VIENNA — The Maries County Commission discussed several operational issues during its March 4 meeting, including costs related to the county’s 911 system, potential savings from a new quarry, and continued cooperation with neighboring counties on road maintenance.

One of the items discussed was a continuing contract with Motorola tied to the county’s 911 system. Commissioners reviewed the annual cost for maintaining the system after its initial installation.

According to discussion during the meeting, the county is in the fourth year of a seven-year support agreement. Commissioners said the original system purchase was significantly larger.

“The equipment and systems integration was $273,722.65,” Presiding Commissioner Vic Stratman said while reviewing the contract. “This post warranty, lifecycle and security update support is around $12,000 a year, every year, for seven years, and we’re in year four.”

Officials said the annual support agreement is necessary to maintain dispatch consoles and related equipment used by emergency communications.

According to Maries County Clerk Rhonda Rodgers, the bill was paid using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds last year but should come out of the 911 budget this year.

The commission also discussed requirements related to drug testing for county employees holding commercial driver’s licenses (CDL).

“It’s a state or federal requirement that if you have a CDL license, you have to be drug tested quarterly or have to be in the pool,” Rodgers said.

Commissioners said they planned to contact other counties and health officials to clarify testing procedures.

During the meeting, commissioners also placed a call and spoke with Osage County Presiding Commissioner Darryl Griffin concerning maintenance of Turkey Hill Road, which crosses the county line.

“There’s about a mile and a half…you have to drive a road grader about probably eight miles to get to this mile or mile and a half of road,” Western District Commissioner Patrick Kleffner said.

Commissioners said they are exploring whether a reciprocal agreement could reduce costs.

“If we can trade that out, that’d be nice. And that way you can take care of all that, and we can take part of yours,” Kleffner said during the call.

“We’ll have to look at a map and everything,” Griffin said. “We’re not against it, but we might look at it, and I’ll get back with you.”

Stratman said that the ADA door has been repaired.

“The ADA door was fixed yesterday,” Stratman said. “With new switches on it and a new opener.”

Commissioners also discussed the potential installation of a Maries County Bank ATM inside the courthouse.

“The bank got with me, and they was going to come and take a look at a location here in the courthouse for a possible ATM installation,” Stratman said.

Bids are still being taken for lawn maintenance and interested parties should contact the county clerk’s office to inquire about next steps.