Local News – May 5, 2017
The Dent County Commissioners held their regular meeting Thursday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. In road reports, District One Commissioner Dennis Purcell reported that crews have been working to get all roads open, but there are still a couple roads closed, but have at least one way in and out. Crews are monitoring low water crossings and that they now have an additional backhoe to help with the situation. He wanted to thank the road crews for diligently working 13 hour days in trying to cope with the damage from the weekend rains, plus the latest additional rain of anywhere from 2-3 inches. He stated that it would take several dry days before some of the softer roads could even begin to have any form of reconstruction work done on them. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson reported that crews were out repairing roads. He stated that patching as well as materials would be hauled to Dent County Roads 2150 and 2120 while materials only would be added to county road 2313. Dent County Road 2300 has been temporarily closed off of DD Highway until the water goes down whereby at that time the safety of the road can be assessed. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles wanted to remind everyone to please be careful driving over low water crossings. Skiles reported that he and Commissioners Purcell and Larson along with Dent County Sheriff Wells went to the Texas County jail in Houston for a tour of the facility. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported that bills were being approved. The Road and Bridge Department had taken phone bids for fuel and Phil Mart was awarded the bid of $1.63 a gallon for 7,000 gallons of diesel fuel while County Fuels LLC was awarded the bid of $1.75 per gallon for 1,000 gallons of regular fuel. Steve Davis with Shive-Hattery came in to visit about the jail, proposed design and stated that he would like to have a CM (construction manager) on board before June. The Commission discussed and agreed 3-0 to seek RFC’s (Request For Qualifications) for a CM. Requests are due by May 24th at 4:30 pm in the County Clerks Office. Those requests will be opened on Thursday, May 25th at 10:00 am. Betty Gettemier stopped with a signed petition of residents on Dent Count Road 6350 requesting a speed limit sign of 25 MPH be posted on the road. The Commission voted 3-0 to approve the request and signs will be posted. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.
The City of Salem’s Capital Improvement Committee will be conducting a meeting, called by Alderman Haydn Powell, Chairman of the Committee, on Monday, May 8th at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory beginning at 7:00 pm. The purpose of the meeting is to review 2016-2017 projects and proposed projects for 2017-2018. The meeting of the City of Salem Capital Improvement Committee is open to the public.
On Tuesday, May 9th, a Dent County non-profits – Riverways Pregnancy and Family Resource Center, Bonebrake Center, and Salem Public Schools Foundation – will be participating in“Give Meramec”, a one-day, online fundraising event for agency partners of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks. Using the power of the Cause Momentum crowd-funding website, nonprofits from Meramec Region will have the chance to raise funds, compete for matches and prizes and be a part of a one-day, 24-hour period of giving across the state. Give Meramec is from midnight to midnight on May 9th. Riverways hopes to raise $2,000 for their parenting education programs and baby supplies to at-risk families in our area. Bonebrake hopes to raise $5,000 to “glam” the bathroom in their facility. The Salem Public Schools Foundation is a way to donate back to Salem Public Schools and school organizations. On May 9th, donors can log onto givemeramec.giveozarks.org and search for these local nonprofits to complete a basic credit-card donation. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by the IRS. Over the past two years, the region-wide online giving day, known as “Give Ozarks”, has raised more than $2 million for more than 150 non-profits across the region. Thousands of donors made online gifts ranging from $5 to $10,000 to support non-profits. For those wishing to donate in person, they may come to the Bonebrake Center at 601 North Hickory Street between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm and if you chose to donate prior to the event, call the Bonebrake Center at 729-3400 or the Riverways Pregnancy and Family Resource Center located at 1600 Doss Road. For more information about the organizations participating or how to donate, please visit givemeramec.giveozarks.org or call Meramec Regional