Archive for 2018

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Thursday morning in the Courthouse. In the road report, District One Commissioner Dennis Purcell said that with the four to nine tenths of an inch rain in District One and high winds most of his crew was out checking for downed limbs and clogged culverts and crossover pipes. He noted that brush was being cut on Dent County Road 6220 and a man was working on repairs to the chip and seal dura-patcher. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson reported that materials were being hauled to Dent County Road 5240, plus patch grading would be done on that roadway. He stated he also had a man working on the chip and seal dura-patcher and that the rest of his crew was checking roads for downed limbs and clogged pipes. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles had nothing to report. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said that bills were being approved by the Commissioners for payment. She went on to say that she balanced with the treasurer on all accounts for the month of April, plus she also balanced with the collector and assessor on monthly collections, abatements and add-ons for April. The Commissioners reviewed her reports. Curley added that the Board of Equalization will be meeting July 16th at 1:00 in the Commissioners Office and that the Courthouse will be closed Tuesday in observance of President Harry Truman’s Birthday. At the last meeting the Commissioners agreed to seek bids for financing the lease/purchase of two new graders at $84,577.62 per grader. The next meeting of the Commissioners will be Monday morning in the Courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

Three projects in the Meramec Region received funding through Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) distributed by the Missouri Department of Economic Development. The recipients of the grants include Bourbon, Pulaski County and Dent County. CDBG funding for the projects totals to $1.2 million. The CDBG program is a flexible program that provides communities with resources to address a wide range of unique community development needs. The city of Bourbon received funding from CDBG to allow East Pine Street to be reconstructed from College Street to Route N. The reconstruction is to include new water lines, sanitary sewer lines, storm sewers, sidewalk repairs and street paving. Pulaski County received a the CDBG grant on behalf of the Pulaski County Sheltered Workshop to renovate the facility located at 3 Industrial Drive in Richland. Dent County received a grant on behalf of the Dent County Fire Protection District to provide upgrades to the Fire Station at 2 South Main Street in Salem. The building was built in 1969 and is a former car dealership and requires some upgrades to meet the needs of a fire station. The building is used for public meeting space and will receive upgrades to make it accessible and more user friendly. The project will replace the roof with a Thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) roofing system, add more and larger bay doors and replace the parking lot with a heavier base for the larger vehicles that now use the space. Also, concrete aprons will be added at the new bay doors. Inside the building, the existing public restrooms will be expanded and retrofitted to meet ADA requirements, and a new ADA restroom will be constructed. A new personnel restroom will be constructed to include showers. Finally, a new public entrance will be constructed for the meeting rooms with a lobby and an accessible entrance. Total funding from CDBG for this project is $350,000. The cost of the project is being supplemented by a US Rural Development loan and in-kind work from the county. Completion is expected around June 2019.

The City of Salem wants to remind city residents that the Spring Clean-Up Weeks will be held on Monday, May 7th and again on Monday, May 14th. You can put excess items to be disposed off on the curb where your trash is normally picked up. Old appliances, lawns mowers, etc can be put at the curb during the Spring Clean Up weeks. You can also put out yard waste that includes leaves, grass clippings, branches, and general yard debris. Please don’t combine with wood fencing, landscape timbers, flower pots, yard decorations, mulch, or dirt. Yard waste can only be collected in tied bags or bundles. Grass clippings and leafy debris should be placed at the curb in biodegradable trash bags that are available at the City Administrative Offices. Branches and limbs should be no longer than four (4) feet in length, and six (6) inches in diameter. All branches and limbs should be tied in bundles weighing less than 50 pounds, and bundles should be stacked uniformly at the curb. You cannot put out old tires, old car or lawn batteries, or motor oil or other oil accessories, or paint cans with any paint in them for pickup.

The Spring Community Wide Yard Sale this Saturday morning officially begins at 7:00 throughout the city of Salem and beyond. Please be careful on the road of drivers looking for yard sales where they may stop or turn suddenly or slow down without warning to gaze at items on display. A great way to display items off the road is at the City Administration parking lot behind the City Administration Building at 4th & Iron Street for $8.00 per space. There are still some spaces available, but hurry, they are reserved on a first come, first served basis. For more information or to reserve your space, call 729-2428.

Congressman Jason Smith congratulated Congressional Art Competition finalists and winner during a reception at the Southeast Missouri State University River Campus on Monday evening, May 1st. Avery Coffman, a senior at Salem R-80, won the 8th Congressional District Competition with a work of the St. Jude Chapel in Montauk, MO. The piece was completed by burning a drawing of the church into a piece of wood. The work of the St. Jude Chapel will be displayed in the United States Capitol for a full year and Avery will receive 2 round trip tickets to Washington, DC to attend the Congressional Art Competition reception with other winners from around the country. 11th grader Marlene Schuh, also of Salem, was also a finalist.

An accident occurred Tuesday, April 24th on Highway 19. According to the Salem Police report, a 2001 Honda FXDWG, driven by Marcus Sapaugh, was east bound on Franklin and stopped at a stop sign waiting to turn left when he failed to see a northbound 2008 Mazda 3, driven by Penny Lanham, The Mazda attempted to avoid Sapaugh by swerving, and Sapaugh attempted to avoid Lanham by laying down on the left side. Sapaugh was ejected from the Honda as the vehicles collided. The Mazda sustained minor damage, and the Honda sustained Moderate damage. Sapaugh sustained minor injuries and was transported to Salem Memorial District Hospital by ambulance.

An accident happened Tuesday afternoon at 2:52 on Highway 72 about five miles south of Rolla. According to the highway patrol report, a 2008 Ford Explorer driven southbound by 76-year old Roberta Allman of Rolla, was making a left turn into a private drive and was struck from behind by a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze driven southbound by 18-year old Karlie Johns of Salem. The collision caused the Explorer to overturn and travel off the left side of the roadway. Johns and Allman both suffered minor injuries and were taken by the Phelps County Ambulance to the Phelps County Regional Medical Center. They were both wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Chevrolet was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitakers Towing. The Explorer was also totaled and removed from the scene by Ron Dishman’s Towing.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors held their May meeting Tuesday evening at the fire station. After approval of the agenda and minutes from the previous meeting, the Board reviewed and approved the bills as presented. The budget was reviewed with a general revenue balance at the end of April of $148,779.15. The balance for same dates in 2017 was $92,161.07. The monthly reimbursement report was presented with a total of 36 calls for the month. No further information was available as the department was at a pallet fire on Highway 119 for most of the day. In old business, it was reported that engine 85 is still in the shop for Department of Transportation lights to be installed and updated. The sub frame is also being repaired and structurally increased. Truck 89 radios are being installed, programmed and set up for the command center. Work on truck 89 should be completed this week. Chief Brad Nash presented the board with copies of lawyer agreements, lease agreement, and warranty deed paperwork for review by the board. This paperwork is necessary for the completion of the grant the department received from the USDA and will be discussed at the next meeting. Chief Nash also reported the new UTV is outfitted and in service. The UTV can be used for various jobs ranging from brush fires to search and rescue. June 5th was set for the next meeting to take place at 6:00 p.m. at the fire station and the meeting was adjourned.

The Missouri Department of Conservation is reviewing regulations of the Wildlife Code of Missouri regarding gigging on Ozark streams and wants public input through a brief online survey regarding timing of the season, season length, and comments. You can share your input on gigging on Ozark streams through the Missouri Department of Conservation homepage at mdc.mo.gov under GIGGING FEEDBACK. Please take the survey by June 15.