Commissioners approve shelter support, amend east-side Road & Bridge budget

At their weekly meeting Monday, Dec. 16, the Ozark County Commissioners approved a payment of $250 to Agape House, a shelter for victims of domestic violence in Mountain View. The payment will be made from Ozark County’s Commission on Domestic Violence fund, which, according to Circuit Clerk Becki Strong, comes from a $5 fee on Ozark County marriage licenses. 

Each year, the funds are distributed to domestic violence organizations in the area who petition the county for support. Last year the funds went to Christos House of West Plains. 

According to its listing on domesticshelters.org, Agape House offers emergency services, legal and financial assistance, counseling services, housing, support and children’s services, and community education to residents of Carter, Douglas, Howell, Ozark, Oregon, Reynolds, Shannon, Texas, Webster and Wright counties. 

Those in need of immediate assistance in cases of domestic violence should call 911 to reach the Ozark County Sheriff’s Department. Callers may reach Agape House on the 24-hour hotline, 800-667-1811.

 

Road & Bridge budget amended

A public hearing was included in the commission’s Dec. 9 meeting of the Ozark County Commissioners to amend the Road and Bridge budget for Ozark County’s eastern district. 

Since the April 2017 flood that caused widespread damage to county roads and bridges, the county has been receiving funds from FEMA for repairs. “The way FEMA funds work is the county is reimbursed for funds that have already been spent. So, Road and Bridge East actually ended up doing more work on the roads through this year than they projected; therefore more money was spent, and FEMA reimbursed their portion of that money,” said Ozark County Clerk Brian Wise.

The original budget projected $150,000 in expenditures for FEMA rock, which includes base rock, gravel and other fill rock used in FEMA-funded projects, and $250,000 in revenue. However, by Nov. 12 of this year the east side of the county had spent $253,000 on rock and received $370,000 in FEMA payments. The commissioners voted unanimously to amend the budget accordingly. 

The new budget increased FEMA rock to $350,000 and revenue to $350,000.

 

Ozark County Times

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