09/04/2026
Yesterday I attended the Henry County Commission meeting, and I had the opportunity to address several issues that I believe deserve our attention.
One of those was the data center situation we are watching unfold in neighboring Benton County. I brought forward questions about what Henry County can do now to protect our roads, infrastructure and taxpayers should we ever face a similar large-scale development here. I was told they were very good questions, but there weren't really answers or a plan at this time.
And that is exactly why I believe we should be having these conversations before something is sitting at our doorstep. Being prepared doesn't mean being against growth. It means understanding the potential impact, knowing what authority the county has, and having protections in place before they are needed.
We also discussed the MoDOT super load. I was advised that the super load will be traveling on approved state routes. I also raised concerns about heavy trucks using county roads that are not part of the road agreement. I was told law enforcement is pulling drivers over, conducting inspections and issuing citations when appropriate. I appreciate knowing those concerns are being taken seriously.
Sheriff Brown was also at the meeting, and I took the opportunity to tell him that I believe he is doing a wonderful job managing his budget and finding creative ways to fund equipment and other needs for his department. Being fiscally responsible isn't just about spending less it is about finding ways to meet the needs of the county while being responsible with taxpayer dollars.
These meetings are important. I am not attending just because I am running for office. I am attending because I want to understand the issues, ask questions, listen to the answers and learn where we can do better.
If I am asking the people of Henry County to trust me with this job, then I believe I owe it to you to put in the work to be prepared for it.
I will continue showing up, asking questions and learning—because protecting Henry County means thinking about not only the issues we have today, but the ones that may be coming tomorrow.
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