Questions of balancing the scarcity of affordable housing with a growing population defined a county election forum Thursday evening.
The Columbia Board of Realtors held a forum for all four Boone County commissioner candidates ahead of the November election.
Among the issues discussed was the Boone County Master plan, the current commission’s response to expected growth in Boone County. The two incumbent candidates advocated for the plan, which is the first updated zoning and planning project for the county in 25 years, but the two challengers have different visions for development.
Sam Turner, a Republican, is challenging incumbent District I Commissioner Justin Aldred, a Democrat. District I, the southern district, generally encompasses west Columbia and the southern portion of Boone County.
Current District II Commissioner Janet Thompson, a Democrat, is running for reelection while being challenged by Rep. Cheri Toalson Reisch, R-Hallsville, to represent the east side of Columbia and roughly the northern half of Boone County.
David Lile, former KFRU radio talk show host, moderated the forum while also asking questions on behalf of the board.
The Master Plan will guide investments in affordable housing development through data and is a significant tenet of Aldred’s campaign for reelection. Thompson said it will direct the county’s development of what she estimates to be 30,000 new homes while balancing land and resource preservation.
However, Toalson Reisch said she doesn’t believe the results of the project will be useful.
“The Master Plan, in my opinion, is not a strategic plan,” Toalson Reisch said, adding that she believes it will “sit on the shelf for 20 years” upon its completion.
Thompson said it will “take the voices of every community” in order to make the Master Plan work, emphasizing the need for public input in conversations about development.
Turner, who grew up on a family farm and runs an agricultural business, said he would prioritize giving freedom to landowners when making development decisions. He also said pulling back some of what he calls “over-burdensome” regulations the county places on housing construction would encourage development of affordable housing. This would ensure that developers can lower their building prices, he said.
Aldred said many of these regulations are necessary for safety, but that he would prioritize listening to developers on their needs.
The city of Columbia has also undertaken its own housing study.
When asked how he would respond if the results of Columbia’s housing study contradicted the results of the county’s Master Plan, Aldred said, “We do need to build a robust relationship with the city of Columbia,” adding that the commission cannot ignore 82% of the county’s population.
The candidates also discussed sewage systems. Thompson said Boone County should expand public sewer systems as much as possible.
“If you’re going to develop, that’s the first question: ‘Do you have access to public sewer?’” she said.
Aldred added that building up sewer systems county-wide is key to encouraging infrastructure development.
“Where sewer goes, development follows,” he said.
Toalson Reisch and Turner brought up concerns of increased expenses for citizens if public sewer systems were expanded.
Toward the end of the forum, Turner said he believes citizens “don’t trust this commission.”
