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 From left, Jean Gaddy Wilson, organizer and facilitator of the 2007 State of Saline County forum, holds a microphone for Lions Club President Andy Roehrs while he welcomes participants to the event. (Photo by Eric Crump/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] |
The outcome from group discussions at the third annual State of Saline County on Tuesday, April 24, suggests that attracting and retaining employees in both the small and large businesses and industries remains a main concern among community leaders.
The county's labor pool was a prominent subject of last year's State of Saline County forum, too, as business people noted problems finding, training and keeping workers.
 Marshall Mayor Connie Latimer made a brief remark during the introduction to the event. (Photo by Eric Crump/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] |
Another major problem brought up this year is funding for small and large businesses.
It takes about $1 million to be in the farming industry and a tremendous amount of capital, according to Bub Caldwell of W.B. Young.
 Saline County Presiding Commissioner Becky Plattner made a brief remark during the introduction to the event. (Photo by Eric Crump/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] |
Lions Club President Andy Roehrs got the event started by welcoming the crowd -- estimated by organizers at about 160 people -- and giving a brief overview of the club's mission of community betterment.
The purpose of the forum is to give county leaders a safe place to talk, to throw out ideas, to get to know one another, according to organizer and facilitator Jean Gaddy Wilson. Everyone naturally focuses on their own areas, their "silos," as Wilson puts it, and that tendency can slow the process of collaboration. The forum helps people see past their silos, she said.
 Slater Mayor Stephen Allegri made a brief remark during the introduction to the event. (Photo by Eric Crump/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] |
The county and its communities have great resources, she said. The annual meeting will, she hopes, help people take better advantage of those resources.
"When you work together, the possibilities are endless," said Marshall Mayor Connie Latimer during introductory remarks at the event.
Latimer cited signs of growth in Marshall, including a surge in business licenses issued and $5 million in Missouri Department of Transportation projects in progress.
Saline County Presiding Commissioner Becky Plattner said she, too, valued the opportunity to collaborate with the various communities in the county, large and small.
She cited new projects that are signs of the county's health, including plans to redevelop the "Clyde's Corner" curve on U.S. 65 just east of Malta Bend and the geographic information system being developed in a cooperative venture by the county, the city of Marshall and Marshall Municipal Utilities.
Plattner noted another important project that is in the feasibility study stage, the renovation of the courthouse.
"Please be prepared. It's probably going to be about $2 million," she said. "But it's the pride and joy of our county."
Slater Mayor Stephen Allegri spoke, too, during the forum introductions, noting that Slater is "a progressive little town" that has invested heavily in recent years in eliminating deteriorating properties, revitalizing its downtown and creating events to bring more people to town.
Contact Rachel Harper at
Contact Eric Crump at