HERMANN — Crews of the Gasconade County Road Department last week were praised by county government officials for their efforts at maintaining two roads that have come under heavy traffic as detour roads with the start of a bridge replacement on Highway J.

Zastrow Road and First Creek Road — leading from Route F back to Route J — are the alternate roads for drivers looking to avoid hazardous areas farther east on Route F enroute to Highway 19 as they make their way north to Hermann or south to Owensville.

“Zastrow and First Creek are in better shape than Highway F,” said County Clerk Lesa Lietzow at last Thursday’s County Commission session. 

“One hundred percent better shape than Highway F,” she added.

Lietzow knows this first hand. 

A resident of Weeks Road, which is on the west side of the First Creek bridge project, the clerk is forced to backtrack on Highway 100 to Route F and take that road into Swiss to Highway 19 and then north on 19 to Hermann. Or, take Route F a short ways to Zastrow Road, which connects with First Creek Road, and then travel north on First Creek Road back to Route J. First Creek Road connects with Route J at the site of the bridge project. Route J intersects Highway 100 about a quarter mile from First Creek bridge.

The condition of Route F has been a concern for local officials for some time. 

The road, which received a chip-and-seal coating three years ago — has been damaged most recently by dump trucks hauling clay and rock being mined from a site on Benson Road.

Officials of the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) has told county administrators that no major improvements to Route F will be made until the clay-mining operation on Benson Road runs its course. MoDOT’s regional engineer, Preston Kramer, last fall told county officials that the transit agency has only a certain amount budgeted for Route F’s maintenance. Further, he said MoDOT can’t make repairs to the highway fast enough to stay ahead of the ongoing damage caused by the heavy trucks.

Lietzow told county administrators that portions of Route F have deteriorated quickly in recent weeks. Much of that damage is near the intersection of F and W and poses a hazard to motorists unaware of the newly formed potholes.

Southern District Associate Commissioner Jerry Lairmore, R-Owensville, suggested county officials contact area representatives and senators for possible assistance. Presiding Commissioner Larry Miskel, R-Hermann — agreed. “This is a special circumstance,” Miskel said.

The bridge project is scheduled to last another two months. The clay-mining operation is scheduled to last about three years.

In other matters at last week’s session, Emergency Management Director Clyde Zelch noted a successful test — and then a successful real-life return — to the countywide severe weather alert program. The alert advising residents of the approaching sub-zero temperatures was the first such telephone weather alert in more than a year.

Zelch noted that if residents don’t want to receive the weather alerts, they can opt out of the program by contacting the county’s Emergency Operations Center or Zelch. Also, Zelch said he wants to reactivate the HAM radio network in the county.

“It’s just sitting there; I need to put it back together,” he told the Commission.

Thomas’ retirement pending

The Commission noted a pair of retirements that were taking place or about to take place. Former Assessor Joe Mundwiller retired Feb. 26 capping a long career. After stepping down as assessor at the end of 2016, Mundwiller returned to the office as the field data collector.

Also preparing for retirement is Debbie Thomas of the Gasconade County Road Department after a long tenure as the agency’s primary contact with the public. Her retirement is not effective until April 30. Until then, she will continue her front-office work, as well as provide the Commission with a review of her position’s job description and develop a schedule for training her successor.

The county will be advertising the position in the coming weeks.