County will aid Drainage District No. 2

BENTON -- Scott County will help Consolidated Drainage District No. 2 improve drainage in the county.

Scott County commissioners approved a bid from Thompson Culvert of Sikeston for the purchase of five 40-foot long 5-foot diameter pipes during their regular meeting Tuesday.

"On County Road 528 we've had some pipes that are failing or no longer doing their job," Presiding Commissioner Jamie Burger said. "The drainage district has asked us to replace them because they are doing some ditch cleaning out and they feel they are impeding the flow."

Commissioners had $15,000 budgeted for this project, according to Burger.

"Their bid was for $11,492 so that gives us some space for labor and rip rap and other aggregates we'll have to have to install these," he said. "I think it will enhance the drainage to install these and that's what the drainage district is after and what we're after too."

In other business Tuesday:

* County Clerk Rita Milam presented commissioners with their training certification from the annual county commissioner training seminar held in Jefferson City.

"We had a good conference last week," Commissioner Dennis Ziegenhorn said. "We heard a lot of good ideas and hopefully passed along some of ours."

"I learned a lot," said Ron McCormick, commissioner. "In addition to the training itself, the networking we did with other county commissioners was as much or even more informative for me. ... It's very interesting to talk with the commissioners from other counties."

* James Cowger of the Sikeston Special Road District updated commissioners on the district's plans for this year.

The Sikeston Special Road District is responsible for maintaining about 50 miles of roadway in Scott County, according to Cowger.

Commissioners noted the road district is contracting with the county to trim trees in the district next week.

"We're more than happy to do that," Ziegenhorn said.

* Joel Evans, county developer, advised commissioners he would meet with some of the Salcedo residents later in the day to discuss providing the area with water service.

* Commissioners appointed McCormick to represent the Commission on the Scott County University of Missouri Extension Council.