MARIES COUNTY — As a general rule, Maries County’s assessed valuation increases every year. In 2022, the assessed valuation increased from 2021 by $10,248,300 to $164,540,409. This increase in assessed valuation also put Maries County on a higher level with the state statute based salary schedule.

At last Thursday’s Maries County Commission meeting this statement was met with silence as the commissioners, county clerk and county treasurer wondered where money will be found for statute required raises for county officials. 

County Clerk Rhonda Rodgers said Assessor Dana Simmons said she thought the over $10 million increase in assessed valuation did indeed put the county into a new area. Rodgers said at first she was skeptical because she knew it took a large increase in assessed valuation to move into a new, higher rung on the ladder. But, at the meeting she checked it and the previous assessed valuation spectrum is $131,000,000 to $159,999,999. The county’s new over $164 million assessed valuation easily surpasses that level. 

Rodgers checked the numbers and said the new county assessed valuation will raise several elected officials to $41,000 annually. However, during the past several years, meeting as the salary commission every other year, the elected officials (not the circuit clerk and recorder) voted to take cost of living adjustments (COLA). So, the elected officials are already at or above the $41,000 salary. 

Presiding Commissioner Victor Stratman said an increase in the county’s assessed valuation is a positive for the county. It is an achievement, he said.

Rodgers said it is good because it means Maries County is having growth. Homes are being built, vehicles being bought, and businesses being started or locating here. It’s good for everyone.

Validity 

Maries County was back in the news last week when the Jefferson City newspaper ran a story about the Ron and Anne Calzone lawsuit versus the Maries County Commission. 

The Calzone’s appealed the lawsuit to the Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District, which filed a mandate on Aug. 10, 2022, sending a portion of the lawsuit back to the Maries County Circuit Court. The Appeals Court reversed Beger’s finding in favor of the Maries County Commission. Instead it found the commissioners violated the Sunshine Law when the courthouse was closed to the public in 2020 on April 9, April 13, April 16 and April 20. The commissioners did this as on April 3, 2020 Gov. Parson issued a stay at home order because of the Covid-19 coronavirus and the commissioners closed the courthouse to the public.

The lawsuit asserted and the Appeals Court agreed the commissioners did not do this properly as they did not allow the public to attend their commission meetings on those dates. Although the commissioners created a phone line for the public to call in and listen, they failed to post any notice in a place visible to the public of the meeting dates, time, place, agenda, and the phone number. 

The lawsuit has been sent back to Judge Beger to determine whether the public interest in the enforcement of the policy of Missouri’s Sunshine Law outweighs the public interest in sustaining the validity of the action taken in the close meetings and for entry of a judgment consistent with that determination. 

At last Thursday’s commission meeting, it was discussed that the judge could determine that all bills the commissioners approved paying at those meetings could be a question. Among the action taken at that meeting was the approval of the courthouse trash provider. The decision will be Judge Beger’s and the Calzone versus Maries County Commission lawsuit is on his August Maries County Circuit Court docket.

Tax Rate Hearing

Also at last Thursday’s meeting, the commissioners held the annual tax rate hearing to establish the county and road districts’ tax levy for 2022. 

For general revenue, the tax rate is 0.3663. It will be levied on assessments making up the county’s $164,540,409 assessed valuation, which is owned by individuals and businesses in the county.

The tax rate for Road One is 0.2726. It will be levied on the road district’s assessed valuation of $76,228,944. The tax rate for Road Two is 0.2422 and will be assessed on the road district’s valuation of $66,635.646. 

Second choice

Stratman attended meetings at MRPC recently. At the transportation advisory committee (TAC) meeting, he was pleased to report the old WPA bridge over Fly Creek on MCR 213 that Ballpark Road runs into, was the second choice of the TAC for bridge replacement recommendation to MoDOT using the BRO program. Stratman said he sold the bridge pretty well, telling the group of county leaders present at the MRPC meeting that the bridge probably has the heaviest traffic volume than any other county road bridge in Maries County. It also has a 15 ton weight limit. There are many farms off of MCR 213 and if the farmers are driving anything heavy, they have to take a long detour around the old bridge. 

Stratman said the group chose a Washington County bridge as the number one spot, but he was quite pleased that Maries County took the second spot. It will be put in with the rest of the selections in the MoDOT Central District, which has many counties in it. With luck maybe the old Maries County bridge will be selected to be replaced using the BRO program, which uses federal money. 

On the subject of bridges, Stratman said at the meeting they were told the Highway 89 bridge over the Gasconade River will be open to one lane and a full opening is anticipated at the end of August. 

Also at that meeting, Stratman said the group was told there is $422,000 remaining in the Transportation Alternative Program. This money can be used to fund non-road and bridge transportation projects such as off-road trails for pedestrians, bicyclists and other non-motorized forms of transportation. 

He wondered if the county’s cities has some sidewalk projects the cities can apply for. This year all those who applied received funding and the $422,000 remains.

The presiding commissioner also spoke of the Meramec Regional Community Foundation (MRCF). It is a charitable partner of MRPC. It’s mission is to enhance the quality of life in the eight-county Meramec region through resource development, community grant making, collaboration and public leadership. Community leaders from each county serve on a board with members from other counties. This year, the MRCF board reviewed a total of 22 grant applications, requesting a total of $10,905 and representing projects in Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties. Currently MRCF has 59 funds totaling over $3.9 million. The grants support community projects that provide benefits to those in need. Debbie Henderson of Vienna represents Maries County and the MRCF board. Maries County at-large members include Bonnie Prigge and Steve Vogt. 

Stratman also wants people to know MRPC had a lead paint program to assist households that have a child/children under age seven or a pregnant person and paint done prior to 1978. The house will be inspected and remediated. Stratman said it provides funds to repaint the home. 

Notice

One of the assessor’s employees gave notice on Aug. 15. She is accepting a job opportunity at Quaker Window Products, which pays more than the county job. 

Hauling

Eastern District Commissioner Doug Drewel said Twehous hauled the Road Two grader to Fabick CAT in Columbia for repairs. Stratman wondered if there is someone locally who could haul it, as he was told Twehous will charge $1,800 to get it to Columbia. Drewel said it was not his decision. Fabick CAT made the decision to hire Twehous to do it. Maries County doesn’t have the type of trailer needed to do the job. 

785 acres

At the recent MRPC meeting, the members were given information about a cooperative program titled the Missouri Certified Sites Program. There are certified sites located throughout the state. Each has been pre-qualified through a standard process to meet the requirements of industry. 

Stratman said MRPC has just begun this cooperative process with the owners of a 785 acre property. It is located in Phelps County between Rolla and St. James on the south side of the south outer road along I-44. There is a railroad through it. It does not have good access and lacks water and electricity, he said. 

He said the Hypoint Industrial Park in Rolla is full.