MARIES COUNTY — Maries County’s sales tax revenues remained flat, or even, for the first eight months of 2022 compared in 2021, reported Maries County Treasurer Rhonda Slone at a recent county commission meeting.

She said one half-cent sales tax generated about $30,000 in August, which is very comparable to August of 2021. The county has three half-cent sales taxes, a law enforcement sales tax, and a use tax. August 2022 revenue was about $5,000 more than it was in July. Slone wondered if parents getting kids ready for school had an impact on the increase.

For the first eight months of 2022, one sales tax generated revenue of $219,131.27. 

The county’s use tax, however, is up 21 percent in August 2022 as revenue received was $20,263.43. The previous month it was $7,307.72. Thus far this year, the county has received $106,314.67 in use tax revenue. For the same period of time last year, the county received $83,986.49. 

Western District Commissioner Ed Fagre said when gasoline gets high in price, people tend to shop more online, which is where the use tax is charged. 

Quite a bit of money

The commissioners continue to gather more information about purchasing new motor graders for the road districts. The prices are so high they have stayed out of this market for several years and still owe money on their old graders. The old graders just keep getting older.

Dave Burns, Territory Manager with Fabick Cat out of the Columbia office, has been working with the commissioners. He visited at a meeting last week and brought them some numbers for leasing motor graders, on both the 120 graders used by Road Two and the 140 graders used by Road One. 

The commissioners can choose to lease for 24, 60, or 84 months. The new machines will be covered by a bumper-to-bumper warranty. A monthly payment will be made on each machine. 

The county’s current machines will be bought outright by Fabick Cat. Burns said the company “will write you a check.” 

Presiding Commissioner Victor Stratman said that money might go toward what we owe. Fagre said, “It may not be enough to pay them off.”

Stratman asked about insurance on the new graders and Burns said the county’s insurance is probably cheaper. 

At the end of seven years of leasing, the county can return the machines, buy the motor graders, or sell them. It is up to the commissioners. If they return the machines, the condition of the tires and the graders come into play. Burns has looked at the county’s motor graders and he said they all looked pretty good.

Looking over the paperwork Burns gave him, Eastern District Commissioner Doug Drewel said they want $7,800 a month for 24 months and that the lease “is quite a bit of money.” Burns said the two-year lease doesn’t attract anybody and generally the leases are 60 or 84 months. He said the prices he gives them are locked in. If the commissioners decide to go forward with buying or leasing new graders, it will be at least a year before they arrive. Even with potential market volatility, Burns said the prices are locked in. The only thing that may change is the interest rate and they do anticipate that rate going up. Burns said the motor graders are holding value and everything is getting higher. They are not going backwards on the resale. 

Stratman said with a year out on the availability of the graders, will the number of hours be reflective on them. Burns said yes, the company knows Maries County’s graders will have 9,000 hours on them. He said they need to be in running condition though. Stratman said if the county does the 84 months lease, will the company work with them so they don’t go over on the number of hours, and Burns said yes. Fabick Cat sends him lease reminders. He said he got $10,000 off of each of the graders for Maries County. He asked them to extend the program for this purchase. Burns said about a quarter of his customers lease motor graders, but most of them purchase them. 

What’s required

Maries County Coroner David Martin was at the meeting briefly with a quote for some equipment needed to update his coroner vehicle. Martin said it’s what’s required. He has an estimate from the company the sheriff’s office uses to purchase lights and sirens to put on their vehicles. Martin said he needs these on his vehicle when he goes to accident scenes. If he changes vehicles, the emergency equipment will be transferred to the new vehicle. He added he has kept operating costs down for the year. Autopsy costs are less this year, too. 

The commissioners asked him to get a couple more bids to ensure the county is getting the best price. 

South tower  repeater

IT Manager Shane Sweno was at the meeting briefly. He had a bill from Wireless USA for repairs to the south tower repeater. It is located on a water tower on Highway 28 toward Dixon. Sweno said all of the first responders use the tower but Maries County’s name is on all of the repeater paperwork. This is the same as it was with the repeater on the tower in Freeburg which Maries-Osage Ambulance District uses. The MOAD administrator brought this to the county’s attention when they had repairs done to the Freeburg repeater. 

The bill Sweno brought is for $1,080 and the commissioners could not recall Maries County having purchased a repeater or paying anything for one. They questioned what entity should be paying this bill, or even if they can split it with several entities. 

Paint

Stratman said they need to get some paint to paint the concrete front steps. A local handyman has agreed to do the work. Stratman said he figures they need paint to cover 600 sq. ft.