Archive for 2017

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. Cheryl Parker, the Dent County Court Advocate from the Russell House in Rolla, was in to ask the commission if she could put a banner up on the courthouse lawn for Domestic Violence Month. She said she would also be placing small purple flags in the ground in honor of those who have suffered domestic abuse in Dent County. This has been done the last few years and the commission approved her request. In the road report, District One Commissioner Dennis Purcell said patch grading would be done and materials added on Dent County Road 5610. He said brush would be cut on county road 5400 and two men will be doing chip and seal repairs on Dent County Roads 4220 and 5220. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson reported patch grading would be done on county roads 4430 and 5300 while brush was going to be cut on Dent County Roads 2580, 2610 and 2613. He went on to say two men would be replacing a serpentine belt on Dent County Truck #124 and doing other maintenance, and two men would be installing pipes on Dent County Roads 2510 and 2560. Dent County Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles asked residents in Dent County to refrain from any type of outdoor burning during this extremely dry stretch of weather. He is asking people to please not burn any trash or do any open burning as winds are expected to gust over 20 mph the next couple of days that could lead to a widespread fire quickly. He also is reminding people to be careful when cutting high grass or bushhogging where a spark could set fields on fire. The commission was expecting a visit from Steve Davis from Shive-Hattery on the jail and justice center project. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Thursday morning at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Board of Aldermen met Monday in the City Hall Council Chambers. The board approved a bid from C&E Auto Sales of $24,788 for a pickup for the street department, approved a $10,009.04 bid from Roberts Judson Company of Salem for materials to replace the roof on the Salem Police Department, and approved the recommendation of the Salem Park and Recreation Board to enter into contract negotiations with Westport Pools, Inc for the renovation and repair of the Alice Lou Craig Municipal Pool. After the consent agenda, Salem Parks and Recreation Director Tye Lydon gave his report from the Park and Recreation Board meetings held last week. This included program updates on Flag Football that begins this Saturday, and the Youth Basketball Program that will begin on December 2nd. Signups will begin soon for children 3-12 years of age for $25 per child. He also went over the numerous improvements made including new trash dispensers, new and refurbished picnic tables at all the parks, the repaired teetor-totter at Midyett Park, new benches at the Salem Tennis Courts, the basketball court being painted Carolina Blue, the main pavilion being painted blue and the chimney cleaned. He also said new equipment is going into the park restrooms including new louvered metal doors, soap dispensers, towel dispensers, grab bars and an exhaust fan. He said the new splash pad will be installed on April 16, 2018 by My Splash Pad and the board approved the donation of a new concrete box with ledges for the skateboard park that was donated by the Salem Skateboarders. City Administrator Ray Walden thanked everyone for attending the ribbon cutting of Billy’s Playground at the City Park, and stated the electronics and tire collection in Salem Saturday went well. He said he attended an MPUA meeting where they discussed concerns about cyber security of utility systems. Walden said the City Administrative Offices would be closed on Monday, October 9th for Columbus Day. The board approved Bill #3343 to establish a policy for net metering in the City of Salem, and approved Bill #3344 that allows the mayor to enter into a contract with Westport Pools, Inc. for professional consulting services for the repair and renovation of the Alice Lou Craig Municipal Pool. Mayor Brad Nash then appointed Harold Tubbs to the airport board and the aldermen approved his recommendation before the board went into closed session.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released some reports. On September 25th, deputies spoke with an individual at the Dent County Sheriff’s Office in reference to a stolen gun. The gun was a Smith and Weston Model 686 six shot revolver. It is stainless steel with a six inch barrel and wooden grips. The gun was taken from a residence on County Road 2403 and was last seen in January. The report is still under investigation. On September 26th, deputies conducted an investigation at a residence in the 2000 block of Route H. While inside the residence, deputies located a 35-year old Licking man that had seven warrants for his arrest. He was taken into custody and was later extradited to Texas County. On Wednesday, September 27th, deputies conducted a traffic stop on South Sligo Street near West Gibbs. As a result of the stop, a 35-year old Salem woman was arrested for driving without a valid license. She was fingerprinted, issued a summons to appear in court and released. That same day, deputies responded to the 1000 block of County Road 6090 in reference to a burglary. It was reported that an electric grinder and chainsaw were stolen from an abandoned house on the property. This report is still under investigation.Also on the 27th, deputies conducted a traffic stop in the 3000 block of Dent County Road 4110. During the course of the stop, it was discovered that a passenger, a 26-year old Salem woman, had a warrant for her arrest. She was taken into custody and incarcerated in the Dent County Jail. Thursday, September 28th, deputies responded to the 45000 block of Highway 72 in reference to a theft. It was reported that three 14-day old pitbull puppies had been stolen. They are described as a blue and white male, a brindle and white female, and a blue dots male. This report is still under investigation. If anyone has information regarding any ongoing investigation, call the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 729-3241.

The Salem Board of Aldermen will meet tonight at 7:00 at the City Hall Council Chambers at 7:00. At the meeting, the board will hear bids for a pickup for the street department, bids for a new roof at the Salem Police Department and hear the park board’s recommendation of a firmfrom the request for qualifications for the Alice Craig Municipal Pool. After the consent agenda, the board will receive a report for Park and Recreation Director Tye Lydon from the two Park Board meetings held last week, hear from City Administrator Ray Walden and also Mayor Brad Nash. In the introduction and reading of bills, the board will hear about Bill #3343 that would create an ordinance for the city to adopt a new metering service policy; and about Bill #3344 that would authorize the mayor to execute an agreement between the City of Salem and Westport Pools, Inc for professional consulting services for repairs and renovations to the city pool. The board will also hear from a request from Mayor Nash to make an appointment to the airport board before going into closed session to discuss contracts. The Board of Aldermen meeting tonight is open to the public.