HERMANN — A new financing method for purchasing vehicles could save Gasconade County taxpayers much money in interest payments over the years as county government updates its fleet of cars and trucks.

“This is a unique situation” for local governments, noted County Clerk Lesa Lietzow about the lease-purchase program that Gasconade County is entering with Peoples Savings Bank for three Sheriff’s Department vehicles. Aside from being structured differently than the traditional financing provided by an automaker or a bank loan, the program offered by PSB carries a lower interest rate — possibly half the interest rate paid by the county in previous financings through automakers. This program has an interest rate of 3.6 percent, compared to almost 7 percent paid during a previous vehicle purchase

The lease lasts through five years. According to PSB representatives who met with the Gasconade County Commission Thursday morning, the county will own the vehicles from the outset, not just when the total lease amount is paid off. The only way the county would be in danger of losing the vehicles is if funds for the lease payment were not included in the budget and properly appropriated.

“That’s what the auditors are going to look at,” the county clerk said, regarding whether the payments have been appropriated or not.

The commissioners favored the lease-purchase program.

“It sounds like the right way to go right now,” said Presiding Commissioner Tim Schulte, R-Hermann.

Sheriff Scott Eiler, who has decided to switch to a model of Chevrolet Tahoe offered through Don Brown Chevrolet in St. Louis, agreed.

“It saves the county money, saves taxpayers money,” he said.

In addition to the Sheriff’s Department, the Road Department also routinely updates its fleet of vehicles, which includes large trucks that have large price tags. If this financing arrangement could be applied to these purchases, it could result in a substantial savings to taxpayers.

In other matters, the Commission agreed to have a workshop session Dec. 11 with the county clerk to consider revisions to the county government employee manual.

Also, county officials agreed to begin seeking bids for remodel work to be done on space that will house the new Recorder of Deeds Office. A separate office of recorder was created through a recent act of the County Commission, effective Jan. 1, 2027. The county’s first recorder of deeds will be elected in November of next year. The start of the new office will end the joint operation overseen by the circuit clerk, a state employee. Circuit Clerk and Recorder of Deeds Jennifer Schneider supported the separation of the offices, noting the increasing difficulty of the circuit clerk’s management of the recorder duties.

The Recorder of Deeds Office will be a county government position.

Remodeling work on the new office space will include installation of a door, electrical wiring work and painting.

Northern District Associate Commissioner Jim Holland, R-Hermann, reported that a recent meeting of all the parties involved in the long-standing issue of Atkins Cemetery south of Owensville appears to have resulted in a resolution of the questions raised when cemetery maintenance was transferred to county government. Holland said the various parties have agreed to boundary lines, the location of fencing and other items

“I think everything’s taken care of. Keep your fingers crossed,” Holland said.