Record: 8-13
COMMISSION MINUTES
The Nodaway County Commission met in regular session Tuesday, July 28.
In attendance were Presiding Commissioner Bill Walker, North District Commissioner Chris Burns, South District Commissioner Scott Walk and Melinda Patton, county clerk.
Business before the governing board included:
• Requisitions and approvals: Sherrif to Intoximeters, Inc. for equipment; to Messner Collision Repair for vehicle damage; Road and Bridge to Meyer auto for vehicle purchase. citizen on proposed data center.
• The commission reviewed the following information: E-mails from citizen on proposed data center; Revised Summary of Settlement report from Collector/Treasurer; Opioid Payment Notices; Vehicle Insurance Claim documents; Certificate of Liability Insurance – Kiewit Power Constructors Co; Email regarding the American Junior Golf Association Tournament to be held at Mozingo Lake.
• Reviewed and signed a letter of completion on Bridge #08670151.
• Reviewed the returned countersigned Road Use Agreement from Kiewit Construction, regarding Mullin Creek Project.
• Reviewed an email from Heather Montenguise, Community Planner with Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments, regarding the board seat notice on by-laws for the TAC Board.
• Public Comment – A group of citizens gathered to share their questions and concerns with the moratorium wording, number of final jobs this facility would actually have when completed and operating, looking into an agreement or impact fee for the neighbors that will be effected; contacting the next level(s) of government for help; conducting a town hall style meeting with the Public Water Supply District #1 (PWSD1) and the City of Maryville with representatives of Scale Microgrids and possibly State Representative, State Senator, etc., permitting questions, concerns that the need for the large data center could go away and leave us with nothing. Also present: Kim Mildward and Josh McKim, Nodaway County Economic Development (NCED); Rex Wallace, assessor; Austin Hann, sheriff; Cindy Roach, Nina Wiederholt, Donna Tompkins, Susie Strauch, Richard Strauch, Amy Ziegler, Tim Schafer, Rhonda Beattie, Scott Wilson, Mike Wilson, Kim Swyers, Nina Wilmes, Tony Wilmes, Dennis Farnan and Spencer Culver, Polsinelli representing Scale Microgrids.
• Brian Engle, road and bridge supervisor, requested a bid notice be sent to the paper for one load of H-Pile. Sealed bids will be due to the office of the county clerk by 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 13, 2026 at which time they will be opened in the office of the county commission. An advertisement has been prepared and sent to the local newspaper for publication and posted on the county website.
• The commissioners, along with Engle met with Hopkins Township officials and landowners on both sides of the road to discuss options for Road #173. Also inspected Road #418 Independence, Roads #442 and #457 in Jackson Township and #630 in Polk Township.
• A leak was reported in the juvenile office after the rain last Friday. Juvenile office has also asked that their office be sprayed for spiders.
• Donations from Tensaska were presented to Dannen Merrill, representing Boys/Girls State ($2,000) and Tim Deen, representing the Ministry Center ($2,000). Also present: Kathy Rice, Maryville Forum
• Billy Mires met with the commission to discuss items from the moratorium document that was signed on July 23, 2026 and the commissioners plan of action. Also present: Jesse Stark, Sheridan Express, McKim, Mildward, Hann, T. Schafer, R. Strauch, Jo McGeorge. Following this discussion, Rod McKinney stopped in to ask questions on whether the new moratorium would stop any new projects from coming to the county.
• Returned a call to Bates County Commissioner Jim Wheatley who had questions on the process Nodaway County is taking with the proposed data center.
• A call was received by a landowner regarding an issue with an approach to a driveway on 135th Street. A message was left for Joe Christiansen, operator for the Lincoln Township, to discuss.
The Nodaway County Commission met on Thursday, July30.
In attendance were Bill Walker, Chris Burns, Scott Walk and Melinda Patton.
Business before the governing board included:
• Requisitions and approvals: Commission to The Source and The Ministry Center for Tenaska donation.
• The commission reviewed the following information: Emails from citizen on proposed data center; MoDOT Invite to Discuss High-Priority Unfunded Transportation Needs on Wednesday, August 12 at 4:00 p.m. at 100 Elm St., Chillicothe.
• Public Comment – A group of citizens gathered to meet with the commissioners. Many expressed their appreciation to the commission for the moratorium they enacted and to Nodaway County Economic Development (NCED) for the press release they shared regarding two more potential projects. Others shared their questions and concerns with an editorial in the Maryville Forum, water concerns, amount of acreage that has been purchased, a way to fast-track planning/zoning; waste-water concerns, proposed turbines, consultants and conflict of interest.Additionally, Turpin asked for Road #210 to be looked at and S. Strauch asked when Moffatt Bridge #0741000 will be started (plan is still for first week of August.) Also present: Lori Burns, public administrator, Kim Mildward and Josh McKim, NCED, Rex Wallace, assessor, Austin Hann, sheriff, Jesse Stark, Sheridan Express, Cindy Roach, Nina Wiederholt, Susie Strauch, Dustin Skoglund, Chris Turpin, Tim Schafer, Scott Wilson, Mike Wilson, Kim Swyers, Rene Puckett, Irene Alexander and Holly Caviness.
• Mildward discussed plans for the Christmas season. A time will be set for later in August to set up a time to meet with DeAnn Davison and Mildward on project costs and to finalize budget.
• A TEAMS call was conducted with Ken Berra, Fisher, Patterson, Sayler and Smith, LLP and Nodaway County Commissioners, John Schenkel, Polk Township trustee and Brian Engle, road and bridge supervisor. The call was for the discussion of roads and roadway signage.
• Calls were made to Alert 1 regarding spraying and to Dennis Buckles at Quality Sealants, regarding sealant for a pillar outside the Administration Center.
• Donations from Tensaska were presented to Gwen Knowels, Morgan Hoza and Ashley Heideman, representing The Source ($2,000) and Krista Shelton, representing Lettuce Dream ($2,000).
• Burns took a call from Travis Elliott, County Attorney, but did not go into closed session as previously planned due to no quorum. Elliott and Burns discussed next steps in the process. Burns plans to work on the list of questions to the developers. Elliott talked about next steps the county commission would take toward putting planning and zoning out to the public. Elliott stated it would likely take 12-18 months to get the question on the ballot after putting it out for public comment at public hearings, working through the steps to pull together regulations, sub-divisions, etc. Elliott asked that the ommission forward on to him the questions and concerns they had with the development agreement so he can start working on it.
The Nodaway County Commission met in regular session Tuesday, August 4.
In attendance were North District Commissioner Chris Burns, South District Commissioner Scott Walk and Melinda Patton, county clerk. Presiding Commissioner Bill Walker was not present.
Business before the governing board included:
• Requisitions and approvals: Invoices to MEI (annual service agreement); Sleek Creek HVAC, Snyder and Associate and Nodaway County Senior Citizens Senate, Inc.; Recorder Fee Report (July 2026). Road and Bridge to Gray Oil for diesel fuel; Sheriff to CharmTex for inmate supplies.
• The commission reviewed the following information: Emails from citizen on proposed data center; Statement from Schraeder Law Firm showing included hours.
• The commissioners met with Joseph Harding, Kiewit Engineering Group, Inc., to review and discuss the Road Use Agreement that had been signed by both parties. A walking inspection of the road was conducted. Harding detailed plans for maintaining roads during the construction phase. Also responded to an email to Tyler Williams, Mechanical Engineer at Kieweit regarding permitting.
• The commission, along with Brian Engle, road and bridge supervisor, inspected Road #765 and #764 with a bridge on said Road #764l, Roads #753 and #751 and Bridge #755, all in White Cloud Township. In Monroe township, Road #845 and culverts on Roads #846 and #847. Looked over Highway VV bridge construction. Looked into a brush concern at a bridge on Road #661 and inspected Road #715, #710, #709 and #66a1, all in Jefferson Township. Inspected Road #972 in Washington Township and both Road #622 and #721 in Grant Township.
• The commission, along with Engle, inspected Bridge #0741000 in Grant Township. A call was placed to Larry Jacobsen at Snyder and Associates for an updated. Inspected a tube on Road #33, a culvert issue on Road #17, a bridge on Road #28 and a cement box on Road #29, all in Lincoln Township.
• Called Jeff Allen, HDR Engineering, to discuss City of Maryville Water Plant, water lines crossing the road on Katydid Drive.
The Nodaway County Commission met on Thursday, August 6.
In attendance were North District Commissioner Chris Burns, South District Commissioner Scott Walk and Melinda Patton, county clerk. Presiding Commissioner Bill Walker was not present.
Business before the governing board included:
• Requisitions and approvals: Liquor License for The Ville 101. Sheriff to MTE for equipment; Collector/Treasurer to Missouri Office of Prosecution Services.
The Commission reviewed the following information received by mail or email: Emails from citizen on proposed data center; Certificate of Liability Insurance – Maryville Glass and Lock Co., Inc.; Senate Bill 3 (SB3) updates from Travis Elliott, Ellis, Ellis, Hammond and Johnson, P.C. MoDOT notice re: Route 71 Intersection Improvement Project beginning August 10th.
• Elaine Wilson, circuit clerk, called to discuss phone issues her office has been having. Wilson has been working with the help desk at United Fiber to find a solution. Other offices have also had intermittent issues. A call was made to Darren Farnan to make him aware of ongoing concerns. The check from Traveler’s Insurance was received for the Road and Bridge truck that was totaled.
• Public Comment – Citizens shared concerns over turbines, Development Agreement being made public, Missouri Department of Transportation’s (MoDOT) J-turn, natural gas lines, hiring a consultant (specifically Steve Etcher), more acreage being sought to increase footprint, additional data centers looking to come to Nodaway County and if the moratorium would cover the power plant site with the Commissioners. The commissioners discussed that the development agreement is a very rough draft and has been marked up to share with the county attorney Travis Elliott. It was shared as a confidential document, so the commissioners will discuss with Elliott if it can be shared. The commission explained that they would rather wait until it is a document that has been ironed out with the developer more. No consultant has been hired by Nodaway County. Per Josh McKim, Nodaway County Economic Development (NCED), no more acreage has been purchased by the current proposed data center, only easements have been purchased/filed. The commissioners agreed that this was what they were aware of as well. Burns stated that this information could be accessed through the Recorder of Deeds office or the Assessor’s office. The commission shared that the moratorium also covers the power plant site. Those present: Bill Oliver, KXCV/KRNW Radio, Geoffrey Woehlk, Maryville Forum, Dustin Skoglund, Susie Strauch, Mike Wilson, Scott Wilson, Rene Puckett, Jeffrey From, Jennifer Gillespie, Rhonda Beattie, Tim Schafer, Kim Swyers, Donna Tompkins, Austin Hann, sheriff, Lori Burns, public administrator, Josh McKim and Kim Mildward, (NCED)
• Patton reviewed several Sunshine Requests received. Several were forwarded on to Elliott to review.
• Jessica Jacobsen and Kim Marshall with Nodaway Nursing Home stopped in to inquire about acquisition of the lease for the county owned building. Reviewed an email from Benjamin Blowers, Associate Attorney for Sternshein Legal Group.
• Reviewed and discussed an email from Brian Madden, Wagstaff & Cartmell, LLP on pending opioid litigation. Commission unanimously agree to accept the mediator proposal.
• Responded to an email from a community member regarding parameters for qualifying for Tenaska donation funds.
• Spoke with County Attorney, Travis Elliott re: Four Sunshine Requests received from Alison Quennoz, Community Outreach Coordinator Jeffery Law Group, LLC.