Local News – Friday, May 26th, 2017

Salem Parks and Recreation Director Tye Lydon has announced that due to some emergency concrete repair work needed on the Alice Craig Municipal Pool at the Salem City Park, the tentative opening date for the pool has been moved from this Saturday back to at least Thursday, June 1st. The Parks and Recreation Department apologizes for the inconvenience this delay may cause and hopes you have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.

The Dent County Commissioners met for regular meeting Thursday morning in the Dent County Courthouse. Dent County Collector Dennis Medlock was in to share information about merchant and business licenses. He said that according to Chapter 150 of the Missouri State Statutes anyone that collects sales tax must have a Missouri Sales and Use Tax License, irregardless of whether it is a brick and mortar or internet business. Medlock said the business must have a Dent County Merchants License, plus if they conduct business within the city limits they must have a Salem Business License, which can be obtained at the City of Salem Administrative Offices. Medlock said that the number on the Missouri Sales and Use Tax License appears on the county merchant’s license and if there are any questions, stop by his office or consult the Missouri Statutes. In the road report, District One Commissioner Dennis Purcell said that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 6580 and 6190, plus materials would be added to and grading would be done on county roads 6010, 6460 and 5630. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson said that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 5320 and 5280, while materials would be added to county roads 2110, 2530, and 2370. He added the brush cutter would be finishing up on county road 4050 and then moving to Dent County Road 3340. Larson noted that he had two men finishing the repairs on low water crossings on county road 2110. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said that on Tuesday, the Commissioners and Sheriff Bob Wells had toured the jail in Dunklin County. The Commissioners and Steve Davis, architect with Shive-Hattery, reviewed the pros and cons of the Dunklin County facility. Skiles also noted that he wanted to compliment the National Park Service for getting the upper part of the Current River open for this very busy weekend. Sheriff Wells joined the meeting and Davis then lead a very lengthy discussion of various tentative plans, sketches, options, possible changes, etc. Bids for a Construction Management Agency were opened and the only two bidders were Cahill Construction and Septagon Industries of Sedalia. The Commissioners decided to conduct interviews the afternoon of June 1st. In a 3-0 vote, the Commissioners approved signing an amended agreement for geotechnical exploration. Mike Swyers was in to observe the Jail Project discussion. At the Monday meeting on May 22nd, the Commissioners voted to seek bids on a truck for the Road and Bridge Department and Jim Kostchedoff came in to talk to the Commissioners. Also on Monday Kelly Jamison Smith was in to discuss the Drug Court Budget and the Commissioners suggested she speak to Judge Pearson and they will work with her to get the issue fixed. There will be no meeting of the Commission Monday due to the Memorial Day Holiday so their next meeting will be Thursday June 1st in the Courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

An accident happened in Dent County Thursday afternoon at 2:55 on Route K about two miles west of Highway 19. According to the highway patrol report, 19-year old Nathan Cook of Salem was driving a 2007 Sterling Dump Truck westbound went he drove off the right side of the roadway, returned to the road, over-corrected and overturned. Cook suffered moderate injuries and was flown by Air Evac to the Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. He was wearing a seat restraint. The dump truck sustained extensive damage and was towed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing.

There will be an informational meeting held at Montauk State Park on Saturday June 3rd. The meeting will be held at the campground amphitheater from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Input from the public is important to the department. These informational meetings give staff the opportunity to let people know the current status and future plans for the park or site, and they offer visitors the opportunity to comment on the facilities. Staff from the park will be on hand to provide information about the park and answer questions. The public is invited to share comments about the park and its operations.