Data Centers, Road Projects And Sheriff’s Hiring Freeze Headline County Meeting
- John Eads
- 7 days ago
- 4 min read
TROY, Mo. — Data center concerns, road construction updates, a hiring freeze within the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office and a request for opioid settlement funding highlighted Tuesday morning's Lincoln County Commission meeting as department heads updated commissioners on county operations and residents took advantage of an extended public comment period.
The meeting began with updates from county departments, starting with the Highway Department.
Officials reported asphalt crews are finishing work on Blue Goose Road before moving equipment to Sand Run Road for milling. The intersection of Highway U and Sand Run Road is scheduled to close Monday, July 13, from 7 a.m. until noon for paving, with advance notice already posted. Work also continues on Blackmore Road, where crews are preparing for future bank cutting, dirt work and culvert replacements.
County mowing operations remain underway throughout Lincoln County, with crews currently focusing on Fairgrounds Road ahead of the upcoming Lincoln County Fair before moving into other areas of the county.
Commissioners also received an update regarding Beck Road, where officials estimated the current cost of paving a gravel road at approximately $250,000 to $275,000 per mile before utility relocation costs. The department also recognized two employees who recently completed their commercial driver's license testing and provided an update on an employee currently away from work for medical treatment.
The discussion then shifted to county facilities and ongoing projects.
Commissioners heard that three contractors recently attended the pre-bid walkthrough for the Old Monroe Bridge removal project. However, recent heavy rainfall has significantly increased the amount of floating debris around the bridge, and county officials are now working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to determine how that debris will be handled before demolition begins.
Maintenance staff also resolved what initially appeared to be a water leak inside the Lincoln County Jail after determining the issue was excessive air conditioning condensation. Additional maintenance included repairs to an exterior air conditioning unit believed to have been damaged during a recent electrical surge or lightning strike. The county is also reviewing a manufacturer recall affecting portions of its vehicle fleet that could result in reimbursement for qualifying repairs.
Economic development updates followed, including progress on two projects currently in the early planning stages, discussions surrounding a potential land donation for future public recreation and a reminder that registration remains open for upcoming YMCA summer camps.
One of the meeting's largest discussions centered on the Sheriff's Office.
Sheriff Rick Harrell told commissioners the department has implemented a hiring freeze for road deputies because of declining jail revenue projections. Within the next month, patrol staffing will decrease from five deputies per shift to four. To help maximize coverage during the busiest hours, the department's remaining K9 units will move to a dedicated swing shift.
Despite those staffing challenges, the Sheriff's Office is pursuing more than $2 million in federal and state grant funding. The largest application is a federal COPS grant that would fund eight patrol deputies over a three-year period if awarded. Additional grants are being sought for tactical drones, rifle-rated ballistic shields and expanded evidence storage.
County officials also reported the courthouse's new X-ray machine is expected to arrive soon as preparations continue for upcoming jury trials.
Following department reports, commissioners opened the floor for public comments, where residents raised questions regarding potential data center regulations, county audits, public trust and county spending.
Residents encouraged the commission to consider establishing regulations before future data center proposals are submitted, including industrial zoning standards, noise restrictions and utility impact studies. Additional questions focused on county financial oversight and auditing procedures.
Commissioners allowed the discussion to continue without interruption, and Harrell remained after the meeting to continue speaking with one resident who had raised several concerns. The conversation concluded with a handshake, a mutual understanding that both shared the same long-term goals for Lincoln County and an invitation for the resident to tour the Sheriff's Office and county jail.
The final presentation came from the Drug Free Action and Resource Team Coalition, which requested $20,000 from Lincoln County's opioid settlement funds to expand youth prevention efforts. The request would help fund school leadership programs, community education initiatives and the coalition's annual Teen Summit. Commissioners also heard that while youth substance use has declined slightly, local survey data continues to show higher-than-average access to alcohol, vaping products and marijuana among Lincoln County youth. Coalition officials encouraged the county to dedicate a portion of its remaining opioid settlement funds toward early prevention efforts.
The meeting concluded with commissioners approving previous meeting minutes and authorizing routine pay adjustments for two highway department employees who recently completed their CDL testing.
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