BELLE — Maries County Commission on Oct. 16 discussed national and local issues ranging from the federal government’s budget impasse to county infrastructure and equipment expenses.

Sheriff Mark Morgan briefed the commission on a $12,000 annual bill from Motorola for 911 system maintenance. The payment covers connection to a core system that links multiple control stations. Without the contract, the county would have to purchase additional radios at $5,000 to $6,000 each. Morgan said former dispatch employee Ryan Miles, now with Pulaski County’s communications center, offered to evaluate the setup and explore potential savings. The commission decided to use their remaining ARPA funds to cover this year’s payment while examining options to reduce next year’s costs.

“Well, 911 has got money right now, but that money’s been earmarked for the big upgrades they are supposed to do down there (in dispatch) whenever that company’s supposed to come in,” said Morgan. “The money we got from the 911 board, they sent us almost $100,000, but we’re supposed to get almost  a $100,000 bill once they do all the upgrades down there, and that money is to pay them.”

There is a proposed one percent sales tax on the November ballet for the creation of an independent and elected 911 Board of Directors. If the tax passes, control of all 911 operations, including budget management, will be handled by the new agency.

Eastern District Commission Doug Drewel asked Morgan if the bill they received for medications for inmates will be a monthly recurrance. Morgan said that the bill fluctuated but averaged $500 monthly.

“So, it’s running $5,000 to $6,000 a year for medication for the inmates,” Drewel said.

“Is there any reimbursement to that at all?” asked Western District Commissioner Patrick Kleffner.

“Well, we try to get it out of any commissary they got left over,” said Morgan. “We have to bill them like a debt collector, and we can certify it as a debt through the courts. And if they have a tax return or anything like that, we can get recouped that way, or any lottery winnings, but, I mean, it’s gonna take time.”

Kleffner reviewed the status of the Maries County Road 213 bridge replacement over Fly Creek. The county has yet to obtain a final property owner’s signature after an engineering error by MECO Engineering placed an incorrect land description on the paperwork. The county has spent roughly $8,000 on engineering and $7,883 on previous bills for the project. Kleffner warned that failure to secure the signature could jeopardize funding and delay the bridge for several years.

“The bridge is rated in poor condition, and if we fail to keep the project moving forward, we could lose the funding that we have in place and we have six months to get it awarded,” said Kleffner. “If this is not happening, it could be several years before the funding is available again.”

Drewel said, “So if we don’t get these people to go ahead and sign and get this done the county will end up losing $80,000.”

“And still have no bridge,” added Presiding Commissioner Vic Stratman.

Commissioners also reviewed the public defender’s office lease with Russell Land Development Company in Rolla. Currently, Maries County is paying $167.25 a month, $2,007 per year, for the lease. In 2026, it will go to $188.61, which is $2,263.32 per year.

In other business, commissioners listened to a sales presentation from Elmer Bassett regarding a mechanical grease. They also sold property located at 207 S. Coffey St. in Vienna and received a check for $23,531.63.