By Susan Redden

sredden@joplinglobe.com

CARTHAGE, Mo. — The Jasper County Commission on Thursday agreed to seek federal funding for a project to clear the channel of Blackberry Creek near Asbury.

Commissioners approved the plan after hearing from Derik Ball, with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, an arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Ball called for the work, saying part of the creek is flooding because the flow is blocked by debris from earlier floods and by downed tree limbs from ice storms in recent years.

“It’s about the worst in my seven counties,” he said.

If the project gets state approval, 75 percent of the costs of the work would be paid with federal funds allocated by the USDA. Ball said he has met with landowners, who must share the remaining costs.

Commissioners earlier approved an NRCS project on Duval Creek near Cossville. Jim Honey, Eastern District associate commissioner, said that site is upstream from a bridge the county built a few years ago on Sumac Road, east of Highway 43.

In other business during the brief meeting, commissioners approved a measure renewing the county’s involvement in a consortium of local governments working on projects that use federal funds to improve the homes of low-income residents.

The city of Joplin is serving as lead agency in the effort that was organized three years ago, according Darieus Adams, Western District associate commissioner. In addition to the county, others involved are the city of Carthage, the Economic Security Corp., the Harry S. Truman Coordinating Council and Habitat for Humanity.

Mileage rate

At the recommendation of Richard Webster, county auditor, the county commissioners reduced the amount county workers will be reimbursed for mileage using their own vehicles to 50 cents per mile, from 52 cents. Webster said the amount was boosted a year ago, when gas prices spiked. He noted that the state of Missouri recently trimmed the reimbursement amount for state workers.