Town Hall meeting held in Licking

The Texas County Republicans held a Town Hall meeting at the Fox Community Room on Friday, June 12. Speakers at the meeting included Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Jacob Smith, who is running unopposed for Prosecuting Attorney this year; incumbent Presiding Commissioner Scott Long and his opponent in the August Republican primary, Chance Bland; and incumbent Circuit Clerk Erin Smith and her opponent in the August Republican primary, Heather Stark Reynolds.

Each speaker introduced themselves and shared their qualifications for the positions they were seeking, before a question and answer session began involving all candidates. Two issues in particular were discussed at length during the meeting—data centers and Shafer Road.

Both candidates for presiding commissioner shared concerns about data centers coming to Texas County, related to water and energy use. Presiding Commissioner Long said that he has been watching the reactions of other counties, in Missouri and elsewhere, to see if there is a way to regulate a potential data center’s use of water and energy without enacting laws that would limit property rights of the citizens of the county. He will be attending a meeting this week in Jefferson City on data centers. Candidate Chance Bland expressed that his biggest concern is draining the aquifers and creating a water issue for the county. He saw an imminent need for the county to act, stating that the “clock is ticking.”

Regarding Shafer Road, Presiding Commissioner Long declared that the denial by Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) related to owning the road is false. Title searches don’t show MoDOT owning the entire road, but a search at the Circuit Clerk’s office shows the parcels not titled to MoDOT being condemned and taken by MoDOT for the road. Therefore MoDOT should acknowledge ownership of the road and should be responsible for it. He expressed his concern that if the road were fixed and handed back to the township, would it be “kicking the can down the road?” Would future county citizens be dealing with a similar situation in decades to come? Candidate Bland pointed out that during the years the county and MoDOT have negotiated, the road continues to deteriorate, and those who have to travel the road need it fixed. A budget bill before the Governor contains funds for the Department of Conservation that could be used to fix the road. Governor Kehoe must sign the bill, with or without line item vetoes, by the end of the month.

Circuit Clerk Smith commented on upcoming challenges to be faced by the Circuit Clerk’s Office. Missouri courts are implementing their new case management system and becoming ADA compliant and accessible, and she foresees technological changes to make that happen. Court systems continue to evolve and change, and her office must keep up with those changes.

Candidate Reynolds also felt technology was the greatest issue moving forward. She emphasized that while keeping up-to-date with changes, however, the Circuit Clerk’s Office must also remain accessible to other county offices to keep things running smoothly.

Town Halls were planned in other locations in the county throughout the week. The Lincoln Day dinner will be held the evening of June 27, at the Sherman Hill Field House on the campus of Licking High School. Texas County Republicans Committeeman Grant Heithold invited anyone to attend the event who would like to hear more speakers and more discussions on hot topics like data centers, Sharia Law and ballot measures. For tickets or more information, call Adonia Rask 417-260-0916, Joanie Walton 206-914-1913, or Grant Heithold 573-674-2962.