Scott County associate commissioner race focuses on economic development

Economic development has become a key issue in the race for Scott County District 1 associate commissioner.

Former Sikeston, Missouri, city councilman John Graham has argued the county commission needs to do more to foster economic development. He is challenging two-term commissioner Dennis Ziegenhorn of Sikeston, who is seeking re-election Nov. 8 to a third four-year term.

Ziegenhorn, who co-owns Z & Z Realty in Sikeston, said he has worked hard to bring new industry to Scott County and hopes to see more development. A number of companies have opened facilities in the county during his tenure on the commission, Ziegenhorn said.

"We are trying all the time to get new industry," he said.

But Graham, a retired businessman who previously owned a business machines company, said the commission needs to do more to promote economic development.

Dennis Ziegenhorn

"We are losing businesses, jobs and revenue, causing cutbacks and decreased services," said Graham, who operates a barbecue and catering business.

"In Sikeston, there are numerous properties that are vacant," said Graham, who wants to repurpose vacant commercial space.

He has proposed a business-incubator startup program in which new entrepreneurs would be provided rent-free space for a period of months to aid them in starting their businesses.

"We would have instantly business opportunities for people coming to town," Graham said.

New businesses would generate additional tax revenue, he said.

For Ziegenhorn, a major issue is the 911 emergency system.

He long has advocated development of a regional 911 emergency system and is championing that issue again in the Nov. 8 election.

Scott County has three overlapping 911 systems, with the county, Sikeston and Scott City each having their own system.

The associate commissioner said, "It is totally senseless that we all three have them."

He said it would be more efficient to have a regional 911 system that would serve Scott, New Madrid, Mississippi and Stoddard counties.

"We have to learn to work together," Ziegenhorn said.

Graham and Ziegenhorn have talked about the operation of the Scott County jail. Graham said the jail needs "new management and better maintenance."

Graham said staff morale at the jail is low.

"The officers are quite honestly not making enough money," he said.

More economic development would generate added tax revenue for jail improvements, he said.

Ziegenhorn said the county commission constantly works to update and maintain the 15-year-old jail, which often houses more than 160 inmates at a time.

"There is no recession on crime," he said.

Inmates can be hard on a jail, adding to maintenance costs, he said.

Ziegenhorn said any improvements to the jail must be done gradually.

"There are always updates," he said.

The county commission is fiscally responsible, he said.

"We don't spend money that we don't have," Ziegenhorn said.

But Graham said a change is needed in county government.

"We have to have better ideas and better actions," he said.

Ziegenhorn stressed his legislative background. He served in the Missouri House for 14 years, ending in 1994. He said his time as a legislator "allowed me to make good friends and good connections in various state agencies."

He said those relationships are a benefit to the county commission in dealing with state government.

Ziegenhorn said he continues to be positive about county government, adding he doesn't have time for "negativism."

mbliss@semissourian.com

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