County Executive Dennis Gannon called his final State of the County address “a bittersweet moment.”
About 280 attended Jefferson County Growth Association’s State of the County event, which was held Monday at Northwest High School in Cedar Hill.
Gannon said last year he would not run again after seven years in the county executive position, and so this address would be his last update to local, state and federal elected officials. Local businesspeople, first responders and school representatives also attended the breakfast.
Gannon recapped 2025 in his speech, highlighting the county’s latest accomplishments, including purchasing 28 acres in rural Festus to create a youth soccer park; adopting a new master plan; creating a task force to curb opioid addiction; and initiating a site selection process for a new airport.
He also stressed the importance of working together as a county to move forward on major projects, such as the Herculaneum port, operated by the Port Authority, and improving the ancillary roads leading to and from the James Hardie Building Products facility, currently under development in Crystal City.
“Over the past seven years, we have faced many challenges, economic trends, ups and downs, public health crises, aging infrastructure and continued, growing demands for government to deliver more,” Gannon said. “There has been, unfortunately, some political tension and strife, tension that was unnecessary and at times slowed our progress.
“Dedicated public sector employees show up every day to serve the members of the public. Unfortunately, sometimes they face hostilities, social media attacks and inexcusable political gamesmanship. None of this furthers the common good of the county.”
JCGA board member David Hovis also gave an update for the association. He highlighted JCGA’s newsletter called “One Voice, One Plan,” which is sent out quarterly and emphasizes businesspeople working together to improve the county. For more information on the newsletter, visit jcgamo.org.
“I think our goal really is to encourage business owners to hire from within the county, grow their businesses in the county, and grow this county in a responsible way so that our children and our grandchildren will live, work and play here as well,” Hovis said. “It seems like today there’s a lot of iciness, and that does not help us do things. The only way we’re going to move things forward is if we work together.”
The Northwest High School Lionette Dance Team performed a routine for the attendees, and students in the school’s choir sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
District students Hunter Williams, Payton Sinclair, Brianna Payne and Samson Crockett emceed the event.
Co-interim Superintendent Doréan Dow shared at the event that the district is nearly finished with the projects funded through the $28 million Proposition S bond issue, approved by voters in April 2023.
Dow said the bond issue allowed the district to build an addition to the high school that included a renovated gymnasium and a weight room, build a new gymnasium at House Springs Elementary School and put in a fine arts addition at Valley Middle School.
“Our projects have been completed on time and under budget,” Dow said. “With these beautiful and updated campuses, we are providing opportunities for our students to open doors to their future.”
The Windsor C-1 School District will host next year’s State of the County event, likely to be held on President’s Day, Feb. 15, 2027.
At the end of Gannon’s speech, he asked the leaders in the audience to live by his motto: “Just tell the truth.”
“I have seen those who have nothing positive or productive to add to the discussion interject this word ‘transparency,’” Gannon said. “I have also seen this word transparency used by people who do not operate in the same manner as your county government continues to deliver for you, from the basic county services our residents, businesses and nonprofits need to succeed.
“Our county is at a crossroads,” Gannon continued. “Which way will we go? My wish is that we all go forward.
“If you find yourself to be a candidate for reelection or a new candidate, you may find yourself on a watch list. Always do the right thing and tell the truth. The result shouldn’t do just what pleases you in a small group; it should be what is best for the county.”