VIENNA — Maries County Commissioners replenished $93,625 to Road District Two fund on Dec. 8 that was temporarily loaned to the Maries County Sheriff’s budget. Eastern Commissioner Doug Drewel voluntarily covered the sheriff’s fourth-quarter transfer on Nov. 6, with the caveat that funds be returned to the account as soon as possible.

The Maries County Commission reported $146,980 in the general revenue fund, which, with the addition of December’s $40,000 in sales tax revenue, brought the total to $186,980, according to County Clerk Rhonda Rodgers.

From that total, $93,625 was repaid to Road District Two, replenishing the funds that were transfered on Nov. 6 to the sheriffs office when Sheriff Mark Morgan threatened legal action if he did not receive his fourth-quarter monies.

In addition, the county paid roughly $20,000 in bills, including a payment to the Phelps-Maries Health Department for services and mileage, a government computer system maintenance fee and payments for copiers and printers. Combined, the repayment and bills totaled $113,980, leaving $73,000 in the general revenue fund.

The county contracts with the Phelps-Maries Health Department as they conduct inspections for restaurants in Maries County.

The commission also revised its contract with GFI Digital of Jefferson City for colored and non-colored paper. Western District Commissioner Pat Kleffner raised a question about whether the cost difference between color and non-colored paper was worth it, given how much color is actually used on each page.

“If it’s got one little header here that’s blue, that would be considered color,” Kleffner said. “Even though the rest is 99 percent black.”

Under the updated agreement, the county will cancel one of the two contracts and remove the copier previously used by the Maries County Dispatch. Commissioner Vic Stratman said the cancellation will save the county approximately $200 per month.

Commissioners were reminded that Dec. 9 is Government Day at the courthouse.

The commission convened Dec. 4 to review several key topics affecting emergency services. Among the items discussed was the scope of coverage for the boat insurance policy on the recently acquired vessel for the Maries County Sheriff’s Office through the Blue Shield Grant.

Commissioners clarified the insurance protects the boat only while it is on the insured premises, such as docks or storage areas, and does not extend to use while the boat is on the water. Liability coverage, however, is included, offering protection against potential claims resulting from accidents or damages while the boat is use.

Attention then turned to the newly appointed 911 Emergency Management Board. Bonnie Prigge, the appointed board director, announced plans to hold the first official meeting before Christmas, but no official date has been set.

Lastly, the board addressed the timeline for tax collection under the new Emergency Management Board. It was confirmed that collection will begin April 1, 2026, a shift from an earlier proposal to start on Jan. 1 due to deadlines not being met.

“We should have run it in August,” Rodgers said. “And then it would have started collecting on Jan. 1.”

The county will continue funding the Emergency Management Board until April 2026, when revenue from the new one percent sales tax begins.

“It’s going to be the first of May before they get any funds,” Stratman said. “So the board can make payroll and pay the expenses. So until the first of May, or whenever the state sends the distribution.”