Archive for 2019

The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors met for the regular meeting Tuesday at the hospital library. Sara Barton told the Board about her family’s difficulties as they care for her mother who is struggling with Alzheimer’s and Dementia. She said she learned that there is a four year waiting list for the Long Term Care at SMDH and that she was considering seeking care for her mother in Steelville, because she was not confident in other institutions in Salem. Barton sought the Hospital’s advice and wondered why SMDH could not expand the Long Term Care Unit. Administrator Casey Lucas explained to Barton that Medicare standards require 80% occupancy in order to expand, but percentage is based on the entire county, which has an occupancy rate at about 66%. COO Chris Strickland said that Federal Regulations are the determining factor. Lucas said he’d search for possible answers and options. Strickland said to contact legislators and explain how dire the situation is. Deborah Hobson, EMS Director, explained the department changes and improvements with emphasis on technology and staffing improvements over the last 15 years. She also went over changes in treatment and procedures, EMS roles and duties, and ambulance calls which have increased from less than 1,500 to over 2,400 per year. Jason Mayberry, Emergency Department Director, said that he has worked for over 18 years in emergency departments in small hospitals, as well as large hospitals, and SMDH has the busiest emergency department he has worked in. He said the department sees 9,250 to 9,800 patients per year with an average of 25 to 27 per day. Mayberry said that on the highest volume day there were 50 patients through the department. In the summary of operations for May, Lucas reported on the gain from operations of $156,314 with an excess of revenues over expenses of $159,926 for the month. In May there were 95 patients admitted to the hospital and the number of acute care patients per day for May came in at 15.4. Inpatient Census Days for medical and surgery patients during May were 301 reported. The cash flow statement showed a decrease in cash of $116,221 for the month with days in accounts receivable increasing to 60. Chief Nursing Officer Debbie Hines said that the hospital is short nurses so they are using “agency” nurses and that those nurses have generally been positive and contributing to morale and operation. She said that in the month of May the department changed to an Acute Care Staffing by Patient Acuity system which showed average acuity per day at 32.4 and average patients per day at 14.8. Hines noted that when compared year to year the Hospital is seeing sicker patients each year over the last three years. The days cash-on-hand for the hospital stands at 60 year-to-date and that is consistent with the Critical Access Hospital state average of 65 for Critical Access Hospitals and equal to the rural hospital average of 60. Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas said the Hospital Auxiliary did not meet and they will be meeting September 3rd. Chief Operating Officer Chris Strickland reported on the hospital foundation and the very successful Annual Foundation Golf Tournament held on June 7th at the Spring Creek Golf Club. He said that approximately $18,500 was raised, which exceeds last year by more that $6,000. Strickland said the “Wings and Strings” fundraiser on August 3rd is progressing nicely, plus the goal is for 1,500 attending. He said the next meeting of the Hospital Foundation will be August 7th. Strickland, who was attending his last board meeting as he’s returning to Texas, noted that the Community Marketing and Perception had ongoing support groups for Stroke and Diabetes, plus Jason Mayberry and Cathy Haynes would be presenters during the Kids Summer Camp. The FY’20 Operating Budget and FY’20 Capital Budgets were approved. Lucas updated the board on the expansion project. He said design wrap-up was expected by mid July, with SMDH approving the final design by mid September. The goal is for bids to go out October 1st with bid approval being November 1st. Renovation bids were approved for the Long Term Care central bath and restroom and the patient room window replacements. The Board approved purchase of an EPOC Reader replacement from Fisher Healthcare for $7,300, a Urinalysis Analyzer replacement for $8,511 from McKesson, and an ambulance from American Response Vehicle for $170,644 before going into closed session.

The City of Salem Planning and Zoning Board of Commissioners will hold a workshop Monday, June 24th, at 6:00 in the City Hall Council Chambers to continue the review of the proposed zoning updates to Missouri Amendment 2. The meeting, called by Planning and Zoning Chairman Gary Brown, is open to the public.

Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk wants to remind anyone who still has delinquent real estate taxes from 2016 that you will need to pay them IN FULL by Friday, June 28th during regular business hours from 8:00 in the morning until 4:30 in the afternoon. If you fail to do so, then on July 1st, the taxes from 2016, 2017 and 2018 will be declared due by August 23rd, 2019. If not paid by then, your parcel will be sold at the Delinquent Tax Sale that will be held on Monday, August 26th, 2019. Check payments will no longer be accepted so you will need to pay with cash, cashier’s check, money order, debit or credit card. If you are not sure this applies to you or you do not understand how the system works, you need to call the Dent County Collector’s Office immediately so that it can be explained to you. This is very important so do not put it off any longer. Call the Dent County Collectors Office at 573-729-3911 with any questions you may have or stop by the Dent County Courthouse. Also, after June 28th, there will be an additional $25 per parcel added to the tax bill to pay for advertising costs in the Salem News. Remember, only the taxes for 2016 need to be paid IN FULL by Friday, June 28th to give you another whole year to pay the other outstanding years.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will hold their regular meeting at 6:00 this Thursday evening at the Salem District Administrative Offices Boardroom. The Board will review and approve all previous minutes and bills, approve the attendance report, approve the Food Service report, approve the substitute list, and approve Program Evaluations for Technology, Discipline/Safety, Facilities and Grounds. At the meeting, the board will hear an update from Superintendent John McColloch including a facility condition assessment, summer school update and board of education committee assignments. After the Principals’ Building Reports the Board will consider adoption of the 2019-2020 Budget. They will then address new business including; 2018-2019 Budget revisions, MSBA 2019A Update and surplus property bids. The Board will hear resignations and then adjourn and move into an executive session. The June regular monthly meeting of the Salem R-80 Board of Education is open to the public.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is proposing increases to the prices of its annual trout permits and daily trout tags starting in 2020. According to MDC, the increases are needed to better cover its costs of running five trout hatcheries that raise and release more than 1.7 million trout each year for public fishing. If the price increases are implemented, starting in 2020 the cost of an annual trout permit will go from $7 to $10 for anglers 16 years of age and older and from $3.50 to $5 for anglers ages 15 and younger. The cost of a daily trout tag to fish at Missouri’s four trout parks — Maramec Spring Park, Bennett Spring State Park, Montauk State Park, and Roaring River State Park — will go from $3 to $4 for adults and from $2 to $3 for those 15 years of age and younger. A trout permit is required to possess trout, except in trout parks where a daily trout fishing tag is required during the catch-and-keep season. In addition, a trout permit is required for winter fishing in trout parks during the catch-and-release season. To fish for trout, you must also have a fishing permit or qualify for an exemption. According to MDC, the annual cost of fish food and staff labor to raise a trout in 2003 was about $1 per fish. The annual cost in 2017 had jumped to nearly twice that amount. Those five fish hatcheries — Bennett Spring, Montauk, Shepherd of the Hills, Roaring River, and Maramec Spring Park – also require regular maintenance, and several have been damaged numerous times in recent years by spring flooding. MDC has spent more than $11 million over the past decade on repairs and improvements to the hatcheries. MDC also reports that utility costs for the five hatcheries have increased by more than 25% since 2008. The proposed price increases for annual trout permits and daily trout tags were given initial approval by the Missouri Conservation Commission at its May 23 meeting. As part of the rulemaking process, MDC is asking for public comments on the changes during July and early August at short.mdc.mo.gov/Z49. To comment on proposed price increases for trout permits, refer to “3 CSR 10-5.430 Trout Permit.” For daily trout tags, refer to “3 CSR 10-5.250 Daily Hunting or Fishing Tags.” The Commission will consider input received and make a final decision to move forward, modify, or withdraw the changes during its Aug. 23 meeting. If approved, the anticipated effective date of the changes would be Feb. 29, 2020.

Dent County Sheriff Bob Wells wanted to let the public know that the Dent County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting a safety “spot check” in Dent County on June 21st. They are asking anyone who is stopped at the check to have their driver’s license and proof of insurance available and ready to present to the officer.

The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce will be holding “Business After Hours” tonight starting at 6:00 at Slabs Grill on Highway 19 North. This “Business After Hours” will be similar to a regular Chamber Luncheon, and Slabs Grill will give the presentation. This event is open to all chamber members at no cost and you can bring a guest. Please contact Tabitha at the Chamber office at 729-6900 and let her know if you will be going and bringing a guest as she will need a headcount.