1. What opportunities does the commission have to encourage business growth?

There are different ways we can encourage business growth such as a TIF or a chapter 353 tax abatement. The city of Monett is currently working on both of these, I actually sat on the committee to set up the rules for their 353 plan. The commission and the cities and communities just need to set down and discuss what will work best for each community. My door is always open for a discussion.

2. How can the county support small business and agriculture?

By working with MU Extension, our youth programs such as 4H and FFA and continue working on our economic alliance plan.

3. What options does the county have when it comes to the spread of industrial sludge as fertilizer, and how can you balance supporting farmers who use sludge, adjacent property owners and the environment?

Without planning and zoning, the commission doesn’t have any power to do much and even if there was planning and zoning it would be zoned for agriculture so it could still be used. I for one would like to see it regulated where every load had to be tested so you would know for certain that no PFAs were in it and how much phosphorus and nitrogen you were putting on your ground. I encourage the farmers that do use it to watch their farms and not let be applied over and over on the same ground.

4. If elected, how would you measure success at the end of your term?

Since I am finishing up my first term I can say that being instrumental in getting the tire dump on 39 highway south of Aurora cleaned up thanks to the Solid waste district N and some of the citizens in that area that all worked together to get it done. We built the new jail and sheriffs office put a new roof on the Judicial center building put new heating and air units in both the courthouse and judicial center and done the restoration in the courtroom of the courthouse. We have also built 5 new bridges on county roads and 2 more will be completed this summer and managed to put a substantial amount of money in our emergency reserve fund. I believe those are pretty good measure of success.

5. What is one county issue you believe receives too little attention?

The imbalance of funds in our 25 special road districts, some districts are pretty well off while others are barely getting by.

6. How would you improve communication between the commission and county residents?

I for one am in favor of Town Hall type meetings kind of like the patriot group in shell knob. I am open to suggestions and people can call me anytime. My number is 417 846 3853.