Another member has been added to the Gasconade County Opioid Settlement Committee, a move that provides county officials with input from someone directly involved in addiction recovery programs.

Tracy Stovar of Franklin Recovery Center becomes the eighth member of the panel that will be advising the County Commission on the distribution of opioid lawsuit settlement funds. Stovar’s addition to the committee was recommended by Gasconade County Circuit Clerk & Recorder of Deeds Jenny Schneider, who is also a member of the advisory panel.

The committee held its first meeting with the County Commission late last month and its next session is set for Thursday, June 27, at 10 a.m. The members are expected to take up several items, such as deciding the process for receiving applications for shares of the opioid settlement funds.

At last week’s County Commission meeting in Owensville City Hall, County Treasurer Mike Feagan reported that another $5,776 in settlement funds has been received by the county pushing the total amount on hand to $67,729. A few more dollars might be arriving soon, he added, citing a settlement with Kroger.

The lawsuit, which was started prior to the arrival of the coronavirus pandemic, involves about 100 of Missouri’s counties and was aimed at pharmaceutical companies that manufacture and pharmacy outlets that distribute opioid-based medications. Funds from the settlement are to be used to stem addiction to the prescription medication.

In Gasconade County, the top priority for use of the money is an education-and-awareness campaign. It is up to the county commissions of the various counties receiving a portion of the settlement funds to decide how that money will be used.

In other matters at last week’s Commission session, county administrators noted that lower oil prices resulted in lower bids for the county’s annual chip-and-seal program. That, in turn, means that a few more miles of gravel road could be converted to a hard surface with a chip-and-seal coating. County roads selected to receive some chip-and-seal are Bem Church Road and Wurtz Road.

County government officials are continuing their planning for construction of a pair of hoop sheds to store road salt and cinders in preparation for winter months. One of the sheds will be at Elkhead Road and Highway C and the other at the Gasconade County Road Department site in Drake.

Southern District Associate Commissioner Jerry Lairmore, R-Ownesville, noted that the latest storm to hit the county again focused on the southern end, sending about 20 trees across the various county roads. He cited the effort of road agency crews pitching in the clear the debris from the roads.

“I appreciate the guys all jumping in,” Lairmore said.

Radio-wave frequencies appear to be working

That unusual method of drying out the courthouse’s storage areas appears to be working, according to County Clerk Lesa Lietzow.

A one-year inspection of the Reno Dry system — which uses radio-wave frequencies to pull water from concrete walls — revealed that it was doing the job, although perhaps not as well as had been hoped by the company that installed it. But, Lietzow said, that could be because of the amount of rain this spring and because part of the guttering had come loose and was allowing water inside the building. She said the situation in the basement is “a little better than it was a year ago when it started.

Considering the amount of rain received this spring, the inspector felt the system was doing what it was supposed to do.

“He was satisfied,” the county clerk said. “He could tell it was working. I think it’s working and I think by the time he comes back it’ll be in much better condition.”

The next inspection is scheduled in two years.

Telephone problems continue in courthouse

The county’s telephone saga continues as the effort moves forward to rid the system purchased at the first of the year of a variety of bugs.

“Until we get the new wiring done, it’s not going to work” as hoped, Lietzow said, referring to the upcoming rewiring of the courthouse’s network of low-voltage wiring.

Still, the time it’s taking to get the phone system purchased from STL Communications of Chesterfield to work as it should is chafing to Northern District Associate Commissioner Jim Holland, R-Hermann.

“It’s one of those burrs under my saddle,” he said, adding that he gets frustrated every time he reviews county government’s monthly bills for telephone service.

Mid-June remains the targeted time for the installation of the elevator. Otis Elevator technicians are scheduled to be on site June 17 to begin putting together the many pieces of the lift that will reach from the basement to the second floor.

“That’s still the target date,” said Presiding Commissioner Tim Schulte, R-Hermann.

With vacations scheduled by the members, the County Commission will not meet tomorrow. The next session is set for Thursday, June 20, at the courthouse.