VIENNA — The Maries County Commission discussed 911 restructuring during their March 23 meeting, mentioning the Maries County Emergency Services Board (MCESB) has taken out a one year lease on the American Legion building in Vienna.

Presiding Maries County Commissioner Vic Stratman said members of MCESB recently toured the facility and approved the location as the future home of 911 operations in the county during their March 20 meeting.

“Their intention is to move when it is feasible,” Stratman said.

MCESB will start collecting the new sales tax in April that was approved by voters but those funds will not be dispersed until July. County commissioners planned for this and approved funds this year to keep the service going until the new revenue could be collected.

“We budgeted six months of funding for the 911 system,” Stratman said. “It’s probably going to stay here until they get their feet on the ground.”

Pat Berry, Operations Manager at AQM, was in attendance and said that there were several factors that will be involved with moving the equipment, including making arrangements for another agency to handle the call volume while the physical move to the new location occurs.

“911 centers can’t be closed,” Berry said. “Even when you’re moving them, they have to stay up and running the whole time.”

In other business, commissioners discussed an upcoming sales tax renewal that will appear on the April ballot. Officials emphasized the measure is not a tax increase but a continuation of an existing tax that is set to expire at the end of the year.

“It’s not an increase in taxes. People will not see an increase, it’s a renewal of a tax that’s been in effect for several years,” Stratman said.

The tax measure primarily supports the sheriff’s department as well as county and road district operations. Stratman said the passing of the sales renewal will be key in providing county residents these necessary services.

Western District Commissioner Pat Kleffner also provided an update on bridge work over Fly Creek on Highway 42,  reporting that concrete work is finished and crews are installing materials along the sides, with guardrails still to come.