Experience, transparency key issues at Thursday event
BY KYLE TROUTMAN ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com
Two candidates for county government stood together on Thursday to answer a set of 10 questions at the Cassville Democrat’s Northern Commissioner Candidates Forum on Thursday at the FEMA Event Center in Cassville.
Incumbent Gary Schad and challenger Gary Klossing each gave opening statements, then traded answering the questions covering everything from qualifications to senate bills and road districts to land-application of sludge.
Schad said when it comes to the position, experience is key, and his 12 years at the post is what he hopes voters will support.
“You don’t learn this job in the first year or even the first four years,” he said. “It takes a lot of dedication.”
Klossing said as a supervisor at the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, he believes his skills will translate well.
“I deal with budgeting in my current position and wi am willing to learn,” he said. “I want to look at the sheriff’s office and road districts, and a big key is being in the public, and I want to be available.”
Candidate differed on identifying the biggest issue facing the county, with Klossing pegging transparency and Schad pointing to drug abuse.
“I’ve been to a meeting, and we need better minutes and to record meetings and let the public have better knowledge of what is going on,” Klossing said. “The taxpayers need that information, and it should be disseminated through social media or the paper.”
“[The biggest issue facing Barry County is] not transparency,” Schad said. “We pass our Sunshine Law audit with flying colors every year. The biggest issue to me is drugs because that leads to more crime and theft. We fully support the sheriff’s office and are trying to curtail the drug problem.”
Shifting to money matters, candidates were asked how they hope to increase sales tax revenue — the county’s only source of income — through economic development or tourism.
“There are a lot of things we can capitalize on, like Roaring River,” Klossing said. “The voters know what is going on and anything we need to pursue.”
“We’ve worked with the Monett Chamber and Cassville Chamber to promote events and tourism,” Schad said. “Tourism is our second-best income source besides agriculture, and Roaring River and Table Rock Lake are places we try to promote because of the opportunity for sales tax income. We also have an EEZ program for new businesses and support the local tax base.”
When it comes to budgeting county funds — $6.7 million for the county and $4.1 million for law enforcement — Schad said the Northern Commissioner is not the only decider.
“It’s not just me,” he said. “Office holders submit their requests, and the commission goes line by line. We trim the fat, but not all of it because we want our office holders to have what they want. Budgeting is a huge part of the job.”
“We need to look at a lot of stuff,” Klossing said. “Stuff like road districts and budgeting the sheriff’s office and other entities. The sheriff’s office is the largest budget we have.”
Schad rebutted Klossing, saying the county has no say in how road districts budget, as each special road district has its own officials.
“We are one of only a handful of counties with special road districts, and each of those have their own elected commissions,” Schad said.
Barry County recently consolidated two districts, Shell Knob and Viola, which Schad said had never happened in Missouri before.
“That was historic, and former commissioners Cherry Warren and Wayne Hendrix lobbied the state to get a bill passed to allow it,” Schad said.
Klossing proposed a new plan, aiming to institute a performance bond system for districts based on utility and county road work.
Candidates also differed on Senate Bill 190, which would grant property tax credits to seniors and owners of record on homesteads.
“I think we do need to have that credit,” Klossing said. “If we an do it and it will benefit them greatly, we need to talk about it, and everyone vote.”
“SB190 is like when a teenager packs a suitcase the last minute before a trip,” Schad said. “It looks good on the outside, but when you unpack it, there’s a mess. The county is about to adopt a resolution for more time to decide. The assessor and collector offices will be affected, and we want to do what’s right, not a policy we’d regret.”
In response to the eighth question, about availability to the public, both candidates said they would be accessible by cell phone at all time. Klossing added again he’d like the commission meetings to be audio and video recorded.
Looking to the future, candidates were asked what goals they hoped to achieve or put in motion over the next five years.
“What’s most important to me is to ensure we keep moving forward,” Schad said. “We are in great shape, and I want to continue seeing that happen. In the short-term, I want to see the jail and health department off on the right foot, and I want to revamp road districts and have more come together. That can be a money-saver for taxpayers and road districts.”
“I agree, and we need more training and equipment for the sheriff’s office to address the drug and theft problems,” Klossing said.
Finally, candidates were asked about land-application of sludge as fertilizer, an issue drawing special attention in the county the last two years.
“That’s something when I get in office, I’ll have to see what’s going on,” Klossing said. “I will use my skills to investigate and give an answer.
“We’ve been in contact with DNR and the fertilizer control board, and talked to Sen. Josh Hawley,” Schad said. “I’m not a fan of planning and zoning and telling people what to do on their own land. But, when others are affected, there needs to be some criteria in place. The commission cannot [create a law], so we have to talk to residents and do what we can for them.”
Both candidates shook hands following the forum, and there were no disruptions from the audience over the half-hour long event.
About 60 people attended the Northern Commissioner Candidates Forum, and a full video of the event may be found at https://fb.watch/tusDXflV_ w/.
