HERMANN — The Gasconade County Historical Society is asking for a small increase in the financial assistance it receives from county taxpayers for the upcoming year.

Angie Walter, director of the Society’s Archives Center in Hermann, outlined the agency’s request as part of the county’s 2023 budget process. The Society is asking for $20,000 in 2023, up only $1,000 from the amount it requested in this year’s operating budget.

The money from county taxpayers is used mostly for the pay for the two-person Archives staff. The agency depends heavily on volunteers and Walter noted that the amount of volunteer hours almost doubled this year compared to 2021 (2,001 to 1,008). 

“COVID hit us pretty hard, so we’re building up to where we used to be,” she told the County Commission at last Thursday’s weekly session in Hermann.

Walter also noted that the Archives Center faces several significant projects, such as upgrading the main computer and making badly needed roof repairs. A new roof is estimated to cost about $35,000. Lois Kruse of the Historical Society told the Commission that the roof appears to be the original cover of the 1909 building. 

“It’s probably lived its life, so we’re going to have to move forward on that,” she said, noting that the new roof design and materials have been cleared by the Hermann Landmarks Commission, which oversees remodeling work of the buildings located within the city’s Historic District.

Meanwhile, the Historical Society is mounting a campaign to raise funds for an expansion of the Archives Center.

“We’re running out of room,” Walter said. “We’ve got all kinds of bookcases and shelves upstairs, but it wasn’t designed for that load.”

Just when an expansion would take place isn’t known.

“It’s going to take a while to raise that money,” she said.

The Commission urged the Historical Society to contact Meramec Regional Planning Commission about applying for a share of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money available for infrastructure projects by local government agencies, businesses and non-profit organizations. There are about two dozen applications pending for a share of ARPA funds; a decision by the County Commission on those requests have been put on hold until the county learns the cost of constructing an elevator at the courthouse.

The Historical Society also operates the County Museum in Owensville.

As for crafting a 2023 operating budget proposal, County Clerk Lesa Lietzow said the final payment of bills will take place tomorrow, Thursday, Dec. 22. That will trigger the review of end-of-year expenses and revenue by Lietzow and County Treasurer Mike Feagan.

“That’s when we’ll start on the budget,” said Lietzow, the county’s chief budget officer. “We won’t know anything (about final revenues and expenses) until then,” she said.

The first public hearing on the budget process is set for Thursday, Dec. 29, as part of that week’s Commission session. The hearing will allow county residents an opportunity to voice their thoughts on the use of the taxpayers’ dollars in the coming year.

The various departments within county government have been putting together their budget wish lists for the coming year. It will be the County Clerk’s Office’s job to match up the departmental requests with the available funding. A proposed budget will be submitted to the County Commission in early January. The county administrators will review the proposal, make adjustments, if any, and give final approval by the end of January.

Budget makers will be working on the assumption of a 3-percent increase in pay for county employees; however, Southern District Associate Commissioner Jerry Lairmore, R-Owensville, noted that that amount is not a guarantee.

“We can’t say what we’re going to give ahead of time,” he said. “It’s all an estimate.”

Regarding the new year, the new terms of a half-dozen county officeholders will begin Jan. 1, which means they will need to be sworn into office before the end of this year. The only new county officials are Presiding Commissioner-elect Tim Schulte and Circuit Clerk & Recorder of Deeds Jennifer Schneider. Because Circuit Court Associate Judge Ada Brehe-Kruger also will be starting a new term, she will need to be sworn in by a visiting judge. A date for the swearing-in ceremony could take place on Dec. 28, 29 or 30, depending on the schedule of 20th Circuit Presiding Judge Craig Hellmann.