Scott County prisoners begin clearing debris from roads

BENTON, Mo. -- The clean-up process on Scott County roads has begun.

On Thursday, inmates at the county jail began working to pick up limbs alongside county roads and place them in a wood chipper.

"We were planning to start last week," said Presiding Commissioner Jamie Burger at Thursday's regular meeting. "But then we found out we could get a lot of the supplies through Missouri Surplus at a discount."

Coats, overalls, boots, safety glasses, vests, shovels, rakes, hand cleaner and water were among the supplies purchased. Commissioners did not have a total cost for the supplies. "But it's all reimbursable," noted Dennis Ziegenhorn, commissioner. Since Pres. Barack Obama approved public assistance for counties in Missouri, including Scott, on Tuesday, the county and other municipalities affected will be eligible for funds to pay for cleanup.

There is a 15 percent match for the applying agency, but regular employee hours, and the use of equipment, can be applied to that match, explained Burger. "Because of that, I really don't think we as a county will really be out any money," he said.

The use of inmates to clear debris is another cost-saving measure, he said. In fact, Burger called it "a win-win. It gets the inmates out of confinement, and they get to help out society," he said.

Ziegenhorn agreed. He has helped to supervise inmates assisting in cleaning up after Sikeston's Cotton Carnival parade the past two years, and said that many of the inmates actually enjoy it. As of Thursday, 10 inmates were volunteering to help, and commissioners said more will likely want to participate as time goes on.

Once everything is cleared along the county roads, the work may not be over for inmates. "There is a possibility they may work to clean up public places, such as parks," said Ziegenhorn. That will be decided by respective city councils, he said -- and require supervision of local law enforcement or other officials.

Burger said county ditches were in decent shape, thanks to Drainage District 2, located on the east side of the county, doing a lot of tree and debris removal prior to the storm with Emergency Watershed Protection Funds. "If not, all of those limbs would have been in ditches and it would have choked everything up," he said.

In other news the commissioners said they have been busy since Tuesday's election, thanking voters for approving the half-cent sales tax, and promising to spend the money wisely.

"The timing was perfect," said Ziegenhorn, noting that this year's budget eliminates most of the county's carry-over. "And I think that's what people believed -- that we are headed for trouble if we don't pass it."

The tax is expected to generate about $1.2 million annually after deducting approximately $400,000 in personal property taxes, which was included in the measure. However, the amount will be lower this year "Right between $100,000 and $200,000 is what we expect it to generate this year," said Burger. That's because the tax will not go into affect until July -- and the county likely won't receive any of those funds until September, but still must abate the property taxes.