MARIES COUNTY — At last Thursday’s Maries County Commission meeting, concerns about the coronavirus seemed to play a role in most of the topics of conversations.

Western District Commissioner Ed Fagre said he spoke with Maries County Emergency Management Director Scott John. The EM Director said he spoke with Phelps-Maries Health Department Director Ashley Wann who stated she thinks Governor Mike Parson will extend the existing stay-at-home order, which is up for review on April 24. The commissioners have stated they will follow the governor’s rule at this time. It was stated there may be certain areas of the state where the order is loosened but Wann thinks dining-in at restaurants will be closed for at least the near future.

Wann was correct in her prediction as that afternoon, Governor Parson extended the state’s stay-at-home order to Sunday, May 3 in order to “flatten the curve” of COVID-19 infections. He hopes certain people will be able to go back to work on May 4. Right now time is needed to prepare for the first phase of the opening of the state on May 4.

There are people putting pressure on the local, state and federal governments to cease the stay-at-home orders because of the damage it is doing to the economy. They also view it as a violation of basic rights of Americans. People, too, are troubled by all of the federal money being given away and how it will be repaid.

Fagre said he has had conversations with his conservative friends who are alarmed about the money the United States is printing to put in the hands of citizens, businesses and into the economy. It’s stimulus money similar to what was done in 2008 during the recession, but this time on a much larger level.

Eastern District Commissioner Doug Drewel commented all of this spending of money the US does not have may break the country. “We may be a third world country in 15 years,” he said. “I never thought I’d live to see it. The good times may be over.”

Fagre said the $350 billion fund set up to help small businesses is already gone and they are talking about putting even more money into it. A couple of people at the commission meeting had already received their $1,200 stimulus check that most workers anticipate receiving from the federal government.

It was noted the county has asked for the help of the Missouri Attorney General’s Office with the problems its having with AT&T’s billing, but they were told the AG is busy dealing with pandemic price gougers.

Someone said beef is very over-priced in the grocery stores yet that day fat cattle were selling at 95 cents a pound, which Fagre said is dirt cheap. They think the meat packers, some middle man, are taking too much profit. Closing pork packing plants has prompted a run on meat products in the grocery stores. People continue to be scared they will run out of food even though there have been assurances that food supplies are in good shape. People with children have high grocery bills because the kids are home and hungry, as kids generally are.

Presiding Commissioner Victor Stratman contacted The Maries County Bank and spoke to Davis Beltz about the county receiving money through the SBA Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which helps businesses and non-profits meet payroll when its revenue stream has been reduced or ended. Beltz said at this time they are not talking new applications, but he said he will add Maries County to the list and contact the commissioners if something changes.

The PPP was recently passed by Congress as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The program gives businesses with 500 employees or less access to short-term cash flow assistance aimed to help them deal with the immediate impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The loans are made by approved lenders, certified by SBA, and are guaranteed by the federal government. Small businesses can use these loans to finance up to 2.5 months of employee payroll. The maximum loan size is about 10 weeks of payroll expenses. Covered expenses include payroll, group health care benefits, salaries and commissions, interest on mortgage loans, rent, utilities, and interest on other debt obligations incurred before Feb. 16, 2020.

Fagre said if the county qualifies, it should take the money. Stratman said the revenue the county commission projected to come into the county funds they anticipate will not be coming in at that level because of the pandemic.

En banc meeting

Prosecutor’s Assistant Denise Davis was at the commission meeting briefly. She said 25th Judicial Circuit Presiding Judge William Hickle has set the date of the En banc meeting for May 22 at 1:15 p.m. at the Pulaski County Courthouse in Waynesville. If the commissioners want to add something to the agenda they can call him.

Equipment repairs

Fagre said the cylinder for the ripper, an apparatus on the front of road graders that rips out holes in the road, needed repair. The cylinder was priced at $4,200 on a ripper Road One bought for $7,500. One of his road crew found the whole assembly with cylinder on the internet for $1,800. He sent two men to Kansas City to get it and is happy with the savings plus they will have some extra parts for the future.

Drewel said he needed bearings housing for the brush cutter. The cost of a new one was $1,800 but he had it rebuilt locally for $300. “These outfits are outrageous,” he commented. “They are salesmen. They sell you something then they’re done with you.”

Proclamation

Stratman signed a proclamation stating April 12-18 is National Public Safety Telecommunication Week in Maries County honoring the dedicated, hard, stressful work with long hours by the county’s 911 dispatchers/telecommunicators.

Wide Open

County Clerk Rhonda Rodgers said Vienna License Office Manager Jennifer Roberson received a survey from the Missouri Department of Revenue asking for information on the county’s plan when things get back to more normal when the courthouse is open to the public once again. They don’t know when this will be at this time. Rodgers said the survey wants to know “if we are going to be wide open, have extended hours, and hire extra help.” Roberson suggested having three people working in the office at first to keep it moving or it will be very busy with longer wait times by customers.

Stratman said they plan to open with full service when the courthouse reopens, but will not extend the hours of the office because the courthouse closes at 4 p.m., but they will add additional clerks to help process the needs of the customers. They will not be hiring anyone else but will use existing employees.

Drewel said the revenue the county receives by operating the license office will be reduced. Rodgers said when they are open again, “They are going to be slammed” with customers.

Bill messed up

Fagre said he dropped the landline telephone at the Road One shed because it was so expensive, about $198 a month, and this month they received a bill for it. He said IT Coordinator Shane Sweno said he thinks he has it figured out. Now Road One has an internet based phone and internet access.

Buildings and Grounds

The commissioners approved and Stratman signed a proposal from Waste Management for a six yard dumpster at the courthouse to be dumped one time per week for $175 per month, plus 15 percent. There will be a one-time fee of $75 for bringing the larger dumpster. If they request an additional dump, the charge is $55. There will be a 12 month contract. The cost is a little more than the county is paying now ($162.04) on a four year dumpster but there is a need for a larger container for trash.

The commissioners decided to keep the county’s business local by purchasing mulch for the courthouse lawn trees from Bruce Struemph, a business located just down the street from the courthouse. The charge is $45 a loader bucket for dyed mulch. It can be purchased for less in Rolla, but Drewel said some would be lost on the trip to Vienna and they should get it here, locally. Struemph will dump it for the county. Stratman said it is easier if Struemph does it and because he’s just “down the street. If we need more he’s close.” It was noted county jail prisoners might be able to help with putting the mulch around the trees.

Stratman said Mark Buschmann said he can check the gauges on the six to eight courthouse fire extinguishers but he can’t initial them because he is not officially certified to do it. It was suggested by Fire Chief Mike Smith that a professional to the certification of the extinguishers. The county has liability if someone grabs an extinguisher and it doesn’t work. They need to hire a professional to do it. Drewel commented there seems to be “liability on everything.”

Stratman made several phone calls and found a company in Rolla, Bill’s Welding, that will charge a $15 service charge for the trip to Vienna and $5 per fire extinguisher if they are up to date. If they have to be checked with a different gauge, it will cost more. This compared to another company from Franklin County that charged $20 for the service charge. They thought the Rolla company gave the best price and Stratman told them to go ahead and do it.

Lasted 98 years

Stratman said it is interesting that in the old George Hoeller place off Highway AA, they found a county newspaper from Nov. 7, 1922 under the linoleum on one room. In that newspaper there was an election ballot with 19 propositions. There were a lot of local sir names that are still part of the county today. He thinks they used newspapers underneath linoleum, thinking it would make it last longer. Stratman said he thinks it worked because it lasted 98 years. No one has lived in the house since 1970.