving Material in Bourbon for the patching of chip and seal roads. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported that brush cutting was going to be done on Dent County Road 4430. Larson said that he spoke with Spencer Jackson from Great Rivers Engineering and he stated that they would be surveying the area for the new bridge on Dent County Road 3210 either this week or next week. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported he and Commissioner Purcell attended the MRPC Annual Volunteer Awards Banquet in Potosi Thursday night where Matt Sirois was presented an Outstanding Volunteer Youth Award and Larry Sensintaffer was presented an Outstanding Adult Volunteer Award. Skiles said at the MRPC meeting held prior to the banquet, MoDOT Engineer Preston Kramer presented copies of the MoDOT 20-year plan. The county commissioners signed orders that Dent County Roads 2140 and 2150 now had a speed limit of 25 MPH and copies be provided to the Sheriff’s Department, MoDOT and the Missouri State Highway Patrol. He also received a note from Dent County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Curley that Tom Katz from Crawford County was asking for the county to issue a Quit-Claim Deed from the old railroad right-of-way that is currently deeded to Dent County. The commissioners signed the Quit-Claim deed. Circuit Court Clerk Ruth Ann Williams submitted a list of electrical needs for her office to accommodate new state requirements of scanning and e-filing files. Superintendent Bill Black of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways attended the meeting to go over and explain parts of the Draft General Management Plan. He said that the National Park Service prefers Alternative B of the plan that according to the plan would enhance the opportunities for visitors to discover and learn about the natural and cultural resources while at the same time providing a mix of private and guided traditional activities like boating, floating and horseback riding. This alternative also states that most of the Big Spring Wilderness Study Area would be recommended for wilderness designation. Commissioner Purcell asked if this backed up to the Mark Twain National Forest and Black said that it did and Purcell was concerned that if it was deemed a wilderness area, would there be wildfire control. Black said there would be fire control in the wilderness area with minimal intrusive tools and equipment unless the fire threatened human life or protected structures, or was deemed to be a “hot” fire where other measures would have to be taken. Black said that the study area would be 3,400 acres, but adopting it as a Wilderness Area is up to Representative Jason Smith who is opposed to that occurring. Purcell asked if the plan included replacing the Cedar Grove Bridge and Black said that it did as the current bridge does not allow the river to “flow freely” and a span bridge would be the best alternative. He said that has been discussed for quite some time, but there is no money to build a replacement bridge at this time. Black also said that the plan would develop an additional 35 miles of horse riding trails including some in the Upper Current River area. Black said that many questions surround the changing of horsepower allowed on motorized boats. He indicated that even after a plan is adopted, there would have to be a period to allow boat owners to make the adjustments required by the law. Black said that there are four alternatives with first one being no change at all, followed by three more restrictive plans. Black said that many of the improvements in the plan would not happen for many years as the National Park Service has seen a reduction in their budget of 8% since 2010. He said that if everything would go perfectly, the plan could be approved in the summer of 2014, but there has already been a request to increase the comment period another 30 days. The current comment period will end on January 8^th. He asks people who want to comment to go online to the website: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/OZAR and then go the “Open for Comment” link. He said that comments made should be specific and be “substantive comments” that explain what the problem is and possible solution. The comment should include some cultural, economical or historical justification for your comment. He added that if you have more than one comment to make, submit them separately online. Black says that once all the comments are in, the park management team and the regional office would determine which plan they would select, then have the Denver Service Office review it, before any plan would be adopted. Black says that the bottom line to any plan needs to be “Organic” which in his words means that people need to protect our resources for future generations while at the same time providing enjoyment by our current generation. At the last commissioner meeting, Tammy Gregory, Senior Right-Of-Way Specialist for MoDOT, discussed right of way approaches on Highway 72 from the Phelps/Dent County line to the junction of Highway 32. This agreement indicates that the county will now maintain all the approaches and the commissioners approved the agreement. The next meting of the Commissioners will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and it is open to the public.The Trees and Trains, Vision of Christmas, will open on Monday, November 25^th at 6:00 pm with a wreath and arrangement silent auction. Everyone is invited to attend the grand opening gala at the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center located at 202 South Highway 19 in Salem. All proceeds from the wreath and arrangements silent auction will go to benefit the Salvation Army.

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