VIENNA — After months of discussion and community debate, the ongoing sales tax proposal to fund 911 dispatching services in Maries County has finally come to a close.

Residents voted overwhelmingly on Nov. 4 in favor of establishing a local 911 dispatch center by approving the one percent sales tax to support the service. The measure passed with 66.14 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results from the county clerk’s office.

County Clerk Rhonda Rodgers said she canvassed the unofficial results on Nov. 7 and no changes were made, with 502 residents voting in favor and 257 opposed. In total, 759 ballots were cast out of 6,310 registered voters, reflecting what Rodgers had predicted would be a low turnout.

The approval of the tax paves the way for the creation of a 911 dispatch board, which will consist of elected members tasked with overseeing the new emergency communication system.

The board will consist of three members each from the Eastern and Western districts, with one director to compete a seven-person board, according to Maries County commissioners.

Election day at the Maries County courthouse stretched from early morning to late evening for those working behind the scenes. Voter Clerk Dana Honse and Deputy Clerk Renee Kottwitz arrived at 8 a.m. and did not leave until around 9 p.m. when the final numbers were tallied and released.

Rodgers said the margin of victory, 245 votes, likely reflected the outreach and advocacy of local emergency service departments.

“Vienna Fire went out publicly on Facebook and supported it, as well as Vichy Fire,” Rodgers said. “It was the help from the outside agencies.”

The vote marks a turning point for Maries County. After years of relying on a landline tax, the county will now begin the process of forming a 911 board and building a system designed to serve its residents directly, funded by the new and approved 911 sales tax.