By Rusty Nixon Correspondent
PLYMOUTH — Marshall County is looking at ways to streamline activities.
The Marshall County Commissioners approved contracts with SRI corporation to run tax sales around the county. Rex Gilliland came before the board seeking approval for the Sheriff’s department to enter into a contract with the company to take care of Sheriff’s sales.

Gilliland reported that SRI handling the sales would mean considerable savings to the county, actually bringing in enough money to cover the sales. He told the commissioners that approximately one property a day came across his desk and involved time of more than one officer for processing, and advertising the sales as well as mileage.
Treasurer Debbie VanDeMark’s office has already been using SRI to handle tax sales and she came before the Commissioners asking to renew the contract for another year.
She also came before the board to seek permission to institute a new service by which residents could pay property tax bills with credit or debit cards. Currently the option is possible, but requires the person paying to phone the service used by the county and go through the process on the phone — process that takes at least three days to see funds transferred.
The new option would allow customers to swipe their card on the spot with real time transfer. The new service would involve a convenience fee as well as a charge of 3.95 percent for any transaction over $50.
The service could also be used by the sheriff’s office for payment of bail bond, and County Plan Director Ralph Booker also said he would like to offer the service for payment of fees for permits.
County Highway Department Superintendent Neil Haeck reported that the county would be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the flood event in February.
The county was originally turned down by FEMA but the Governor’s office requested that the application be reconsidered by the agency. Haeck said that the county would be reimbursed 75 percent of the over $104,000 they requested.