Scott County commissioner candidates express similar concerns

Scott County voters will decide Tuesday whether to re-elect their presiding commissioner for a third term or try someone new.

Incumbent Jamie Burger, a Democrat, and Will Yates, a Republican, are seeking the position.

The attempt to join the Scott County Commission will be the second for Yates, who tried to unseat 2nd District Commissioner Donnie Kiefer in 2012. Burger first was elected to the commission in 2000 to represent the 2nd District, which covers all but a southern portion of the county. Burger was elected presiding commissioner in 2006.

Burger and Yates painted similar pictures of the economic and infrastructure needs in Scott County.

"We have a lot of roads that need fixed and drainage ditches," Yates said. "I'm hoping to get in there and get that done."

Burger pointed to the construction of several new bridges, an ongoing expansion of the county's water district into more rural areas and improvements to county roads and drainage as successes for the county during his time in office.

Work to install an upgraded security system at the jail, a mowing and trimming program and forming a plan to improve county facilities using revenue in the county's general fund also have happened under Burger's watch.

Yates also said the county needs to grow its number of businesses to create jobs.

Other ideas from Yates include forming a park system on county-owned land and organizing a "community day" fundraiser to benefit public projects.

"Basically if the people are wanting a change, if I get on the commission, I am willing to go out there and do what they need," he said.

Burger also said he would like to see employment opportunities grow in the county, which could happen if the county finds a way to draw larger retail employers that provide jobs in nearby cities such as Sikeston and Cape Girardeau, along with building a base of small businesses.

"Most of our retail offerings are small," he said. "But any retail establishment that comes in helps our sales tax numbers, so we are standing on solid ground."

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