We can absolutely welcome positive economic opportunities and new businesses to Hickman County without sacrificing our rural identity. The solution isn't to stop growth entirely; it is to manage it strategically so that it works for us, not against us. Here is how we balance preserving our land with encouraging targeted, high-value growth:
1. Focusing on the East Hickman Planned Growth Area (PGA)
Growth Where It Belongs: Hickman County already has a designated Planned Growth Area (PGA) in East Hickman and Centerville. Rather than allowing unpredictable sprawl to carve up family farms across the county, we must proactively direct new, higher-density development—whether commercial or residential—straight into this existing corridor.
Protecting the Rest: By focusing our economic and infrastructure expansion into the East Hickman PGA and our existing Crossroad Communities, we create a natural shield for our rural landscapes. Developers get clear guidelines on where they are welcome, and current property owners across District 7 get peace of mind knowing their rural way of life is protected.
2. Streamlining Development in the PGA
Removing Red Tape: In areas specifically designated for growth like East Hickman, the county should make the process efficient and business-friendly. Drawing on my background in multi-unit operations, I understand that time is money. If developers are building in the PGA and meeting our standards, we should streamline the permitting process to encourage them to invest exactly where we want them.
3. Infrastructure-Led Expansion
Building on What Exists: Growth should naturally follow infrastructure. High-density developments belong in our PGA where utilities, roads, and emergency services are prioritized.
Developer Accountability: Even in the Planned Growth Area, we must maintain a standard where developers pay their fair share for necessary infrastructure improvements (like water, sewage, and telecommunications). This ensures we can capitalize on economic expansion without ever leaving Hickman County taxpayers scrambling to foot the bill.
4. Expanding Property Owner Opportunities
Empowering Landowners: Protecting property rights doesn't just mean protecting the right to farm; it also means protecting the right to responsibly develop. If a current landowner's property sits within a designated growth area or crossroad community, we want to ensure county policies give them the flexibility and opportunity to maximize the value of their land if they choose to do so.
As an operations leader, I look at county spending through the lens of Return on Investment (ROI). I frequently hear from residents in District 7 who ask, "Why should my tax dollars go toward roads or utilities in the East Hickman Planned Growth Area when I will never use them?" It is a valid question. The answer is that investing smartly in our designated growth zones provides a direct, measurable return to the residents of District 7, even if you never drive on that road or hook into that utility line. Here is how:
1. The "Shield" Strategy: Keeping Sprawl Out of Your Backyard
Containing the Footprint: Developers will naturally go where the infrastructure exists. By proactively investing in roads, water, and utilities inside the East Hickman Planned Growth Area, we create a magnet that pulls high-density and commercial development into that specific corridor.
Protecting District 7: If we refuse to build infrastructure in the growth areas, development won't stop—it will just scatter. It will bleed out into our rural areas, leading to incompatible commercial encroachment right next to your family farm or quiet neighborhood. Building infrastructure there is the exact mechanism we use to protect our rural landscapes here.
2. Broadening the Tax Base (So You Pay Less)
Commercial Revenue: High-quality commercial and retail businesses require robust infrastructure. When we provide it in our designated growth zones, we attract businesses that generate significant sales tax and commercial property tax.
Relieving the Homeowner: When commercial entities shoulder a larger percentage of the county's tax burden, it takes the pressure off of individual property owners, farmers, and small businesses in District 7. We invest in the growth area so that we don't have to constantly look to residential property tax hikes to fund the county.
3. Funding County-Wide Emergency Services & Schools
Shared Resources: The infrastructure in East Hickman might be localized, but the revenue it generates is county-wide. The sales tax dollars produced by businesses in the Planned Growth Area flow back into our general fund.
Better Services for District 7: Those funds are what allow us to equip our Sheriff's deputies, reduce EMS response times across our rural routes, and properly fund our local schools without asking District 7 taxpayers to foot the bill alone.
Summary: When we invest in targeted infrastructure, we aren't just laying asphalt or pipe—we are building a financial engine that lowers your tax burden and a physical boundary that protects your rural way of life. My vision for Hickman County is not to freeze us in time, but to apply a data-driven, strategic approach to our future. By focusing high-density and commercial growth strictly into designated corridors with existing infrastructure, we can create thriving economic zones while leaving our agricultural lands and quiet communities untouched.