April 24, 2026, Camden County Commission meeting at 10:00 a.m.

I attended the April 24, 2026, Camden County Commission meeting at 10:00 a.m.

All commissioners were present.

The first agenda item was “Senior Citizens’ Services Fund Board Reappointments.”

Carolyn Davinroy and Janell Bednara were re-appointed unanimously by the Commission.

The second agenda item was “LOCLG Request for Annual Dues – $13,599.96.”

The county pays annual dues to be part of the Lake of the Ozarks Council of Local Governments. As part of this organization, the Commission earns a seat on the Transportation Advisory Committee which supplies MODOT with a list of necessary road projects. If you’re wondering about the odd dollar and change amount, the dues are determined based on each polity’s population.

The dues payment was approved unanimously.

The third agenda item was “Request for Letter of Support for Opportunity Zone in Camdenton.”

Brandi Hodits Freese requested a Letter of Support from the Camden County Commission for the establishment of an Opportunity Zone in Camdenton. She explained that the program becomes available every 10 years and there are three eligible census tracts in Camden County. If established, the Opportunity Zone would become effective in 2027. Freese said that the zone had already been endorsed by the associated municipalities and the Chamber of Commerce.

The Commission voted to table this matter for further consideration.

The next agenda item was “Request from Sheriff for Blue Shield Grant.”

The Sheriff began by clarifying that this was a resolution, not a grant. By signing the Blue Shield resolution, Camden County would make the Sheriff’s Office eligible for grant money from the Blue Shield Program.

Presiding Commissioner Skelton quizzed the Sheriff regarding what grant money might be available and what it might be used for? Skelton asked Sheriff Edgar where the $500,000 worth of Human Trafficking Task Force equipment was? The Sheriff did not know what had happened to that equipment and Skelton expressed concern because it was county equipment. Skelton was disturbed that it was missing or had been misplaced.

Commissioner Skelton complained that the Blue Shield Program was a political tool used by the governor. It forces counties to become Blue Shield counties just to get their own tax money back. Skelton described it as “pandering.” Skelton made a motion to give the Sheriff $50,000 of the $2.5 million of TCLA money instead of becoming a Blue Shield county.

Commissioner Gohagan disagreed and felt if someone could sign a document and get $50,000, why shouldn’t they simply sign it? Commissioner Dougan concurred, noting that the Commission had promised the Sheriff this money last year and his office had not received it.

Presiding Commissioner Skelton then upped the ante and proposed giving the Sheriff $75,000 in TCLA money instead of the Blue Shield designation. This motion died.

Commissioner Gohagan made a motion to approve the Blue Shield designation. This was seconded by Dougan and was approved 2-0.

Chief Deputy Hines commented that the offer of the $75,000 felt like a bribe to him. Commissioner Skelton did not agree with this description of his motion.

The final agenda item was “Data Center Ordinance 04242026 – ULUC Update.”

This ordinance was presented by Stacy Shore and Kris Franken.

The Unified Land Use Code of Camden County is being updated to include regulations and restrictions on the location, operation, and resource usage of data centers. While that is being finalized, an ordinance was prepared that enacts these same regulations.

The ordinance does not ban data centers. It does restrict how they can operate in county areas; specifically how they use utilities and source resources like power and water. The intent is to minimize their impact on neighbors and the surrounding communities. It would apply throughout unincorporated Camden County and would not be restricted to the Planning and Zoning District.

The ordinance was approved unanimously.

In Old Business, County Attorney Charlie Dickman presented a settlement that extricated the county from a lawsuit related to a land use dispute case. The necessary documents were signed and the Commission adjourned.

And that was that.

There were a few strange coincidences at this particular meeting.

I remember Brandi Hodits Freese because at the October 25, 2022, Camden County Commission meeting, Blake Hodits introduced himself as the founder of MO Lake Development. MO Lake Development proposed a plan to purchase several large tracts behind the Camdenton Walmart. The plan was to develop residential tracts, a sports complex, a hotel, and restaurants. Once MO Lake Development purchased the property, it would be annexed by Camdenton and Linn Creek.

Apparently that plan never came to fruition. MO Lake Development did not purchase the property. However, much of that property would be in the proposed Opportunity Zone and they might still have the right to purchase it.

So what is an Opportunity Zone? A Qualified Opportunity Zone (“QOZ”) is a census tract that has been designated for special tax incentives for investors. Investors can defer and/or reduce their capital gains taxes by investing those gains into projects located in a QOZ and maintaining that investment for a certain number of years. The program is intended to encourage investment and fuel growth in undercapitalized, low income communities. According to the Tax Policy Center, approximately 12% of all census tracts in the country have been designated as QOZ’s. Sunrise Beach currently has a QOZ and that is the only one in the tri-county lake area.

Recent changes in the rules regulating Qualified Opportunity Zones have pushed the QOZ investments away from urban areas and incentivized investors to invest in rural Qualified Opportunity Zones. The definition of “rural” in this case is outside a city or town with more than 50,000 people and not next to an urban area. Basically anywhere in Camden County.

The idea that rural areas can have Qualified Opportunity Zones has made them very attractive for data centers. These data center companies seek out areas with access to plentiful power and water resources, affordable land prices, and digital network connections. It’s all part of “The New Economy.”

Sounds super.

After the meeting, it was also discovered that Blake Hodits held a data center workshop and study group for the City of Camdenton on April 21. The public wasn’t invited. So it sounds like there is a lot more to these concerns than mere suspicion and paranoia. And it appears that there has been a lack of transparency regarding what the intended purpose was behind the request seeking support for the QOZ.

It has been interesting watching people who never pay attention to county politics freak out about this topic. Rest assured that Hooterville is more than capable of responding to an issue like this. Hooterville uncovered the scheme and it will be addressed in typical Hooterville style. As usual.