MARIES COUNTY— The Maries County Commissioners are not in favor of a gasoline tax holiday, saying that it will severely cut into county road district revenues.

At last Thursday’s commission meeting, Western District Commissioner Ed Fagre, who keeps track of the price of a barrel of oil and of a gallon of gasoline, said national gasoline prices were down that day for the ninth day in a row. Prices at the gas pump also are ticking down. He said a federal and/or state gasoline tax holiday will hurt the county’s road funds. Fagre said gas consumption in the nation has gone down for eight weeks in a row as consumers react to high gasoline prices

The proposed federal tax holiday would trim 18 cents off the top of every gallon of gas and 24 cents off diesel fuel. That is if companies pass the full savings on to consumers. Drivers would save about 3.6 percent, according to Morning Brew.

Measures already taken to help consumers deal with the high gasoline prices include releasing oil from the nation’s strategic reserve and waiving the ban on higher ethanol gas blends earlier this year. Gas prices are up 41 percent since the end of February when Russia started its war in Ukraine that heavily impacted the global oil supply. 

Maries County’s road districts receive funds each month from Missouri’s gas tax, which is 19.5 cents per gallon the state shares with its counties and cities. Treasurer Rhonda Slone shared motor fuel tax, motor vehicle tax and motor vehicle fee increase figures for 2021 when Maries County’s road districts received a combined total of $499,367.43 from the state. This is monthly revenue the commissioners count on, which ranges from $35,000 to $50,000 per month as it is based on the number of gallons of gasoline sold in any given month. The road districts’ revenue is split 55 percent for Road One and 45 percent for Road Two, based on county road mileage. 

Fagre said if the state offers a gasoline holiday, “It would be terrible.” It amounts to losing $25,000 a month in each road district. The commissioners use these funds to meet payroll for the road crews. 

On the federal level, the gas tax holiday would cost the United States $10 billion. The federal gas tax funds the Highway Trust Fund. Fagre said this would impact programs Maries County uses, such as the BRO bridge replacement program, which is federal funds administrated through MoDOT.

Public Road

Eastern District Commissioner Doug Drewel said he received a request to put a gate next to the cattle guard on MCR 306. People who want to take a horse down that road can’t get through because of the cattle guard. It is a public road.

1,400 gallons

Presiding Commissioner Victor Stratman said there is a lot of water used each day in the courthouse, about 1,400 gallons a day. He was told if there is a toilet running, it easily could use 100 gallons of water in a day. The courthouse monthly water bills vary, from $200 to $900, depending on water usage. The water softener for the courthouse uses about one 50 pound bag of salt crystals every day. 

Consolidation

The commissioners briefly talked about how all of the costs being pushed down to the county level seem like an attempt to force consolidation with other counties in the area. With more unfunded financial mandates, little counties may not be able to pay their bills anymore. The commissioners cited the sheriff’s salary increase and what they need to do with the prosecuting attorney’s salary as examples. A few years ago there was talk of consolidating the court system with regional prosecutors and judges, which they were against. 

Two weeks time

Fagre said the county roads are too dry now, which has happened within two weeks time following periods of heavy rain. He said when they grade the county roads, they make a lot of dust. He reported the calcium product had been sprayed on sites on MCR 614 by a company hired by property owners. 

RadioWire

Stratman said RadioWire is putting up a tower at the former Weidinger body shop in Vienna, which is now owned by BFR Investment. Fagre said there is a RadioWire tower at Paydown Road and Stratman said there is another tower near Argyle. 

Fagre said he wonders what happened with the $3.7 million Wisper received to provide broadband in Maries County.

Water meters

The county received the documentation of expenses provided by the Public Water Supply District #1 Maries County. In March the water district president Gene Gillispie asked the commissioners to consider granting the water district some of the county’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money to help the district pay for upgrades for the water meters. The district requested replacement of 100 water meters at a cost of $310.31 each. Gillispie said it is imperative the meters are replaced because they’ve had over one million gallons of water run through them. They become worn out and begin to leak. The district also is going to install 15 new meters in one year at a cost of $723.14 each for a total cost of $10,847. 

Receipts turned in last week by the water district totaled $18,764.26. In March the commissioners said they will give the water district the same amount of money as they gave the City of Belle for its computerized water billing system, which is $17,595. 

Treasurer Slone said the county still has ARPA money totaling $466,000, most of which is already obligated. They anticipate receiving the remainder of the county’s share, which will be another $800,000, this month. 

IT Manager Shane Sweno said the last payment needed on the new CAD system is about $75,000. He said they are making progress with Motorola. All of the new equipment put in the sheriff’s patrol cars has been paid for. They go on-line with the CAD system Aug. 31, 2022. 

Minimum wage

Stratman said he spoke with Sara Schwartze, Vienna FFA Sponsor, who he asked to suggest a student who can do some odd jobs around the courthouse. Schwartze said when kids get to be 16 years old, they get jobs but a younger student may be interested. The county would pay minimum wage, which is $11.15 per hour, which is set to go up to $12 next year. Fagre said they have to keep in mind about insurance as someone could possibly get hurt. He said the employment would have to be on a contract deal.