District 2 Associate Commissioner Jared Boast said on June 23 that the county is looking for the culprits who shot fireworks off the bridge on Sappington Bridge Road.

“Now I know for all the people that’ll be out there in the social media land, wondering why this is a big deal, because this is a concrete bridge,” Boast said. “This is my bridge. I’m the one who gets in trouble when there’s a pothole on the road. I don’t see them talking about Crawford County. They talk about Jared Boast let the pothole be on the road.”

He explained that it does matter because if the concrete gets too hot, it ruins the integrity of the top of the deck. Then, when it comes to putting ice melt on the bridge in the winter, it will penetrate further into the bridge and cause “premature failing.”

“I tried to pass a use tax because the road district doesn’t have enough money to operate,” Boast said. “We don’t have the money to fix these things. We do not. The only bridges we built you here, week after week after week, are because we get government grants, something of that nature. This bridge right here, this is not a $600,000 bridge. This is a couple of million-dollar bridge, 50 feet over the Meramec River.”

The sheriff’s office was notified, and it was determined that the crime happened between 12 and 2 a.m. on June 21. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the sheriff’s office.

In other business, Presiding Commissioner Steve Black addressed changing the taxing board appointment policy that Crawford County Library District Director Amy England presented at the June 16 commissioners meeting.

Black pointed out part of England’s letter, which she included with a policy that the 2022 commissioners sent them and the state statute regarding appointing board members, saying that the volunteer board of trustees contributes time and effort to make a list of recommendations for the commissioners that are disregarded for outside opinions.

“I believe personally, again, outside opinions matter. Outside opinions and influences is what elect us, so those people do count,” Black said. “And as far as recommendations, personally, all I personally need is an application. I don’t need a recommendation.”

Boast said he believes each of the three taxing boards that appoint members should advertise open seats because people don’t know there is a chance to serve their community without it, but he agrees that the recommendations are unnecessary. Pfeiffer said that whatever happens moving forward, the process needs to stay consistent.

England added that the policy the commissioners made in 2022 is an addition to the requirements listed in RSMo 182.050.

“Because state statute doesn’t have any requirements for publication, or collecting applications, or recommendations or any of that part of it,” England said.

The commissioners decided that they would contact Prosecuting Attorney David Smith, explain the situation and ask him to write a new policy. They hope that it will be finished by the June 30 meeting so it can be adopted.

Voting has opened for the August election. County Clerk Kim Gibbs said that absentee voting has already opened, no-excuse voting starts July 21 and July 8 is the last day to register to vote.

She also announced that the courthouse will be closed on July 3 in observance of Independence Day.