HERMANN — A hazardous intersection in north Gasconade County might not be as dangerous in the next couple years, thanks to action taken by a panel of the Meramec Regional Planning Commission.

The planning agency’s Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) last week included the intersection of Highways100 and Route J in Gasconade County on its list of top transportation projects to be considered by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) in the updating of its 5-year State Transportation Improvement Plan.

The intersection, which is located in a curve with views obstructed by high ground on the south side of Highway 100, has been a priority project on the Gasconade County TIP for several years, but until now has not been included by the members of the Meramec Region’s TAC.

Gasconade County’s three members of TAC — Southern District Associate Commissioner Jerry Lairmore, R-Owensville, Owensville Mayor John Kamler and Owensville City Administrator Randy Blaske — were able to persuade the other members to include the intersection on the region’s list. MoDOT will assemble the updated State TIP in the coming months.

Meanwhile, might Gasconade County voters be asked to approve another new county sales tax in the near future? Possibly, after the County Commission learned that a provision of Amendment 3 — the Missouri Constitution amendment approved by voters in November legalizing recreational use of marijuana — allow counties to collect a 3-percent tax on the sale of marijuana. 

But that’s only if voters approve.

State government will collect a 6-percent tax on marijuana sales, as authorized by the amendment. County officials bemoan the requirement that they must seek voter approval for a county tax while state government does not have to go to voters for its 6-percent tax.

A countywide vote on a marijuana sales tax will be considered by the County Commission as it prepares the 2023 operating budget. The earliest voters in the county could be polled on a tax would be in the April General Municipal Elections. And a countywide vote was made more likely with other measures planned for the April ballot, such as a bond issue by the Gasconade County R-2 School District to fund capital projects such as a performing arts center. Gasconade County R-1 directors are scheduled to meet in January with the district’s bond counsel to discuss R-1’s healthy financial footing that could lead to a vote to extend its bonded indebtedness to allow for capital projects — such as roof work and heating and air-conditioning upgrades.

Also, county administrators are awaiting word from consulting attorney Ivan Schraeder about possible personnel policy changes in the wake of passage of Amendment 3. At issue is what the appropriate employee policy would be if the presence of marijuana is detected in a drug test.