Record: 5-22
COMMISSION MINUTES
The Nodaway County Commission met on Tues., May 12.
In attendance were Presiding Commissioner Bill Walker, North District Commissioner Chris Burns, South District Commissioner Scott Walk, and Melinda Patton, county clerk.
• Requisitions and approvals: Liquor License for Dollar General #1227 and #24586; Walmart Supercenter #801. Invoice to Snyder and Associates on BRO-R074(064); invoice to Marilyn Jenkins, Consultant for ARPA reporting;
• The commission reviewed the following information: Emergency Planner – email with next meeting date of 5-13-2026 at 10:00 a.m.; Sales Tax, Use Tax, Road and Bridge Special Sales Tax, Use Tax reports; County Emergency Services 911 Sales Tax, Use Tax reports; Annual Training Certificate for Jeff Hall, coroner; Public Service Commission for Evergy.
• Signed the contract for Darrell Poff for hauling. Walker reported that Jubal Summers, Worth County Commissioner, questioned an intersection and signage at Orion and 250th. Met with Tanley Bebout, accounts payable deputy clerk regarding invoices that are coming in for CART Rock roads. Placed a call to Bill Emery, Emery Hauling for clarification on invoices.
• Concerned citizens met with the commission to discuss their concerns with a proposed data center being built in Nodaway County. Nancy Zeliff shared an audio file of what a data center sounds like 24/7, but could not identify which data center it was or when the video was shot. Zeliff informed the commission of an upcoming meeting: What you need to know – AI Data Centers in your Community. She shared her concerns regarding tax incentives and abatements and questioned if a moratorium was being considered. Mary (Susie) Strauch shared pictures of someone drilling for core samples near her home and asked for information on the project. Strauch is concerned with potential well water issues, land values and potential health related issues. Barb Thacker shared her concerns with lights and shared calls she has made to other counties and data center facilities. Also present: Josh McKim and Kim Mildward, NCED, Jesse Stark, Sheridan Express and Sally Duff, collector/treasurer. Jim Farnan, Grant Township Trustee stopped in later in the morning to discuss the project.
• Matthew Stine with MoDOT met with the commissioners to discuss projects in Nodaway County slated for summer/fall of 2026. Stine discussed the resurfacing project for US-136 and US-71, the bridge replacement at Route VV and the intersection improvement at US-71 and 340th Street. Also present: McKim, Mildward and Stark.
• McKim discussed a potential grant they are working on for a housing program and if things go forward, he will be requesting a letter of support on the project. Also present: Stark.
• Spoke with John Schenkel, Polk Township Trustee, regarding bids shared on Ivory Road paving. Per Schenkel, Polk Township will maintain the road after it is paved, unless the City of Maryville takes it over. The overlay will have a 20–25-year life span. The commission requested Polk Township send a request for assistance for the county to consider.
• Alan Rowlett, Hughes Township Board Member stopped in to discuss new construction Road #781. The commission plans to go inspect the road for Notice to Proceed. Rowlett discussed concerns they have with access roads in the windfarm footprint. A meeting was set up for Thursday, May 14, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. between Hughes Township officials and Enel representative(s).
• The commission reviewed and signed Reimbursement request No 7 for BRO-R074(004) Bridge.
• Andy Macias, Snyder and Associates contacted the commission to follow up on the third-floor curtain wall project.A call was made to Jeff Smith, Smith Contracting, LLC regarding information on the curtain wall.
• County attorney Travis Elliott, Ellis, Ellis, Hammond and Johnson, P.C. was contacted to discuss moratorium processes. Elliott stated these are useful if they have a designated purpose and not just used to stall a project, which could bring legal consequences. Elliott stated this could be discussed further in Closed Session as it would fall under 610.021.1 RSMo for Litigation. Also present: Stark.
• The commission inspected and approved Road #418 in Independence Township for one mile under new construction road rock and Road #781 in Hughes Township for one mile under new construction road rock. Angie Cordell, deputy clerk sent the Proceed Orders. Spoke with Jeff Blackford, Hopkins Township Trustee regarding Road #124. Also made a call to Brett Cline with Tenaska on same road.
The Nodaway County Commission met on Thurs., May 14.
In attendance were Walker, Burns, Walk, and Patton.
• Requisitions and approvals: Liquor License for Backyard Vine & Wine; Backyard Vine & Wine Caterer’s License; Rick’s Country Shoppe & Woldruff Fencing; Bearcat Lanes; Dueces Wild, Inc. dba A&G Restaurant and Bar. Invoices to Jackson County Medical Examiner’s Office, Falls City Mercantile and Thomas Lawn Care. Increase of $776 to Geis Peterbilt-Kansas City on a Road and Bridge contracted Model 567 Tractor Trailer for a fuel surcharge and component increase.
• The commission reviewed the following information: Sheriff Inmate Report (April 2026); Road and Bridge Fuel and Equipment report
• Concerned citizens met with the commission to discuss their concerns with a proposed data center being built in Nodaway County. Jacquelyn (Kim) Swyers reported on jobs eliminated due to AI. Holly Caviness questioned jobs created. According to the White Cloud Acres website, they will have 77 direct onsite jobs. Caviness questioned if the commissioners were planning a Town Hall style meeting prior to the Open House scheduled on June 3, 2026 at Mozingo Visitors Center and if they would deny any Tax Abatements. Swyers suggested the commission consider surety bonds, which the county did with the wind projects. Carter Strauch reported on Leavenworth County, Kansas invoking a moratorium and if the county is considering. Strauch is concerned with potential well water issues, corporations taking over, loss of freedoms and environmental impact on farm ground. Also present: McKim and Mildward.
Reviewed an email from Dan Hageman, Evergy on Data Center Facts and FAQs and Evergy’s Large Load Power Service and emails from citizens. Patton reported on progress with Open Records requests received.
• Sally Duff, collector/treasurer reported to the commission that a credit card for travel/training expenses had been requested for their office.
• Completed a Construction Progress Reporting Survey online that was sent by the U.S. Department of Commerce; U.S. Census Bureau Division.
• Brett McLain, Northwest AV stopped in to get a timeline on the ceiling for the third-floor conference room. A call was made to David Sullivan, Nettles Construction Solutions regarding the curtain wall acoustical rating.
• Spoke with a property owner regarding Cypress Drive concerns. Referred them to Polk Township Trustee John Schenkel.
• The commission spoke with Curt Livengood, Atchison County Presiding Commissioner regarding a request for Softmatch credit trade. Nodaway County Commissioners agreed to trade $100,000 of credit for $.65 on the dollar. A contract was sent to Atchison County Commissioners for signature.
• The commission joined an introductory TEAMS meeting led by William “Bill” Hof and Charles Renner, attorneys with Husch Blackwell on the proposed joint legal services with the City of Maryville, Public Water Supply District #1 (PWSD #1) and the county. This meeting was to discuss terms and payments and contribution agreement amongst the three entities. No Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed to date between the three. Also on the call were Ryan Heiland, City of Maryville City Manager and Matt Smith, City of Maryville Public Works Director. Not available for the call: a representative of PWSD #1.
• Received an email from Andrew Bittner, Kiewit Power Constructors Co. Project Engineer (Evergy Mullin Creek Generating Station) with a draft Road Use Agreement. A preliminary review of the draft was done, but tabled for Tuesday to review further.