Great River gave a scheduled pre-construction meeting for the BRO-2023 Bridge. Present were Lee Schofield, Lindsey Chaffin and Zack Olivas with Great River, Chris Childress with C&C Bridge and Concrete, and Josh Dugan with MoDOT. Lee handed out the blueprint and went over plans and expectations. Lee stated the Buy America Policy will be enforced. Construction to start September 15th. Final paperwork should be all in by tomorrow. Josh added to ensure that the Missouri 30-day prompt payment law is followed. If contractor is not paid at time of invoice, then it is to be paid 48 hours after imbursement by MoDOT. John asked Josh about the repair work the county contracted out on a few bridges. The bridges pylons were encased in concrete as they are starting to corrode to stop corrosion. Josh stated the new bridges will have the pylons encased in concrete during the build. Jim will get ahold of the local authorities on the road closure.
Jim asked Josh about some concrete teardown that he would like to procure for the county for riverbank build up. Josh referred him to the RE on that project.
Lindsey then shared the list of bidders to date on the Courthouse Sidewalks. The bid opening is scheduled for the 17th at 2:30.
Zack presented the proposed blueprint for the County build box culvert for soft match money on County Road 9002. MoDOT has already approved the build for soft match money. Trent asked about contracting work if needed. Lindsey stated the materials will be put to bid. Then in 3 or 4 months it will arrive. The current projection date is Spring of 2026. Zack stated that Bill will have to keep a daily log. Lindsey stated they have a form that he can fill out. When completed this will be a legal load bridge. Projected build is Fall 2026.
Trent made the motion to accept the blueprint presented for the box culvert bridge for soft match money. John seconded. All voted yes. Motion passed. No opposition.
John stated he had a couple of questions for Jim and Trent. John stated he took several calls over the weekend. A few on the bridges that Matthew Tillery and Trent's son repaired. John asked if all the tools and items were returned when the job was done. Trent stated yes. John replied "Okay I'm just catching a little heat, so I want to get this straight. John went on to question the total amount agreed on from the beginning to the extra that was paid. Trent stated that it was due to them cutting out some brush from under the bridges while they were there. **At the Appleton City Lake bridge on county road 2576. They also cut out a 65 ft wood bridge from under the existing concrete bridge with chain saws. Standing in mud and water 3-5 feet deep and using a boat at some times. They completed a total of 8 bridges and originally was to be $1000.00 a bridge. The total paid out is just over $10,000.00. With concrete charges over $8,000.00. John clarified with Trent, his son Dustin Nelson worked on all 8 bridges and was working with Matthew Tillery. John then asked if Matthew worked for Trent's butchering business. Trent replied he sometimes helps with butchering and other things but not an employee. “Just a hard-working kid that does odd jobs” Trent stated. Trent states that these kids doing this hard work saved the county money. Saved a few more years out of $400,000.00 bridges. John stated that he had just heard complaints from several people. Some from Rich Hill on the dirt mounds on Trent's property. John then stated that his biggest issue is” if we've got guys (road and bridge crew)sitting around and if they do that 5 days a week, that is a lot, between how many guys?”. John went on to explain that he was not accusing them of sitting around but it needed investigation. He further states that he understands that they need extra hands every now and then as well. They went on to state that they need to have a conversation with Bill on these concerns.
Ryan Glass and Clayton Lyons with Kohen Construction came in at their scheduled meeting to ask questions about the Courthouse Sidewalk Project. Ryan asked if there was to be a provided dump truck for the removal of the existing sidewalk concrete. Jim stated yes, the county would have a dump truck provided and would be handling the disposal of the concrete waste. Some of the questions were referred to Great River. They were given contacts and phone numbers. Questions about where supplies and equipment parking were discussed.
** Bold statement added 9/8/2025 Not part of the original meeting or audio
Work in progress
1. Policy Regarding Indigent Cremations given 8/25/2023 nothing since April 25.
2. Rattlesnake Hill Roads 11/06/2023 evening meeting 6/11/25 still gaining signatures. As of 8/7/25, nine people need to sign. All need to sign to move the drives to roads.
3. Opioid Settlement Resolution 10/2/2024 (Judge Highley). ($106,888.79 to date)
4. EEZ Board 3/26/2025 Proposal Fee with scope of work received $12,000.00 fixed fee 8/13/25.
September 8, 2025 The Bates County Commission met with Presiding Commissioner Jim Wheatley, Northern Commissioner John Gray and Southern Commissioner Trent Nelson present.
Bill Stephan with Road and Bridge arrived to his scheduled meeting. Jim and Bill discussed hiring a part time employee to help with the mowing. They mow year-round and having another person with a CDL to help keep that up would be desirable. Ads for hiring will be put out.
John stated to Bill that the original need for this meeting has been clarified. Originally there was to be a closed Session meeting to discuss the allegations of nonproductive workers. John had spoken to Bill about this separately and found the truth of the matter to be late lunches due to time restrictive work conditions. Trent stated he now understands what he mistook as “sitting around” on the clock.
John discovered that the Road and Bridge crew helped Matt Tillery with the clearing and repair work at the 8 bridges. Jim stated “Bill hired the guy to do the work. Yeah, the guy hired Trent's employee, Trent's son, to work with him. They really had nothing to do with it. This is all done above board, where it had nothing showing that anybody was trying to force anybody to do anything. Okay, I want clarification of that, but we have so don't be sitting there saying, well, we this and we because we didn't hire anybody to do the work. We paid for the work to be done. John states he wasn’t here when this was done. Trent stated this work was on the books for 3 years to get done. John brought up how this project went over budget. Original agreement was $1,000.00 in labor a bridge with 8 bridges to be done. With supplies paid for and concrete the total sits near $20,000.00. Over the limit of $12,000.00 to bid out. When John heard Trent state that couple of times he had been out to the road and bridge barn and seen the crew eating there was the assumption that they were slacking off when we had to hire other workers to complete work that needed to be done for 3 years. After further discussion, the understanding is that Bill is doing a great job as supervisor. The crew is working as they should be. Communication between the commissioners needs worked on.
Jim shared the blueprint for the upcoming bridge replacement to start on the 15th of September and the one that Road and Bridge will be building next year.
Trent circled back to the bridges stating each bridge should be considered an individual project. All agreed this repair work will add 20 to 30 years to each bridge life-span and improve the ratings on them at the next state inspection. Each bridge cost around $400,000.00 on average. The working conditions were not favorable. The worst had the guys standing chest deep in water pouring concrete into forms. Jim wanted it said that Bill hired these guys. Trent recommended them but Bill interviewed and hired them it had nothing to do with him or Trent at all. Jim further stated that if the public has a problem with something they need to call the Commissioners as a group not just one. John stated if someone calls him with a problem he will help to the best of his ability.
John mentioned the Solar Project that should start building next year. The road improvements to be starting.
The conversation turned to Bill receiving the new truck.
Trent circled back again to the bridge repair, asking Bill if the boys needed some supplies if he would have gotten them. Bill stated he told them in the beginning to get with him on anything needed as he can get the supplies tax free. Which was not done as they turned in receipts on paid for by them with tax paid.
Trent asked about the Butler Water Plant Bridge. Bill stated that getting the tree removed needs to be done as it is most of the problem. Bill plans to do this once the owner has given approval.
