In its final meeting of 2023 on Dec. 28 at the Montgomery County Courthouse, the Montgomery County Commission set a big mission for 2024. It wants the county to be a place with strong economic development.

“We want to continue being an attractive place for employees,” 1st District Commissioner Dave Teeter said. “We had a few more people get hired at 911, so that’s a positive move in one direction. Hopefully, that continues. We want to be a place where we appreciate the employees we have.”

Three weeks before, the county commission – along with the Greater Montgomery County Economic Development Council – held a 90-minute open house meeting at Montgomery County Middle School to present a plan to create a mega-site industrial park in the county that could create more jobs and boost population in the future.

“During the time since I have been here in 1990 until now, our high school population has dropped from 500 students to about 350,” Teeter said. “What does that tell you? People aren’t having bigger families anymore and there aren’t any opportunities. Our younger families are going someplace where they can have different opportunities, especially if they have college degrees or trade and technical certifications. They have to go where those jobs are. If we don’t provide them, we’re missing out on things for our population.”

The mega-site industrial park will be built in the area between New Florence and High Hill. M&H Architects, a firm based in St. Louis, was hired to develop the plan.

“That location was determined by the state to be the best location in the entire state for economic development,” Teeter said. “That’s how important that spot is.”

Teeter said what makes that area so attractive is there is railroad access and there are power lines that run through that property.

“The company has been hired through this grant that we got from the state government to do the planning of that mega site,” Teeter said. “They had a detailed drawing of what that area looked like because a lot of people were constantly asking where this new megasite will be located. It’s north of the Service Road between New Florence and High Hill. Some people aren’t familiar with that area.”

Teeter said during the meeting, there were negative complaints from residents about having an industrial park in the county.

“I understand that there are some people who may have lived here for generations,” Teeter said. “They want that rural environment and they want to stay with it. Like I told several people (at the meeting), we have to be looking for economic development to keep our area viable for jobs. There are a lot of places in the state that are dying population-wise because there are no jobs.”

2nd District Commissioner Lensing said when he first decided to run for commissioner four years ago, he got suggestions from residents that the county needs an Aldi’s grocery store.

“The Aldi’s Corporation and the Aldi’s company are not benevolent public service organizations,” Lensing said. “They’re in it to make a buck. There has to be a condition present in order to have it. Some of the same people who were complaining that they don’t want to lose their sleepy little town are the same ones who are yelling the loudest about having an Aldi’s. You can’t have it. The opportunities come with the density of population and support. That population has to be paid well enough to participate and support the business. It’s a physical and natural law.”

Teeter said he was happy that the courthouse project was completed in 2023. The courthouse was closed for several months until April due to a renovation project.

“The courthouse project is essentially finished,” Teeter said. “There are a couple of little things to do that are getting finished flooring wise.”

The completion of the overpass project in New Florence was another highlight for the county in 2023. The $10 million project includes two oval roundabouts.

“I just met with MoDOT, the Highway Patrol, the Sheriff’s Department and Dave (Rhodes) from Road and Bridge on that issue on the roundabouts to see what needs to continue being done to improve that,” Teeter said. “MoDOT is working on some little things with Love’s to try to improve something. There are going to be some better signage on Love’s property, not on the road itself.”