BELLE — Maries County resident Rodney Southard expressed interest during the Feb. 9 Maries County Commission meeting in filling the commissioner seat left vacant by the Jan. 31 resignation of Eastern District Commissioner Doug Drewel.

Presiding Commissioner Vic Stratman and Western District Commissioner Pat Kleffner explained some of the duties of the position and issues currently facing the county that would require the attention of an appointed commissioner.

Stratman said the Maries County Commission is made up of three members, including one commissioner from the Eastern District, one from the Western District and a presiding commissioner elected countywide. He said commissioners are expected to attend commission meetings regularly and remain actively involved in county operations.

Stratman stressed the importance of being able to attend meetings and said the commission typically meets Mondays and Thursdays, generally from 9 a.m. to late morning, though meetings may occasionally run longer depending on the agenda. He spoke on the importance of commitment to the role, saying that while absences due to illness, funerals or medical appointments are understandable, the position requires consistent availability.

Stratman also outlined the compensation and benefits associated with the appointment, saying the position pays approximately $30,000 per year. He said the county covers 80 percent of the base health insurance plan, with employees having the option to purchase upgraded coverage at their own expense.

Stratman informed Southard that several financial matters will require close attention from the commission in the coming year, including an important tax issue that needs to be addressed. He emphasized that the measure would not increase the sales tax but would instead maintain an existing revenue source. Stratman said the county is currently facing tight financial conditions and warned that the loss of the tax revenue would place Maries County in a difficult financial position.

“We’ve got one that’s sunsetting at the end of this year,” Stratman said. “In April, we’re running a ballot measure to renew it. So, it’s not a sales tax increase, but just to keep it, we’re going to have to put a lot of emphasis on the fact that the county is strapped for money.” 

Stratman asked Southard what his opinion on solar energy was.

“I am against it. I’ve had multiple opportunities on my farm to put in 80 acres of solar,” Southard said. “I rejected everyone because it’s not as efficient in the long term as it appears to be, and we’re losing a lot of agricultural ground. I think in the long run, that’s going to hurt our country. If you can’t feed yourself, then you’re going to be subservient to another country, and so I oppose it.”

Stratman also explained that another important duty of the commission is to set the budget for the county each year.

“A huge thing at the end of year is the budget,” Stratman said. “We have to look at what we took in last year, what we’re likely to have in the coming year, and we just can’t say, ‘well, we look for a 20 percent increase in revenues,’ because there’s just no way that can happen.”

Southard has previously served on the St. James Board of Education and is currently the vice chair for the Maries County Soil and Water Conservation District.

This is an interim position which will have the final appointment made by Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe.