HERMANN — After topping the $1-million sales tax revenue milestone in 2018, Gasconade County government is on the verge of slipping back into more familiar financial territory, due to an apparent significant slowdown in sales in October.

“I don’t think we’re going to get $1 million” in sales tax revenue this year, said County Clerk Lesa Lietzow, commenting Thursday morning on the latest report on the county’s primary source of money. The county’s November reimbursement check from the state was for $64,627, almost $13,000 less than the amount received in the same month last year and the smallest monthly check received this year. The October check was about $5,000 less than the previous lowest check — $69,090 received in February.

For the year, the county has received $892,692, more than $22,000 behind the amount received to this point a year ago ($915,060).

In 2018, Gasconade County received $1,006,640, the first time the $1-million mark was achieved.

In other action Nov. 14 at the County Commission’s regular weekly session in Hermann, administrators were presented with a proposal from the Hermann Brush & Palette Club to renovate the red brick building sitting at the entrance to the Courthouse grounds at Highways 100 and 19. Lois Kruse, representing the painters’ club, explained the organization’s mission of preserving the community’s cultural heritage. Previous projects include the renovation of Hermann’s Rotunda, the ongoing upkeep of the Hermann Cemetery and the most recent effort of replicating the historic bandstand in Hermann’s Upper Park.

The property, known as the Fullgraf property, was turned over to the county a decade ago attached with a covenant that prevents the building’s demolition.

“I’d like to see it moved,” said Southern District Associate Commissioner Jerry Lairmore, R-Owensville, who said the building could hamper future efforts to expand county government facilities.

County administrators have discussed the possibility of expanding office space to accommodate a growing need for storage. Indeed, during the recent Courthouse roof replacement officials explored possible new sites for an administration building.

Presiding Commissioner Larry Miskel, R-Hermann, said he, also, favored an expansion but prefers expanding to the east, away from the area holding the Fullgraf property. Further, he said, it’s unclear just what the county can do with the building. “Because there’s a covenant on it, we can’t do a whole lot with it,” he said.

“We’re concerned about the building,” Kruse said, pointing out that water collects in the basement and needs to be removed to prevent further damage to the structure. “Water sitting in that building is going to undo it,” she said.

Northern District Associate Commissioner Jim Holland, R-Hermann, suggested the Brush & Palette Club talk with businessman Jim Dierberg about moving the structure to Dierberg’s Hermann Farm complex on the east side of the community along Highway 100. “Maybe it could be part of the Living History Farm,” Holland said, noting that several other structures have been moved onto the site.

County officials also suggested that the club consider renovating the structure as its new home. The discussion ended with Kruse and other club members pondering that possibility while county officials research the limits of the covenant.

The county’s Salary Commission is scheduled to meet Monday morning (Nov. 25). The panel is responsible for reviewing and setting pay rates for county officeholders elected at the next General Election.

Commissioners will meet at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow (Thursday) at the courthouse in Hermann. Commissioners will not be meeting next Thursday, Nov. 28, due to Thanksgiving.