GCDCC News

Political veterans face off in race for presiding Greene County commissioner

Wes Johnson • News-Leader • October 24, 2010

Jail crowding and staffing, a new 911 center, and development issues highlight the debate in the race for presiding Greene County commissioner, which pits two political veterans against each other, along with a third-party candidate.

Incumbent Dave Coonrod, presiding commissioner since 1994 and a Democrat, said he is focused on maintaining good fiscal management of the county during tough economic times.

Challenger Jim Viebrock, a Republican who served eight years as a state lawmaker, said he wants to ensure the sheriff and jail have enough manpower and resources.

Libertarian candidate Mark Jones has never held public office, but hopes to bring a limited-government theme to the county.

Tapping the brakes

First elected to the Greene County Commission in 1988, Coonrod said he has been pleased with the rapport he has with fellow commissioners Harold Bengsch and Roseann Bentley — both of whom are Republicans.

He talked both into standing with him for a photo on a campaign billboard with the words “Tried and True.”

“This is probably the best commission I’ve ever worked with because of the unique talents that are brought to bear by everyone involved,” Coonrod said.

The county has managed to avoid layoffs or furloughs because of the cooperative spirit among the commissioners and county employees, he said.

When county sales tax revenue began to drop two years ago, Coonrod said the three commissioners met with county staff and elected officials “to tap the brakes and slow down our spending.”

“Everybody, pretty amazingly, went along with it,” Coonrod recalled.

“Because we had seen this so early, we were able to address the budget gap so when we hit 2009 we had already begun bracing for a funding shortfall.”

A key cost saving still in place is a modified hiring freeze.”We know critical positions can’t just be at a standstill,” he said. “If we lose a correctional officer or a patrol officer we have to replace those people.”

Public safety

Coonrod said the county needs more deputy patrols and more staffing at the jail. But until revenues begin flowing again, that will be difficult.

In the short term, Coonrod said rotating Springfield police recruits through the jail to bolster staffing will help.

And he is encouraging local judges to consider alternative sentencing methods — ankle bracelets and home arrest for nonviolent offenders — to help reduce jail overcrowding.

Land use plan

Coonrod acknowledged that a proposed land use plan caused an uproar a few years back.

Spurred by a move for more locally grown food, the commission sought to identify the best farming areas in the county and mark them as agricultural preserves, where urban development would be limited.

“People did not like the approach,” Coonrod said. “They wanted everything to be market driven insofar as what they could do with their property.”

After lengthy public review, Coonrod said the commission adopted the land use plan — minus any farmland set-asides.

“We adopted it, with the agreement we’d come back in five years and look at things.”

Roads and development

The controversial 500-acre 60-65 Partnership Development in southeast Springfield has angered county residents, who fear a four-lane road will be built through their rural properties.

Coonrod said the county held numerous public hearings about the issue before sending it to the Ozarks Transportation Organization for further review.

“My position all along has been let’s take our time and make sure that this is needed,” he said. “We want to let the process run its course and let OTO have its say on this.”

Animal issues

The county looked into establishing an animal control operation a few years ago to deal with dumped dogs, but Coonrod said it would cost upward of $2 million.

“I will tell you I don’t think voters now or in the near future will have any inclination to support raising revenues by taxing themselves further – for anything,” he said.