HERMANN – What appeared to be a fairly simple agreement between the city of Owensville and Gasconade County that would provide the county with a storage space for winter-weather road materials has turned into a protracted discussion.

The deal was referred to the County Commission’s outside legal counsel, Ivan Schraeder, who reviewed the document and had a few concerns. Those concerns were relayed to Owensville City Hall where officials had a few thoughts of their own regarding the proposed updated agreement.

Now, several weeks after the agreement granting the county a storage site first was proposed, the two sides are set to further discuss the matter tomorrow morning when the Commission holds its first-Thursday-of-the-month session in Owensville City Hall.

As a moved aimed at improving Road Department services during winter weather, county officials are looking at staging materials such as salt and cinders at various locations throughout the county. That would allow Road Department crews to more quickly respond to winter-weather incidents without hauling the materials from more-distant sites such as agency headquarters in Drake.

The Commission session is scheduled to begin at 8:30. County administrators normally meet with Road Department employees in Drake prior to the Commission session held each month in Owensville.

In last week’s session, the Commission received some good news regarding the planned swap of work areas by the Circuit Clerk’s Office and the County Assessor’s Office. The move, which was proposed to take place during the time construction workers are busy preparing the new Recorder of Deeds’ Office, will see the Circuit Clerk’s Office moving to the second floor while the County Assessor’s Office will be settling into the vacated first-floor space now housed by the joint Circuit Clerk & Recorder of Deeds’ Office.

The good news is that the cost of relocating the computer server in the Circuit Clerk & Recorder of Deeds Office might be avoided. Circuit Clerk Jennifer Schneider Thursday morning told the Commission the state might allow the server to remain in place as long as it is secured in a locked facility. Schneider last week said she thought the cost of moving the server and the associated rewiring that would be required would be the biggest portion of the cost of the office swap.

In November, Gasconade County voters for the first time will be electing a recorder of deeds. Thus far, the two departments have been a joint service headed by one person. The Commission last summer agreed that separating the two departments would improve service delivery to county residents. It also clearly delineates a county government office (recorder of deeds) from a state government office (circuit clerk).

Although elected by county voters, as is the county’s associate circuit judge, the circuit clerk is an employee of the state courts system and the office operates according to the rules and schedules of state government. However, as a joint operation, the circuit clerk’s staff working in the recorder of deeds’ portion are county employees subject to county government policies and schedules.

Presiding Commissioner Tim Schulte, R-Hermann, first proposed the offices’ separation a year or more ago; the proposal was strongly endorsed by incumbent Circuit Clerk & Recorder of Deeds Jennifer Schneider, who explained how her role as circuit clerk has become much busier in recent years limiting the time she can devote to the recorder of deeds portion of the department.

The new recorder of deeds will take office Jan. 1.

The office swap has yet to be formally approved by the Commission. While all three administrators support the move, Northern District Associate Commissioner Jim Holland, R-Hermann, wanted to see a more-specific cost estimate before taking formal action. He was not at last week’s session, which prompted Schulte to delay a formal motion and vote.

“Out of respect for Jim, let’s wait until he’s back,” Schulte said.

That vote could come as early as during tomorrow’s session.