By BRENT MARTIN

St. Joseph Post

A compromise reached during the recently concluded Missouri legislative session should pave the way for big improvements to deteriorating bridges in the state.

State Sen. Dan Hegeman of Cosby says House resistance to Gov. Mike Parson’s $300 million bond proposal led to negotiations which resulted in a plan both the House and Senate could accept.

“So, we did seven-year bonding, $50 million upfront cash, you might call it a down payment,” Hegeman tells St. Joseph Post. “And, like I say, if we’re able to leverage them to get these grants from the federal government, then we will do $300 million worth of bonding to complete the 250 bridges in the state of Missouri.”

Missouri will apply for special federal funds to complete some of the more expensive bridge repairs on the state priority list.

A proposal to give General Motors $50 million in tax breaks to expand production at its plant in Wentzville complicated an economic development proposal by Gov. Parson that didn’t need any controversy added to it. Several of the governor’s fellow Republicans in the Senate held up approval of the workforce development plan, claiming it gave away too much state money and could be ripe for abuse.

Hegeman supported the mixture of business incentives and workforce training programs.

“Some of these were economic development programs that have been combined and reconstituted,” Hegeman says. “Some programs have been doing well for many years, just kind of with a different name and refreshed. But also, there are some new tools that we have given to our Department of Economic Development.”

Hegeman says the General Assembly must keep an eye on how the incentives are used.

As chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Hegeman, was proud of the state budget his committee recommended and the legislature approved this year.

The legislature adopted a $30 billion spending plan for the next fiscal year.

Hegeman notes the legislature approved $1 million increases to the core budgets of each four-year college and university.

“The state of Missouri has done core cuts of higher education, we have just not been able to put money into higher education the past few years,” Hegeman says. “I was proud that we were able to finally put some money into higher education and try to do what we can to bring down the cost of higher education for the citizens of the state of Missouri that are moving in that direction.”

An uptick in state revenue allowed the legislature to approve the increase to higher education as well as to fully fund the formula which pays for public schools in Missouri.

A tornado warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for parts of northeast Kansas and northwest Missouri.

The Weather Service issued a warning lasting until 8:15pm for Doniphan County in northeastern Kansas as well as Andrew and Holt Counties in northwestern Missouri.

A tornado was confirmed at 7:33pm over Denton, near Highland, Kansas. Quarter size hail was also reported by Weather Service spotters.

A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado began shortly before eight this evening near Highland, Kansa. It was moving northeast at 40 miles per hour, according to the Weather Service. The storm is producing quarter size hail and radar indicated rotations in the cloud cover.

Highland, Denton, Severance, Leona, Oregon, Forest City, Fanning and Iowa Point could all be affected.

Those in the affected areas are advised to seek shelter, such as a basement or the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Windows should be avoided.

A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect for the area until late this evening.

 

 

By BRENT MARTIN

St. Joseph Post

Heavy rain throughout the area has raised water levels, spawning flooding which has closed a number of roads, disrupting traffic.

Missouri River flooding is closing Highway 59 in southern Buchanan County once again, cutting off the route over the Missouri into Atchison, Kansas. Highway 59 will close at two o’clock this afternoon.

The St. Joseph Police Department has issued a warning to avoid several roads in southern Buchanan County due to flooding. Motorists are advised to steer clear of 126^th, 130^th, 116^th, and 110^th.

Platte River flooding has closed roads in eastern Buchanan County, according to Emergency Management Director Bill Brinton. The Platte at Agency is up to 23.1 feet. It is expected to crest tomorrow morning at 24 feet.

Southeast 123 Road has been closed as well as SE Kemmer Road, SE 115 Road, SE Horn Road, and SE 112 Road.

Missouri River flooding in the western district of Buchanan County has prompted the Missouri Department of Transportation and the Western District officials to close U.S. Highway 59 once again. MoDOT will close Highway 59 from Route 45 at Rushville to Atchison, Kansas. Motorists are advised to use Highway 36 into Kansas as an alternate route.

The Missouri at Atchison rose to 24.67 feet. It is expected to crest tomorrow afternoon at 25.7 feet. Other roads closed due to Missouri River flooding include SW North Shore Road, SW 126 Road, SW 116 Road, SW 110 Road, and SW Lake View Road.

Meanwhile, K-7 north of White Cloud has been closed after a mud slide covered the entire roadway, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation. Transportation officials say traffic cannot get through the mud slide and motorists need to find alternative routes.

Flooding in the Chillicothe area is expected to greatly disrupt traffic.

The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office reports major flooding is expected on the Grand River this week with a crest of 37.8 feet anticipated tomorrow.

The sheriff’s office expects floodwaters to force the closing of U.S. 65 south of Chillicothe this evening. The office warns residents in the Avalon, Bedford, Blue Mound, and Dawn areas to make certain they have ample food, medicine and fuel. U.S. 36 west of Chillicothe may require traffic to be routed over two lanes due to flooding, according to the sheriff’s office.

Livingston County says it is working with emergency services in Carroll County to assist on any emergency response in the south and southeastern part of Livingston County over the next 48 hours.

The sheriff’s office warns motorists not to attempt to drive through flood water, because you cannot be certain of the depth of the water or if part of the roadway has washed away.

For more information about road closings in Missouri, click here for the MoDOT website.

 

By BRENT MARTIN

St. Joseph Post

Disaster assistance for Midwestern farmers impacted by flooding hangs in the balance as a $17 billion aid package moves from the House to the Senate.

Northern Missouri Congressman Sam Graves expects the Senate to approve the bill which contains $3 billion to offset losses to agriculture. Graves says money is needed immediately to make emergency repairs to the broken Missouri River levee system.

“They want to stop the water from coming in so that we can start doing more permanent repairs and trying to figure out, too, if some of those levees, where there are choke points, if they need to be moved or if we leave them in place the way they are; there’s just a lot of decisions that we’re trying to come up with,” Graves tells KFEQ Farm Director Melissa Gregory.

Central Missouri Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler, a member of the House Agriculture Committee, points out the bill also contains $500 million for Emergency Conservation Program, a program which funds repairs following natural disasters.

“With all that farmers have lost, it’s really important we get this done and the Senate is working on a similar package, so I’m hopeful within the next week or two we can come to resolution and get this across the finish line, not only for farmers in Missouri, but also for those in Georgia and in Florida who were impacted by the hurricanes last year and those in California impacted by the wildfires,” Hartzler says.

Kansas Congressman Roger Marshall expresses frustration at the slow pace of Congress to approve disaster relief for Midwestern flood victims as well as others.

Marshall understands damage assessments haven’t been completed for flooded areas of Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, and Kansas.

“Goodness, we still haven’t even taken care of the disasters from the hurricanes from over a year ago, the farmers down in the southeast still trying to recover,” Marshall tells Gregory. “Again, it’s hard to figure out exactly what to do in Nebraska right now when we’re still trying to figure out what to do in Alabama and Georgia from over a year ago. So, we understand that it’s a process and we’re not going to know all the damage for months, yet.”

Marshall says he’s confident Congress will act, even though the Senate has yet to debate the measure. President Trump has been critical of the aid package approved in the House, especially the money allocated to Puerto Rico in its continued efforts to recover from 2017’s Hurricane Maria.

 

By BRENT MARTIN

St. Joseph Post

President Trump has approved a major disaster declaration for Missouri counties devastated from mid-March flooding which has yet to completely recede from some parts of northwest Missouri.

Gov. Mike Parson made a formal request for a federal disaster declaration in late April, at that time pegging flood damage at $25 million.

The presidential approval will allow federal aid to flow to 13 Missouri counties to help offset some of the cost to local governments to repair damaged roads and bridges and to nonprofits providing emergency response. The counties include Atchison and Holt which took the brunt of the damage in northwest Missouri. Also included are Andrew, Buchanan, and Platte Counties. Counties in central and southeast Missouri were also included.

“This disaster declaration means millions of dollars in vitally important federal reimbursements will be available for communities that are hurting because of damaged and destroyed roads, bridges, and other vitally important infrastructure,” Parson said in written statement released by his office. “I appreciate President Trump making the federal assistance available and all those who are already working to help our Missouri communities recover.”

Congressman Sam Graves who farms near Tarkio and represents the northern third of the state bordered by the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, was pleased with the response from the White House.

“President Trump’s approval of public assistance is welcome news for Northwest Missouri counties impacted by the recent flooding and I’m grateful that we have gotten this disaster declaration. It will go a long way towards helping our communities as they rebuild damaged infrastructure and remove flood debris,” Graves said in a written statement. “I’m hopeful we’ll also hear soon on Missouri’s request for individual assistance so individuals devastated by this flooding can receive the help they need as well.”

Graves’ office says the request for individual assistance is still under review by the White House.

The presidential declaration also triggers help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Hazard Mitigation Program to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property due to natural hazards.

By BRENT MARTIN

St. Joseph Post

Midwestern farmers and ranchers, attempting to recover from flooding, are turning to the federal government for assistance.

Farm Service Agency Administrator Richard Fordyce says the Emergency Conservation Program is in demand.

“For those of you in the Midwest, it’s going to be highly utilized from the flooding that happened in March,” Fordyce tells farm broadcasters gathered in Washington, D.C. “I think nearly 50 counties in Nebraska have made application and then counties in Iowa and Missouri to this point from those March storms.”

The program provides federal assistance to repair damage from natural disasters, both for cropland and for pasture land. Fordyce, former Missouri Agriculture Director, says he recently returned home to tour some of the flooded areas on both sides of the state.

“I was in Missouri over the weekend and it is wet,” Fordyce says to laughter. “Like, the top of a hill has water standing on it.”
Fordyce didn’t just visit his hometown, he also toured other areas of the state.

“But I see a lot of corn planted when I was driving around,” Fordyce says. “We were in St. Louis and then went to south Missouri and back up to northwest Missouri. A lot of corn is planted, but it is going to be a while, at least in that part of the country, before we’re going to get back into the field.”

Congress is working on a separate disaster relief package, which would incorporate assistance for farms and communities impacted by flooding this year.

Fordyce understands recovery is just now taking place and future flooding is a real possibility.

“There really is no deadline for producers to sign up under ECP with the flooding concerns,” “It’s really hard, obviously as you can imagine, it’s nearly impossible to get an estimate on what that project will cost if there’s water on it.”

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The following is a list of general highway maintenance and construction work the Missouri Department of Transportation has planned in the Northwest Missouri region for the week of May 20 – 26.

Continued flooding may cause schedule changes in some of the planned work. There may also be moving operations throughout the region such as pothole patching, striping, signal work, etc., in addition to the work mentioned below.

All work is weather permitting and subject to change.

Andrew County

Route O – CLOSED at the Platte River Bridge for a bridge replacement project. The bridge will be closed through the end of September. Click here for more information.

Interstate 29 – Bridge joint repair, northbound only, at the Nodaway River Bridge, May 20 – 24. A 12-foot width restriction is in place.

Business U.S. 71 – Resurfacing project from Main Street in Savannah to just south of Interstate 29, May 20 – 24. One lane, each direction, will remain open at all times. A 14-foot width restriction is in place.

Atchison County

Route J – CLOSED at the Tarkio River Bridge for a bridge replacement project through the end of August. Click here for more information.

Buchanan County

U.S. Route 36 – CLOSED at the ramp from westbound U.S. Route 36 to Route 759 through the end of May.

Route FF – Shoulder work 0.5 miles north of Route O, May 21 – 22

Caldwell County

Route B – Pothole patching from Nettleton to Route U, May 20 – 21

U.S. Route 36 – Pavement repair from Route M to Route 13, May 20 – 23

Route U – Pothole patching from Route 13 to Route K, May 22 – 23

Carroll County

Route C – CLOSED until further notice at the Branch of Turkey Creek Bridge due to damage from flooding.

Chariton County

U.S. Route 24 – Bridge maintenance at the Long Creek Bridge and Chariton River Bridge near Keytesville. The bridges will be narrowed to one lane with a 15-foot width restriction through May 31.

Route 5 – Resurfacing project from the city limits of Marceline to the city limits of Keytesville, May 20 – 24. This includes a 10-foot width restriction.

Route YY – CLOSED for a culvert replacement 750 feet west of Pershing Road, May 22, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Clinton County

U.S. Route 69 – CLOSED for bridge rehabilitation at the I-35 overpass through early June. Click here for more information.

Daviess County

Route KK – CLOSED for bridge rehabilitation at the I-35 overpass through mid-July. Click here for more information.

I-35 – Bridge maintenance at the Grand River Bridge and the Grand River Overflow Bridge, May 20 – 24. A 16-foot width restriction is in place.

DeKalb County

U.S. Route 169 – CLOSED at the Third Fork Platte River Bridge for a bridge replacement project through the early July. Detour along Routes 48 and M. Click here for more information.

Route EE – Chip seal project, May 21 – 24. A flagger will direct motorists through the work zone.

Harrison County

I-35 – CLOSED Northbound off ramp from I-35 at the Iowa state line for resurfacing, May 20 – 21, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

I-35 – Resurfacing project from Eagleville to the Iowa state line, May 20 – 24. A 14-foot width restriction is in place.

Livingston County

Route C – CLOSED for bridge maintenance at the Shoal Creek Drain Bridge through late June. The bridge was closed after flooding damage.

Route W – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from 508th Street to Route Y, May 23, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Nodaway County

Route NN – CLOSED for bridge maintenance at the Platte River Bridge, May 20 – 24, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., daily

Route V – Shoulder work, May 20

U.S. Route 136 – Mahogany Road entrance from U.S. Route 136 will be CLOSED for a culvert replacement, May 21, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Route NN – CLOSED for a culvert replacement and shoulder work at the intersection of Route E towards Parnell, May 22, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Route E – Shoulder work at the intersection of Route NN, May 23

Route JJ – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from U.S. Route 71 to Fairway Road, May 24, 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Route ZZ – Pothole patching, May 24

Putnam County

U.S. Route 136 – Scrub seal project from the city limits of Mount Moriah to Route FF, May 20 – 24. This includes a 12-foot width restriction with a pilot car directing traffic through the work zone.

Sullivan County

Route PP – CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE at the East Medicine Creek Bridge after a regularly scheduled inspection revealed critical deterioration to the structure. The bridge is currently scheduled for replacement in fiscal year 2020. Click here for more information.

Route BB – CLOSED for a bridge deck replacement project at the Rooks Branch Bridge through mid-June.

Route ZZ – CLOSED for a bridge replacement project at the West Fork Locust Creek near Harris through mid-July.

Route 6 – CLOSED for a bridge replacement project at the West Locust Creek Bridge through late July. Click here for more information.

Route PP – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from Route W to Bluff Drive, May 22, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Route VV – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from Route B to Friend Drive, May 23, 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Worth County

Route YY – CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE at the Middle Fork of the Grand River after a regularly scheduled inspection revealed critical deterioration to the structure. The bridge is currently scheduled for replacement in fiscal year 2021. Click here for more information.

By BRENT MARTIN

St. Joseph Post

United States trade representatives express optimism that a trade dispute with China will be resolved, eventually.

Chief US Agricultural Negotiator Gregg Doud says trade negotiations with China began in earnest a year ago, leading to 20-plus negotiating sessions before talks broke down.

“These conversations have been historic, in my opinion. We have spent hours and hours and hours together, talking about an enormous number of issues in agriculture,” Doud tells farm broadcasters gathered in Washington, D.C., including KFEQ Farm Director Melissa Gregory.

Doud uses numbers to make his point about the difficulty in negotiating with China and the stance of the Trump Administration, which has led to trade tensions between the two countries, leading both to slap tariffs on the goods of the other.

Doud says U.S. agriculture reached a peak in its exports to China in 2017, when China imported $19.6 billion in American agricultural products. That total dropped to $9.3 billion in 2018 even though total U.S. agricultural exports grew by $2 billion to $145 billion in 2018.

China last year imported $124 billion in agricultural goods.

“So, in a good year, we’re getting 20 out of 124 of what China imports and the point I have made from the beginning of this conversation and continue to make with my counterpart in China is that 20 out of 124 just isn’t going to cut it,” Doud says.

Doud says talks broke down after China backed off of agreements the two countries reached. Doud says structural agricultural trade issues must be resolved before the trade dispute between the two countries can be ended.

Undersecretary of Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney is confident the U.S. will reach a trade deal with China. McKinney also reiterates a point he has been making, that the U.S. needs to work with other countries, some in Africa, to expand trade. He says there can be long-term benefits establishing trade ties with several countries.

“So, if we take the long-term view and not look at quarter-by-quarter results like the corporate financial sector or the Nasdaq, I think we have an opportunity out there and we must never forget that we’re still driving toward feeding nine to 10 billion, the number varies, by 2050. It’s going to take a lot of protein to do that,” McKinney says.

McKinney admits the country is going through “choppy waters” right now in wake of trade talks breaking with China, but he insists the long-term outlook is favorable. He adds the Trump Administration is committed to protecting the income of farmers during the current disagreement.

 

By BRENT MARTIN

St. Joseph Post

Kansas State Agriculture Director Mike Beam says he’s heard a lot of frustration when he talks with farmers lately.

“It has to be one of the most frustrating years that producers have experienced in recent memory,” Beam tells KFEQ Farm Director Melissa Gregory.

Beam says veteran Kansas farmers say this past winter was the worse that they could remember.

“Especially in regards to livestock. The rural road conditions and now trying to get the 2019 fall crop in the ground.”

Beam says flooding has ruined any chance for spring planting on as many as 25,000 acres of farmland in the four northeast Kansas counties.

Beam says the state will help farmers impacted by the flood as much as it can, but state resources are limited.

“The state’s role tends to be to make sure that we make application to USDA to have those counties declared federally eligible for disaster programs,” according to Beam.

Beam suggests farmers with flood damage contact their local Farm Service Agency.

In Washington, the U.S. Senate is expected next week to debate a disaster relief package approved earlier in the House.

Not just agriculture took the brunt of damage when the Missouri River flooded throughout the region. Kansas roads took a pounding.

Beam points out that the closure of Interstate 29 had a wide-ranging impact.

Flooding in southwest Iowa heavily damaged I-29 just across the Missouri state line. Missouri transportation officials closed the interstate to through traffic just north of St. Joseph. Though MoDOT urged travelers to take I-35 or U.S. 71 north into Iowa to re-connect with I-29, the bulk of the traffic, including semi tractor-trailers, drove on Highway 36 into Kansas, then north into Nebraska.

Beam says Kansas roads aren’t built for such heavy traffic. He says the state is working with the U.S. Department of Transportation to see if it can secure any resources to help rebuild the rural infrastructure.