VIENNA — County Clerk Rhonda Rodgers shared Maries County’s new assessed valuation figures at one of last week’s County Commission meetings. The 2023 assessed valuation for the whole county is $169,783,114, which is an increase of more than $5 million from last year’s number. Road One’s assessed valuation is $78,557,339, and Road Two’s assessed valuation is $69,212,361. Each district increased by more than $2 million from last year.

SEnate Bill 190

At the July 17 meeting, Western District Commissioner Ed Fagre asked about Senate Bill 190, which Gov. Mike Parson signed earlier this month. The bill allows counties to grant tax credits to those who meet the following requirements: they are eligible for social security benefits, the owner of record of or have a legal or equitable interest in a homestead and liable for the payment of real property taxes on such homestead.

Counties can adopt the credits through an ordinance or a ballot vote following a petition. The commission has no plans to enact an ordinance.

“Why is the state pushing that down on us?” Fagre said. “They want that done, but they don’t want to do it themselves. They want to make us do it.”

“Pushing it down the road is all they’re doing,” Eastern District Commissioner Doug Drewel said.

“They’re trying to keep it off their backs,” Presiding Commissioner Victor Stratman said.

At the following meeting on July 20, Stratman said he had attended a webinar, along with about 270 other county officials from around the state, about the bill that “really didn’t have much information.”

Fagre said he had listened to the webinar, and it seemed to him like the General Assembly voted on the bill without knowing what it would do.

“It seems to me like the state always does that,” Stratman said. “There’re so many loopholes and unfinished ends that they have to come back the next year and fix everything.”

Fagre asked if the tax credits included money that would go to schools and other publicly funded entities. Stratman and Rodgers both said it was unclear from the webinar.

Road cleanup

On the morning of July 17, the Road One crew removed tree debris on Maries Road 614 after a beaver chewed through the tree and knocked it down across the road. When Rodgers asked if beavers are endangered, Fagre joked that “they’re about to be.” Missouri classifies beavers as furbearers and game animals, so trappers may take them when they are in season from Nov. 15 to March 31.

On July 20, the crew removed debris throughout the district following that morning’s storms.

Courthouse maintenance

The courthouse recently got new caulking around its edges. The commissioners suspected the caulking may have caused water to seep into the courthouse basement after heavy rainfall in the spring. As it stormed outside during the July 20 meeting, Stratman joked that maybe God had waited for repairs to the caulking before bringing some rain to Vienna.

The light by the flagpole outside the courthouse has a new lens.

Stratman said according to the courthouse electric bill from Ameren, the courthouse has used 4 percent less electricity this year than last year.

Other Business

Stratman said Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District has grant applications available through the Meramec Regional Planning Commission until Aug. 18 for anyone seeking funding for a recycling or trash cleanup program.

“If that sparks somebody’s interest, we can help them write a letter of recommendation or something,” he said.

Stratman said he had received a letter from the Missouri Department of Agriculture with information about its Land Survey Program. The program reimburses counties for surveying up to 10 corners. Maries County has participated in the past.