Current Issues  

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Renewable Energy

I will continue to support the prohibition of commercial wind and solar in Osage County. After a year of study, education, and public forums, it was determined these industrial facilities are not compatible with our economic development goals, rural characteristics, beauty of our environment, and our quality of life.  As I watch what is happening to our neighboring counties and the huge expansion of industrial wind and solar projects on prime farmland, it has confirmed my view on this issue. I do support residential wind and solar for personal use.

 

Economic Development

I love Osage County and believe our potential is unlimited.  Due to our close proximity to larger cities, two beautiful federal reservoirs, and multiple highways, I believe we have great opportunities for tourism, housing growth, and commercial development. However, this needs to be balanced with maintaining the agricultural and rural characteristics we currently enjoy and is the reason so many people choose to make Osage County their home.  There needs to be a strategic focus on good, planned, intentional growth.

 

Property Tax

As your commissioner, I approved a property tax cut of $500,000 for the 2025 budget year.

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I believe Osage County needs to be family and business friendly. Lowering the property tax burden is one of the most important ways to accomplish this.

 

Osage Country has stayed revenue neutral for the past three years and we plan to work towards remaining revenue neutral during the current budget season of 2025.

 

In 2021 the Osage County mill levy was 59.82, by 2024 it had been reduced to 45.70.  As the overall assessed value of property has risen, the county lowered the mill levy each year so the total dollars collected remained the same as the previous year. 

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 How to Move Forward  

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Human Resource Department

Creation of an independent HR department to improve employee recruitment, hiring, onboarding, training, benefit administration, and a system of checks and balance for payroll and benefits.  Other duties include regulatory compliance and workplace policymaking.

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Finance Manager/Officer

The duties of a finance manager in local government would involve  a range of interrelated components: Working with the department heads on planning and budgeting, revenue, cash and expenditure management, procurement, asset management,  oversight, and implementation of the county-wide financial policy manual just to name a few.  This individual would be hired by and report to the Board of County Commissioners.  They would assist and be a resource for financial decision making.

Permit and Code Compliance Officer

This individual is responsible for ensuring that  county codes and ordinances are upheld in the community. This position works to identify violations, investigate complaints, and ensure that code violations are corrected.