Record: 9-26
COMMISSION MINUTES
The Nodaway County Commission met in regular session Tuesday, Sept. 8.
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: None.
• The Commission reviewed the following information received by mail or email: Emails and articles from citizen on proposed data center; Benefit Manager Report – Group Benefit Services (GBS).
• Public Comment – Citizens shared concerns health/environment issues, statistics on number of Americans that do not want data centers built, cited articles, microclimate concerns, incentives being offered to build in rural areas, trade-offs to lack of growth adaption, poverty rates and income levels within Nodaway County, and road impacts from construction projects. Also present: Gerald Wilmes, Wanda Goodspeed, Irene Alexander, Susie Strauch, Bruce Skoglund, Amy Zeigler, Scott Wilson, Rhonda Beattie, Tim Schafer, Jeff From, Kim Swyers, Chiya Dawoudi, Rex Wallace, sssessor, Josh McKim and Kim Mildward NCED and Sheriff Austin Hann.
• Sally Duff, collector/treasurer presented the current Interest Report and Certificate of Deposit (CD) rates from both Nodaway Valley Bank (NVB) and Connections Bank for discussion. The commissioners proposed moving current savings and reinvesting funds in a money market account and a CDs.
• Reviewed and approved Invoice #11 on BRO-074(003) bridge. Also responded to an email from Aaron McVicker, Project Manager for McClure regarding BRO bridges (001) and (002) for assistance reaching out to landowners on the projects. The commissioners reached out to landowners as well.
• An email was received from Jason Teitelbaum, Regional Director of Operations (Midwest), PRIME Healthcare Management regarding building issues. A message was left for Teitelbaum to call to discuss.
• Dawson Miessler and Cyrus Loar, McBride, Lock & Associates Staff Auditors, conducted the opening of the audit and discussed steps they will take to conduct the audit over the next two weeks. Also present: Duff.
• Burns spoke with Matt Stine, MoDOT regarding reduced speed limit signage needs during J-turn construction on Highway 71.
• A citizen stopped in to discuss noxious weed concerns. The commissioners contacted attorney Ivan Schraeder to discuss 263.190 and 263.200 RSMo. Per Schraeder, no petition is needed as this is not a ballot issue. The commission will follow up with the citizen to discuss further.
• Nick Jameson, Schildberg Construction, stopped in to discuss CART rock concerns and the status of several townships that have not started hauling rock yet. Also discussed a change to the Hughes Township road list. Trustee, Patrick Lewis of Hughes Township stopped in to speak with the commissioners.
• A phone conversation took place with a Nodaway County citizen that the county is considering retaining for the purpose of being a County Liasson/Representative, gathering information regarding questions that have been posed by concerned citizens as well as a list the commissioners have drafted. This person will just be a liaison for Nodaway County, not a consultant offering legal advice.
• The commissioners took a phone call from an Independence Township resident regarding a road issue. A call was made to Steve Brown, trustee to discuss. Brown stated they would go take a look and follow up.
• The commissioners made calls to three citizens interested in serving on a voluntary advisory committee for county-wide planning and zoning.
The Nodaway County Commission met on Thursday, Sept. 10.
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: County Clerk to Lodge of Four Seasons for training; Circuit Clerk to Jessica Jones for attorney fees; Sheriff to Beemer’s Muffler for training.
The Commission reviewed the following information received by mail or email: Emails and articles from citizen on proposed data center ; Certificate for County Clerk, Melinda Patton for annual training.
• Public Comment – Attending the Public Comment portion of the meeting were 15 Commissioners from across the state who are in Nodaway County for CCAM meeting. Jeff From started by sharing with the group that Commissioner Burns had connected him with Dan Scheffler, Scale Microgrids. From stated they had a lengthy, good discussion. He emphasized the importance of documentation of information being presented and the due diligence piece is critical. From also stated he would like to see a cost-benefit analysis to portray to the citizens and feels a detailed plan (in writing) is important. Tim Schafer asked visiting commissioners for commentary on how this will impact their citizens/communities and how they can protect them. Several commissioners provided feedback on how they are working to educate themselves. Some counties do have planning and zoning, some do not, but they are working to be able to educate citizens, writing policy and utilizing ordinances. Bruce Skoglund spoke to the group on a school district perspective and the changes small schools are having to make to survive. Several commissioners responded about the spending power of school districts and emergency services that have data centers. They also spoke to the loss of population and age of population in smaller rural communities and how any business can improve those numbers. The group asked for updates on the process and the development agreement. The commissioners responded that the development agreement is still considered a confidential document, according to the county attorney and will not likely go anywhere until the project has an end user. The group also discussed Chapter 100 bonds, and the difference between state assessed and local assessed. Also present: Jesse Stark, Sheridan Express; Scott Wilson, Mike Wilson, Jean Calkins, Bryce Howard, Bruce Skoglund, J.R. Calkins, Kim Swyers, Chiya Dawoudi, Amy Zeigler, Jeff From, Rex Wallace, assessor; Josh McKim, Nodaway County Economic Development (NCED); Sheriff Austin Hann, Joe Gildhaus, Jesse Roy, Larry Miller, Leslie Meyer, Vince Laupe, Chris May, Zach Williams, Kyle White, Robert Munden, Donna Tompkins, Dave Teeter, Sid Conklin, Bob Dixon, Steve Hobbs and Carah Bright.
• Brian Engle, road and bridge supervisor gave updates on projects and a request from the City of Pickering for assistance.
• A message was left for a citizen with concerns on noxious weeds.
• The commissioners followed up with an Independence Township resident regarding Road #233 and #234 road issue.
• Placed a call to Ben Schmitt, Schmitt Trucking regarding Lincoln Township roads.
• Sally Duff, collector/treasurer reviewed funds. The commissioners opted to leave money in the Money Market account and move some to Certificate of Deposit (CD) accounts.
• Aaron McVicker and Greg Parker, McClure Engineering, met with the commissioners to discuss BRO bridges under consideration for 2027.