VIENNA — At last Thursday’s Maries County Commission meeting, Presiding Commissioner Victor Stratman reported on a recent Zoom meeting of the newly formed Maries County Broadband Advocacy Committee. Through CARES Act funding, MRPC is creating committees throughout the region.

Stratman spoke about the persons who have volunteered to be part of the committee, which has a roster of about 15 people. There are people who do not live in Maries County who participated in the Zoom meeting, and they were helpful. Some of the people who spoke at the meeting included Commissioner Stratman, County IT Coordinator Shane Sweno, Heartland Library Director and Vienna Chamber of Commerce President Lisa Garro, Maries R-2 Superintendent Lenice Basham, Alan Pollreisz, Sarah Stratman, a representative from Senator Blunt’s office, Three Rivers CEO Roger Kloeppel, and Bonnie Prigge and Peggy Borrok of MRPC. 

Stratman said he found out a person can check their computer’s download and upload speeds by typing in “Century Link speed test.” He said he is satisfied with the internet service he receives at his home between Vienna and Argyle. His download speed was 4.9 Mbps and the upload speed was 1.1 Mbps. He did it three times and speeds were different each time. Sweno said the SEC suggests 10/1 download and upload speeds as adequate. Slower than 10 is not good, but he said Stratman’s 4.9 Mbps download speed in the rural area where he lives is “decent.” Stratman has Hughes satellite internet. 

At the broadband committee meeting, Stratman said they talked about how different internet providers in the area operate. RadioWire and Wisper are fixed wired, and Gascosage Electric Co-Op, LTD, Aptitude and Bluebird are fiber optic. Stratman said, “fiber is the gold standard.” 

Sweno said Gascosage has fiber only in certain areas that were deemed underserved. Sweno lives in the Dixon area and he can’t get fiber optic internet through Gascosage. Western District Commissioner Ed Fagre said he thought Wisper received over $3 million to bring better internet service to Maries County.

Stratman said he learned at the Zoom meeting of the broadband committee that when an area is rated for its internet availability — if there is one home that has really good internet — the entire area is considered well served. Stratman does not think this is a good way to determine internet access and that needs should be considered as well. 

Sweno said it costs $25,000 a mile to bury fiber. He wondered why it can’t be put on the electric poles. Stratman said the different lines have to be a certain distance from each other and it may be too far apart to work. 

Sweno mentioned a tower spreadsheet being a good idea. Stratman said they talked about the conservation fire towers and how they aren’t used anymore. Rather than have someone sitting in the towers during the fire season, now they use airplane flyovers. It was suggested maybe the MO Dept. of Conservation may be open to allowing antennas to be placed on the old fire towers. They also discussed other tower options such as water towers and silos. The group talked about cell towers. Stratman said if a cell tower was put up using federal or state grant money, maybe it could be required to be used for antenna placement to benefit the community. But, if it is privately owned, there probably would be a big price tag to place an antenna on it. 

They talked about burying fiber along county roads and Stratman said the counties may let them as long as the line was laid and covered properly not to interfere with the roadway. Fagre said he heard to use the county’s right-of-way the company would reimburse the county 7.5 percent of gross receipts. 

As for using the existing electrical pole system, Stratman said they just can’t string wire as the electric company’s easements are for electricity, not communication wire. 

Broadband and internet accessibility in the rural areas has become a big deal during the pandemic with so many people wanting to work from home and with students trying to learn remotely. The inadequacy of the structures in place in our area was made very apparent when a large portion of the county’s students was not able to learn remotely because of lack of internet access. There were multiple reasons for non-access but primarily the reasons were unavailable and unaffordable. The local broadband advocacy committee is a beginning to find solutions to these problems and an effort which is moving in the right direction.

Resignation

The commissions accepted the resignation of Tessie Hughes, an employee of the Vienna License Office. The resignation is effective June 4, 2021. 

Restaurant Grants

Stratman said the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) provides relief for local restaurants, many of which were hard hit during the pandemic. The federal government has made funding available through the US Small Business Administration. Stratman said registration for the funds begins April 30 at 8 a.m. and the application portal goes live on May 3. He wants to get this information out to all of the restaurants in the county. During the first 21 days of the relief program, the funding is reserved for minorities and women. 

The commissioners discussed how many restaurants are in Maries County and there are several. Stratman asked Collector Jayne Williams for email addresses and phone numbers in order to inform the restaurant owners they may quality for funds from the government to offset losses of revenue caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. After the 21 days have passed, the program will be opened up to all as long as the funds last. Stratman said it’s “first come, first served.” Stratman asked Sweno to send the information to the restaurant owners who have known emails.

Restaurant owners can begin registration can now. It is all online. For more information visit sba.gov/restaruants

Run it again

Sweno talked to the commissioners briefly about insurance plans for malware and ransomware he would like them to consider. These would help mitigate and fix problems. 

Something else he said is needed is more money for Maries County’s 911 operation. He asked the commissioners to think about running the 911 surcharge again. Voters narrowly defeated it the last time the county commission placed it on the election ballot. They asked voters to approve a monthly $1 fee on their cell phones to support the county’s 911 operations. Sweno said the surcharge revenue on landlines for 911 continues to decline and is not enough to pay even one salary. County Clerk Rhonda Rodgers said the county’s general revenue fund has had to “carry 911.”

Mapping for 911 

Sweno reported to the commissioners about the 911 mapping he has been doing as he has time for it. It requires hours of driving areas of the county plotting address points for 911. He goes out with a laptop and a GPS antenna. “We have whole areas of the county not even touched yet,” Sweno said. He said this is a project that needs to advance and get done.

Stratman asked if this 911 mapping overlaps with what the assessor’s office does. Sweno said it’s not hard to do and he could quickly train assessor’s staff to do it if they want to include it in their workload when they are out measuring and taking photos for assessment. 

Assessor Dana Simmons came to the meeting at Stratman’s request. When asked if her office could help with the mapping, she said it depends on their schedule. This time of year they are going out to gather information but it depends on the weather and other factors. Stratman asked if they can work out an arrangement for Sweno to use the assessor’s county truck because they don’t want to buy another vehicle. Eastern District Commissioner Doug Drewel said he would prefer to pay Sweno mileage rather than buy a vehicle. 

Sweno asked if Simmons can check with the GIS vendor to see if they are putting the 911 addresses on the maps they are making. Stratman said he thinks they can work together on the 911 mapping project because it benefits everyone. Sweno said who is responsible for doing it and maintaining it is the problem. He added it’s not hard to do and does not take long to map each residence, but does require driving every road in Maries County. 

Drewel said if he worked full time on it, the 911 mapping would take about a couple of weeks. He asked Sweno to turn in mileage on this work. 

Sweno asked Simmons to check with the vendor to see if the maps are pinpointing a home or just putting it on a parcel. He said getting this information will streamline 911, making it safer and faster. 

Ready this summer

Stratman asked Simmons when the GIS will be ready to go in the assessor’s office. She said this summer. Stratman said the company already has “flown it” and it will be the county’s responsibility to pay for the flying to photograph the county next time. Simmons said it cost $45,000. Her office’s budget will include $3,600 a year for maintenance on the new GIS system. The assessor was able to get the GIS system with CARES Act money, at a cost of about $169,000. Simmons has wanted this mapping technology for a long time but the county could not afford it.

Heating assistance

Stratman was part of a Missouri Ozarks Community Action (MOCA) agency meeting. He wants to get the information out to county residents who may need help paying for winter heating bills. It was a cold winter, especially with the two-week sub-zero temperatures. MOCA has an energy assistance program to help those in need pay heating expenses. People have to qualify with income and family numbers in order to receive the aid. 

Stratman said Maries County residents have not been heavy participants in the program, which serves seven counties. Stats for energy assistance participation include Laclede County: 21-percent, Phelps County: 18-percent, Pulaski County: 17-percent, Camden County: 13-percent, Crawford County: 12-percent, Gasconade County: four-percent and Maries County: three-percent. 

Call MOCO’s Richland office at 573-765-3263 with questions about applying. 

Census Results

Census numbers have been released. Missouri’s population remained steady. Some 6,160,281 citizens were counted and Missouri kept its eight congressional seats. Last time Missouri lost one congressional district. It’s important to be counted in the national census. It has consequences.

Demolition grants 

Stratman reported some information about Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS) he learned about from MRPC. CEDS are economic development tools that uses locally-based, regionally-driven economic development planning processes. Stratman said it can deal with many things and he thought Maries County cities might be interested in the demolition grants, which demolish and clean up blighted properties that then can be used for new housing. There are other areas such as the development of walking trails and sidewalks to promote health. CEDS can be used to expand employment and broadband. 

Buildings and grounds

Sweno asked for a deadbolt lock on the upstairs closet that houses networking equipment hardware and switches. Custodian Dave Juergens will take of it. 

Stratman said Juergens finished painting and putting the new carpet in the Vienna License Office. He asked if they want to do another room in the courthouse. A couple of boxes of the carpet squares remain. Sweno said it took three men to get the old carpet off the floor. Stratman wondered if inmates could help with something like this. Fagre said that will be up to Sheriff Heitman. Stratman said a deputy probably would have to be there. 

Rodgers said if they are going to replace carpet and paint walls, it probably needs to be done this year because next year is an expensive election year. 

Assessor Simmons and Circuit Clerk and Recorder Buschmann both have expressed interest in office renovations. Collector Williams is interested in new carpet as well.

Drewel said it cost about $1,500 to do the license office and he thinks at that price they should go ahead and do it. Upgrading the courthouse is a good idea. Fagre said it’s an investment. The carpet is very old and worn in many places. Rodgers said there is $32,000 in the repair and upkeep budget; $5,700 already has been spent. They suggested doing the assessor’s office first.

The Vienna FFA is building wooden benches with heavy bolts to be put on the front porch at a cost of about $75 each.

The commissioners agreed to open the water fountains back up. They were closed because of COVID-19 concerns.

Correction

In the county commission article in last week’s edition of this publication, prices were printed for about the cost of administration and audit for the soon-to-be received American Rescue Plan money from the federal government. The percentages of the cost were what the county paid or will pay for the CARES Act money. Stratman said they don’t know if the same rates will be charged with this new round of federal stimulus money.