SPARTA, MO — At a county advisory and planning meeting Saturday, March 25, at the Sparta Library, Christian County Presiding Commissioner Lynn Morris told the audience the county has invested in 40 acres west of B & B theater for a new jail. And, eventually, an additional judge will be needed.
“Our county continues to grow,” Morris said to a packed house at the community meeting room. “We’re at around 94,000 residents now. When we reach 100,000; the state will require an additional judge.”
Cory Smith, prominent Sparta property owner and philanthropist, spoke up from the front row. “We need to know who these judges are,” he said. “There has to be a way to decide how to vote on them.”
New jail coming but old jail facing problems
“Our jail is already full,” Morris continued. “We’ve had to invest nearly a million dollars in issues related to the plumbing.”
Morris suggested that future plans need to accommodate the short-sightedness of the present jail, which was built only 20 years ago. “If we set it up right, we won’t have the problems we have now.”
“In the next four years, public safety is our number one priority,” he added. “Our number one expense is the sheriff’s department.”
Third of its kind
The meeting in Sparta, with 25 in attendance, was the third county meeting of its kind, to gather input from the public about issues they feel are important, and to tackle those issues in smaller think groups in the coming months.
The first was in Ozark March 11; the second in Clever March 18. The next will be a larger meeting from 9 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 1, at the Ozark Innovation Center (former Fasco building) now occupied by the Ozark R-VI School District. “We are setting up 125 seats for that meeting,” Morris told the CCT. “The public is invited.”
Cross section of attendees
Residents from Sparta, Oldfield, Bruner, Chadwick, and rural Rogersville were represented at the Sparta Library meeting. “I was glad for the mixed representation,” Morris to the CCT. “Everyone gets a chance to voice their opinion, and even if we disagree, we must compromise and move forward if we’re going to get anywhere.”
“We are going to split into groups of four in favor, for against a certain idea and have them work on a solution in the next meetings.”
County advisory meetings are going to take place in Highlandville, Saddlebrook, Nixa and Billings, as well. “We want all of our areas represented. We want groups of people in their 20s and 30s, 40 and 50s, and 60 plus involved.”
ARPA money
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 was enacted by President Joe Biden for Covid relief. Morris said our county received $17.3 million in relief funds that will be dispersed according to county needs that emerge from the meetings and other sources.
Drainage infrastructure to prevent roads from washing out is on the list of priorities. “We are going to work with engineers and architects to resolve flooding issues at the source.”
Speaking against library books in the library meeting room!
David Failla of Oldfield said safety is important, as is unity in the county. He cited water drainage and trash issues after heavy rains to be a concern.
Jim Nicely of Oldfield said he was concerned about the socialistic influence in current public schools, and that inappropriate books are readily available in school and public libraries.
Sensing the tension from the back of the room, where a librarian watched the proceedings, Morris quickly spoke of the benefits of libraries as well. “The libraries offer free seeds to plant; fishing poles for fishing, and even ice cream machines for patrons to borrow free.”
Nonetheless, conservative members of the community continued their theme of concern over inappropriate, sexually explicit library books. Melvin Maggard was next. “I support the libraries, but I draw the line on these explicit books; they have no place in the public or in schools. We have to follow constitutional law.”
Discussion followed on how influential judges are and how important it is to install the right ones. The consensus was how important it will be to install the right judge that reflects the values of the community. Cory Smith said he definitely wanted to see the right judge in place. His wife, Lola Smith, as well as Cory, were also concerned about the inappropriate library books.
Getting high on weed money?
Cory Smith added, “You talked earlier about supporting a 3% sales tax on recreational marijuana. I don’t think it’s a good precedent to approve another tax, because there will be no motivation to rescind (the amendment that provided for recreational marijuana) and (tax money) will become a drug to politicians to chase the money instead of help people with addictions.”
Later, Morris told the CCT that because of a statewide constitutional amendment protecting recreational marijuana use, it wouldn’t be likely to ever be reversed. “It (recreational marijuana) is here to stay. The reason we’re promoting this tax on it is defensive. I’ve studied 21 states that have legalized recreational marijuana, and all of them have increased traffic violations and expungements that cost more money. The tax would be imposed only on those who purchase recreational marijuana, not the citizens represented in these meetings.”
“Most of the state, other than Kansas City, St. Louis, and Columbia, voted against recreational marijuana,” Morris told the CCT. “Even Springfield voted against it. But since it’s passed, we have to deal with the added expenses with a defensive tax.”
In February, Morris said, the state collected $102 million from the initial sales tax imposed on recreational marijuana. He said he didn’t know what amount will be collected by Christian County, but “it will be more than I initially thought.”
“I don’t want to dip into the county reserve money (to pay extra expenses associated with recreational marijuana.)”
Lynn Morris, right, Christian County Presiding Commissioner, conducts an “east side county” advisory meeting Saturday, March 25, at the Christian County Library, Sparta Branch. The meeting was the third of its kind in the county. The fourth is tomorrow, April 1, at the Ozarks Innovation Center in Ozark. The public is invited. (CCT Photo by Johnny Rooster)
Morris: taxes a ‘financial burden’
“Taxes are a financial burden on this county,” Morris told the audience at the Sparta library Saturday. “This 3% marijuana sales tax is only for those who use recreational marijuana and will be a defensive tax to offset costs associated with its use. I don’t anyone here will be affected by the tax. Only those who use marijuana recreationally will pay it.”
“We want to increase services in our county, not costs. We have to keep public safety a priority.”
Morris was optimistic about personal property taxes being frozen for retired people in the near future as well.
Other concerns and topics
Other concerns and topics raised included Judy Willis mentioned the decay of morality, the need for dealing with inappropriate books… her husband said, “taxes are too high”.
Morris said, “night court is coming soon, because we’re going to expunge the criminal offenses associated with marijuana use.”
A Chadwick man was concerned about fixing problems from rainwater runoff, Johnny Rooster wanted to see a directory for the advisory groups. Lloyd Pierson said “we have scared off locals” because of a negative environment on swimming in Swan Creek.
Linda Myers, a retired archivist for MSU, was in favor of keeping the books in the library. “Parents should be the gatekeepers, not librarians.”
A man named Bill from Sparta disagreed. “The Bible says the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy. We have an obligation to the next generation. I feel it’s demonic (the influence of sexually explicit books).”
He added that some people need state assistance, but “not if they do drugs!”
Sherry Leonard, a nurse, was adamant about the awful repercussions of gender reassignment surgery. “Something is wrong with society!”
Morris mentioned State Senator Mike Moon introduced a bill to ban gender reassignment surgery on minors.
Sarah Peery of Ozark said books in schools are a concern, and class sizes are too big.
Reggie Mitchum said the parents bill of rights must go to the senate. “The Bible must be our guide. Trans is wicked. The truth is, we cannot compromise. God is God. We must come together on this. Thank you, Lynn for conducting these meetings.”
Julie Sterner of Sparta said library books are a concern.
Randy Sterner said “society is too liberal.”
Keith Maggard of Chadwick said “don’t run people off who swim in Swan Creek. Don’t use law enforcement to chase people off.”
Andrea Cockroft said stay informed, get out and vote April 4th.
Valorie Watts of Bruner said Ozark needs a D.A.R.E. program. “We need to focus on prevention, not just more jails.”
Morris replied, “we are planning to give more money to D.A.R.E.”
Arianna Russell of Ozark said more food donations are needed for food pantries.
Doug Twigger of rural Rogersville declared he is a “proud conservative.” Books in libraries should not be inappropriate.
Dennis Botcher who lives south of Chadwick said children being exposed to porn, drugs, etc. is a “big issue and I worry about it.”
Jennifer Rosebrock of Nixa said, “it’s hard to point out (inappropriate books in libraries) but you know it when you see it.”
Morris concluded the meeting with a story about the big blue cross controversy a few years ago in Ozark. The cross had been displayed many years every Christmas and an atheist group from Wisconsin threatened Ozark with legal action if it wasn’t moved off city property. “With the help of some lawyers, we got permission to display the cross on nearby property and not have to display various (non-Christian) symbols as well.”
“We aren’t all Christians here in this county,” he added. “We have to work together.”