With road-maintenance resources already stretched beyond the boundaries of a normal season and costs continuing to escalate with every new flash-flood event that slams the county, the Phelps County Commission reviewed Tuesday the increasing number of road wash-outs and wondered whether, and when, President Barack Obama would answer Gov. Jay Nixon’s request for federal assistance.
Nixon requested the President’s assistance on May 28 after a second round of severe thunderstorms left county roads and bridges battered, washed-out and debris-ridden.
Since Nixon’s request, Phelps County has endured three more flash-flood events, and all of them have taxed manpower and supply resources beyond budget restraints.
Road and Bridge Supervisor Walter Snelson on Tuesday reported to the Commission that county roads had so much water covering them, they couldn’t be patched.
“It’s a mess out there,” Snelson said while citing the specific roads impacted by Monday’s and Tuesday’s storm activities.
With two trucks out of service because of maintenance issues and still working on repairs from previous storms, the road department was engaged in removing tree debris and rendering emergency repairs in an effort to keep the roads accessible, Snelson said.
Additionally, three low-water crossings had to be closed.
Phelps County Emergency Management Director Bruce Southard, with the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department, reported a water rescue was initiated 11 a.m. Monday after a motorist and his car was swept off a low-water crossing on County Road 7520.
A vacationing tourist from London, England, following directions from his GPS, drove onto the crossing, was swept into the water and waited on the top of his rental car for deputies to arrive.
Other roads sustaining major wash-outs included County roads 5310, 5240, 5190, 4040, 4080 and 5190; and the company Rolla Bobcat assisted Road Department crews with a wash-out on County Road 7160, Snelson said.
The Phelps County Commission also reviewed or took action on the following matters at Tuesday’s session:
• An estimate to repair a bridge on County Road 5120 that was damaged from a single-vehicle accident was submitted by Donald Maggi, Inc. for a total of $13,292.
• The Commission approved paying invoices submitted by law firms that provided special prosecutor services for the county: Thomas, Birdsong, Mills & McBride, P.C. for $737 in one case; and the Law Firm of Williams, Robinson, Rigler & Buschjost for $5,145 in five cases.
• The Commission reviewed notification from the State Tax Commission that it approved computer-related expenses submitted by the Assessor’s Office.
• Commissioner Larry Stratman, District 1, apprised the Commission the Transportation Advisory Commission, of which he is a member, discussed a proposal to install “slip” exit ramps at selected midpoints between on-and-off ramps where outer roads exist. The slip ramps would not be installed within two miles of an existing ramp, Stratman explained.
• The Commission discussed the July meeting of the Board of Equalization and agreed to ask former members to serve on the board again. The Board of Equalization rules on appeals of property assessments.
