LINN, Mo. - For the the third year, Osage County commissioners have been asked to deal with sheriff's deputies helping out, for pay, at the Washington Town and Country Fair in Franklin County.
And, for the third year, the commissioners said they're powerless to stop the deputies from "moonlighting" when they're not on duty.
"Several of us received an anonymous citizens complaint," Osage County Clerk Patrick Steele told the three commissioners Tuesday morning. "Five deputies, and the sheriff, were named by this individual as working the fair."
Steele also recalled the original decision when the issue first surfaced two years ago, that "if they are working on their own time, we can't stop them. They're legal to do other work on their own time - as long as there's no use of county vehicles, county equipment or uniforms."
Steele told commissioners he had checked the deputies' work schedules, "and they all are scheduled to work (in Washington) on their off-times, two at a time. So, the county is still covered."
Presiding Commissioner Dave Dudenhoeffer said he was concerned if Sheriff Michael Dixon also is going to Washington, "since he's supposed to be on-call here, 24 hours a day. (But) that's his discretion."
Dixon was attending a sheriff's conference and didn't attend the commission's meeting, and didn't comment on the situation.
Last year, Washington officials told the News Tribune it was cheaper to use the deputies from Osage and other area counties than paying overtime to Franklin County deputies or officers from Washington's police department.
In other business, commissioners also approved borrowing $76,747.14 from Legends Bank, to cover the final payment for completion of the 911 emergency system improvements.
"They worked all day (Monday) and it's moving along quite nicely," Director Andrea Rice reported.
For a two-year loan, at 3 percent interest, the monthly payments will be about $3,225, she said.
Osage County commissioners also approved the Road and Bridge department's request to buy a used 2012 Caterpillar backhoe for $76,000.
"I called where it's coming from, and most of its life they've actually used it in the lot, and used it as a loader and not really as a backhoe," Foreman Randy Atkin told the commissioners. "So, it's not really beat-up. Dollar-wise, we've looked and looked and looked and looked and, for this piece of equipment, you can't beat the dollars."
Atkin said another 2012 backhoe he's looked at would cost $96,000, "with comparable hours" to the one the commissioners agreed to buy.
Dudenhoeffer said the backhoe likely will be used to help with road maintenance projects, especially "changing pipes out" and for clearing debris from underneath some bridges.