Webster County is looking for a new Assistant Prosecuting Attorney to become a member of our team.

For more information, please see HERE

Thank you.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Webster County Commission Issues Statement Regarding Temporary Development Moratorium

WEBSTER COUNTY, MISSOURI — June 16, 2026 — Based on public input and after seeking advice, the Webster County Commission adopted a temporary six-month moratorium relating to certain developments in the unincorporated areas of Webster County, including data centers, solar energy systems, wind energy conversion systems, and battery energy storage systems.

Full text of the Order can be found HERE.

The purpose of the proposed moratorium is not to stop any project that is already under construction. The County is aware of the data center development currently under construction in the Rifle Range Road area. Based on the information presently available, the County does not intend to use the proposed moratorium as a basis to halt that project, and the County recognizes that its legal authority with respect to a project already under construction is limited.

At the same time, the Commission believes it is appropriate and responsible to pause future development of other potential projects for a limited period while the County studies their potential impacts. Webster County does not currently have countywide planning and zoning. As a result, the County must carefully evaluate what tools, if any, are legally available and appropriate to address issues such as public health and safety, emergency response, stormwater runoff, noise, water and electrical usage, effects on neighboring properties, and impacts on local infrastructure.

The proposed moratorium is intended to give the County time to gather information, consult with experts and legal counsel, communicate with utility providers and emergency responders, hear from residents and property owners, and consider reasonable options for future projects. The County’s goal is to balance the interests of residents, landowners, developers, businesses, and the broader public.

“The Commission understands that these issues involve competing interests,” the County Commission stated. “We recognize that the right to own and use private property is a fundamental constitutional right, and any action taken by this Commission must respect that right. At the same time, we take seriously the concerns of our residents regarding public health, safety, infrastructure, and emergency management. Webster County has always believed in limited, responsible government that does not regulate beyond what is truly necessary. This temporary moratorium is not intended to expand government authority or prejudge any particular project-it is simply a measured step to ensure we have the information needed to act wisely, fairly, and with the least intrusion necessary.”

The Commission emphasizes that no final long-term regulatory framework has been adopted. During the moratorium period, the County will study available options and consider whether any future regulations are legally permissible, practical, and in the best interests of Webster County.

Residents and interested stakeholders are encouraged to follow County Commission meetings and participate in the public process as these issues are reviewed.

Homeowners in Webster County who are 62 years of age or older have until 5pm on Tuesday, June 30^th to apply for a “Senior Property Tax Freeze” on their owner-occupied residential real estate taxes.

Webster County’s Senior Property Tax Credit program was launched in 2025.  During that first year, the Webster County Clerk’s Office received over 2000 applications.  Almost all were “auto-renewed” earlier this year.  Those renewed taxpayers were notified with a white postcard mailed to them in April.

If you applied for the tax freeze in 2025, but did not receive a postcard stating your application was automatically renewed, you should contact the County Clerk’s office at 417-859-8683 before June 30^th.

If you did not apply in 2025, you’ll need to come in person to the County Clerk’s office and fill out a new application by June 30^th.  The eligibility requirements are: you must be age 62 or above (effective January 1 of this year); you must own your home; and you must be current on your property taxes.  New applicants should bring copies of: driver’s license (proof of age); voter information card (proof of residency); and a copy of their paid property tax receipt.

The tax credit only applies to the owner-occupied residential real estate portion of your property taxes – not commercial property, rental properties, or personal property such as vehicles, etc.

For more information, you can call the the County Clerk’s office at 417-859-8683 or email [email protected] .

Webster County will begin accepting applications for the senior citizens’ tax credit program on Friday, May 1 through Tuesday, June 30.  To be eligible, taxpayers need to be at least 62 years old (prior to January 1, 2026).

The tax credit applies to residential real estate taxes on the eligible taxpayer’s primary residence.  The intent of the credit is to limit future increases in residential real estate taxes – described generally as a ‘freeze’ – to 2026 (or ‘base year’) levels.

There are some exceptions, including: a) tax levies guaranteed by the state constitution (the state blind fund; and any general obligation bonds); and b) voter-approved tax levy increases adopted after 2026 (or base year).

Applications can be submitted in-person at the County Clerk’s office (Courthouse, 101 S. Crittenden St., Rm. 12, Marshfield).  Applicants should bring: 1) driver’s license or other I.D.; 2) voter registration card or other proof of residency (such as a utility bill); and 3) their paid 2025 real estate tax receipt.

It is important to clarify that the program is not a tax exemption, but merely a ‘freeze’.  Eligible taxpayers whose applications are approved will receive a ‘normal’ tax bill in 2026 that will become the basis for 2027 and future real estate taxes.  Therefore, the impact of the program will be modest in the short term, but grow in value over a period of time.  It is also important to state that the program does not apply to personal property taxes paid on vehicles, etc.

The State law authorizing the tax credit is relatively new, and many of the details are still being worked out.  It is anticipated that eligible taxpayers will need to apply each year. There is a auto-renewal process being tested this year. Those who are eligible for auto-renewal should receive a postcard indicating they are approved by the end of April.  Everyone’s patience as we work through this process is appreciated.

2026 Fillable Application

For more information, feel free to contact the County Clerk’s office at 417-859-VOTE (8683).

May 21, 2026

The Webster County Commission would like to offer the public another in a series of updates regarding a data center project currently under construction on Rifle Range Road in rural Webster County – north and east of the City of Marshfield.

The Commission has contacted a number of federal and state regulatory agencies to ensure procedures are being followed, and to educate themselves further about the potential impacts stemming from the project.

In an earlier statement, the Commission pledged to share information from these agencies with the public; therefore, the two reports received thus far – one received from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the other from the Missouri Dept. of Conservation – are available here:

• MO DNR – email regarding groundwater usage
• MO Dept of Conservation – Natural Heritage Review

In addition, the Commission travelled to McDonald County on Monday, May 18^th to see a data center there.  We want to stress that the facility there is not the same as what is being built locally; however, the Commission felt it is within reasonable travel distance and might give some perspective on issues such as noise levels, etc.  Members of the public have asked that we share video taken during that visit, and so they are available here:

The Commission will continue to conduct business during its regular office hours on Monday and Tuesday mornings (excluding holidays) and will dedicate two specific half-hour timeslots on the agenda each session day for public comment on the subject.  We ask that groups be limited to no more than ten people due to having limited space available.

Thank you.

The Webster County Commission has heard from many residents regarding concerns about data centers, including requests for regulation, proposed ordinances, and a possible moratorium.

We appreciate the time and effort citizens have put into sharing their concerns and ideas. The Commission takes these issues seriously. At the same time, the County must act within the authority granted to it by Missouri law. Because Webster County does not currently have planning and zoning, the Commission’s authority to regulate land use and development may be more limited than some of the proposals assume.

Based on the information reviewed to date, the proposed ordinances, as presented, raise significant questions about the scope of the County’s legal authority. That does not mean the concerns raised by residents are being ignored. It means the Commission must be careful to respond in a way that is lawful, enforceable, and defensible.

The County is committed to continuing to evaluate what provisions may be available to address citizen concerns while staying within the boundaries of the law.

We are grateful for the public’s continued engagement on this issue and will continue to listen as this process moves forward.

The Webster County Commission would like to offer the public an update of actions taken since the public meeting held on Monday, May 11th at the Marshfield High School Auditorium.

The Commission has contacted a number of federal and state regulatory agencies to ensure procedures are being followed, and to educate themselves further about the potential impacts stemming from the current project on Rifle Range Road. Representatives of federal elected officials have also been contacted for assistance.

In addition, the Commission has contacted other counties to learn of their experiences. For example, they plan to travel to McDonald County on Monday, May 18th to see a data center there.

Furthermore, the Commission is exploring the possibility of retaining outside litigation counsel to research the legality of adopting a moratorium on future data center development projects in the unincorporated areas of Webster County. The legal basis for the moratorium being considered could be the authority that might exist to control noise pollution under Section 49.950(3), dealing with nuisance abatement.

The Commission does not intend to attend or participate in either of the ‘town hall’ political rallies scheduled by candidates for State office on May 19th in Marshfield or May 27th in Fordland.

The Commission will continue to conduct business during their regular office hours on Monday and Tuesday mornings – and will dedicate specific times for public comment on the subject during those times. Factual public information that we receive along the way will be shared as we receive it.

The Webster County Commission will hold its regular session from 8 am to noon on Monday, May 11. Due to the increase in expected attendance, the 10 am meeting requested by Katherine Wiltse to discuss Data Centers will take place at the Carl and Glessie Young Community Auditorium located in the Marshfield High School, at 370 State Highway DD, Marshfield.

Again, the normal meeting of the County Commission on Monday, May 11th will begin in the Commission Room of the County Courthouse as usual.  The portion (10am-Noon) dealing with data centers is being moved to the high school auditorium.

Thank you.

Recently, our community learned through a social media post of a data center to be located outside the city limits of Marshfield on Rifle Range Road.  Since that time, a significant number of people from inside the community and out have expressed concern about the potential environmental and other impacts that might arise from a large hyper-scale data center.

Initially, the Webster County Commission was unaware of the development.  Since that time, the Commission has reached out to the developer – who has been very open and forthright in sharing information about the project.

The information provided describes the project as a “small-scale high-performance computing facility”.  It will be situated on a five-acre site.  The building dimensions are roughly 70×200.

It will be cooled by a closed-loop system, with water usage estimated at a few hundred gallons a month.  Water will be supplied by a standard residential-style well, with an approximate depth of 500ft and capacity of 20 gallons per minute.  There will be no chemical discharge, and no hazardous materials released.  Likewise, there will be no air pollution or emissions.  The project described will have a lesser environmental impact that many standard commercial facilities or residential subdivisions.

One additional concern is noise.  The developer has given assurances that the noise will be comparable to standard commercial HVAC equipment.  There will be additional measures to mitigate the potential of off-site noise through the construction of an earthen berm around the facility and strategic equipment placement and buffering.

In short, this particular development does not appear to be one of the massive, resource-consuming hyperscale data centers that have been built elsewhere in the country.

The developer has not asked for any tax abatement or economic development incentives.

The County Commission is appreciative of the concerns brought forward, and will continue to share factual information as best it can.

Click here for Unofficial Results from the April 7, 2026, General Municipal Election.