MARIES COUNTY — Maries County officials are always looking for ways to save money as it is needed to cover all of the many expenses that must be paid for in a year’s time. So, when the new courthouse janitor was looking at the supplies on hand, the vendor agreements and the bills for these supplies, he thinks he found some areas where money can be saved.

At last Thursday’s Maries County Commission meeting, new janitor Shawn Eaton came to talk to the commissioners, County Clerk Rhonda Rodgers, Clerk’s Deputy Renee Kottwitz, and Treasurer Rhonda Slone about potential areas of savings.

Presiding Commissioner Victor Stratman told Eaton that everybody has been pleased with his work so far and Eaton responded “so far so good.” Eaton said he looked at the Cintas vendor agreement and thinks there are unnecessary purchases and charges. For example, the bill says the county is being charged $125 for a logo mat the county does not have. There is no county logo on any of the rugs the county uses from Cintas but the agreement says if the county terminates the contract, they will have to pay full price for the mats. There were other charges they didn’t understand such as $3.50 locker storage fee that nobody knows what locker the county is paying for. Western District Commissioner Ed Fagre wondered if somehow the county’s agreement is mixed up with another company or maybe the school, which has logo mats.

Eaton pointed out a charge for embroidery and emblems. Kottwitz said Janitor Joe Moore did not buy his uniform shirts from Cintas as she helped him get the shirts and Vivian Honse did the embroidery on the shirts. Eaton said the county is being charged for men’s jeans and shirts.

There is a charge of $35 per week stop at the courthouse. Eaton said this is a waste of money and he’s all about saving money. It costs $144 a year to rent a mop bucket, which he said seems like an unnecessary cost. Eastern District Commissioner Doug Drewel said that mop bucket must be a good one. Eaton said the bill includes glass cleaner and there are many bottles of it already.

Kottwitz said so far this year the county has spent $7,000 with Cintas with two more months to pay for. Fagre said it sounds as though the company may owe the county some money or a rebate. Eaton said the county is being charged $300 a year for 21 mop heads and $200 a year for 15 dust mops. He doesn’t need that many.

Drewel asked Eaton to meet with the Cintas representative as scheduled to see what they are charging for as it could be a mix up. It needs to be checked out and changed if the county is paying too much.

Eaton said the county is paying maintenance on items and they are not seeing people come to check on anything. He said the charge to check air fresheners is $22 a week. He will speak with the representative because he questions some of the costs and thinks money is being wasted.

He told those at the meeting that urinal and commode mats are a waste of money and what he will do is mop the restrooms twice a day. There is a big pile of these mats the county is charged $2 each for. Another thing he’d like to implement are standard toilet paper holders and toilet paper. Now there are three different kinds of toilet paper. If it is simplified to one type of holder and toilet paper, it will help keep costs down. Drewel asked him to speak to the Cintas rep and get back to the commissioners.

Eaton asked about putting up shelving in the closet across the hall from the janitor room. He wants to use it for additional storage. He plans to clean out the janitor’s room during a weekend.

Eaton has worked as a janitor for many years, at Columbia College and at Rolla Public Schools. In the past he has bought large bundles of rags and pitched them. The county is paying $5 a bag. Also, rather than replace mop heads, they can be washed.

Stratman asked that Eaton be given the authorization he needs to make supply purchases at Lowe’s and at Dollar General.

The safe in the janitor’s room was discussed. The lock needs to be repaired and it was mentioned restoring the old safe and putting it in the foyer or hallway on display. Rodgers said they don’t even know if or what is in the safe.

Eaton said money can be saved by buying vending items from Walmart rather than Frito Lay. He thinks they can make a little money on the vending machine on the main floor.

Eaton purchased a new vacuum cleaner as the old one was not picking up much of anything. The new one is working well and has a washable rubber filter.

People were civil

Commissioner Stratman reported on the public meeting in Belle he attended about the City of Belle contracting its police department to the Maries County Sheriff’s Office at a rate of $155,000 annually. Marshal Joe Turnbough met with the county commission last week and said he would be able to work with the sheriff’s office as he is a former sheriff’s deputy. He told the commissioners the sheriff has a bigger budget than he has and the city council won’t give him the money he needs.

Stratman said there were about 70 people at the meeting and 17 of them had the opportunity to speak. The speakers were “mostly civil,” Stratman reported.

Overwhelmingly the people who spoke supported Turnbough and were in favor of keeping a marshal in Belle. But, Stratman said the city council appeared to be “done with him and tired of his overspending.”

Sheriff Chris Heitman was at the meeting in Belle and did not make a statement but answered questions. Turnbough was quiet throughout most of the meeting, made a statement, and then left.

Stratman said the people want to keep a marshal and they said they voted for it.

The city council will make a decision at the December meeting.

Up to $4,000

The commissioners approved the Flood Plain Management agreement with MRPC that details payment of up to $4,000 annually plus postage and certified mail expenses. If the management work adds up to $3,000, MRPC will contact the county to let them know they are nearing the price cap. It seems like a lot of money but MRPC staff have the expertise and there is no one working in the courthouse who has the time to do it.