Archive for 2020

The Salem Board of Aldermen held a regular meeting Monday at the City Hall Council Chambers. The board heard from Bill Parsons who asked permission to close a portion of East 4th Street from Water Street to Pershing Avenue and Water Street from East 4th Street to East 3rd Street for their annual street fest. The board approved his request. After the consent agenda was approved, City Administrator Ray Walden reported that FEMA has funds available for new flood plain maps that would be online and interactive. Walden said a public hearing on the flood plain would be held at a later date. He said there would be a Planning and Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting on June 15th at 6:00 in the Council Chambers. Walden said the consultant report just arrived and would be sent out to the alderman for their review. He also said the Missouri S & T Project Management Class has sent their project report and that will also be available for anyone who would like to review it. Walden said the city offices were able to get out about 1,000 utility bills last week and have ramped up their efforts this week to get out the remaining 1,700 as soon as possible. Mayor Brad Nash said a written statement on the utility situation and a frequently asked question page will be posted on the city’s Facebook page. Alderwoman Kim Steelman asked City Administrator Walden to describe the problem of the integration of two different softwares. She said they were assured by the AMI company that the software was compatible as they have worked together before in other cities, but the Encoder Billing Software Salem has can’t interpret the read files and the companies are working at finding the solution to that problem. The city put out a request for qualifications for an auditor and the only response the city received was from their current auditor, Kristen Deluca of K Deluca Auditing. Salem Park and Recreation Director Melissa DuBois asked the alderman if there would be an ordinance created that would protect the city concession stand in the Salem City Park from food and ice cream trucks. She said with the reduction in Sales Tax this year, the Park and Recreation Department needs every penny they can get and that includes concessions in order to continue to offer the programs they do. The Board approved Resolution #12-2020 that is an agreement with the city and N.B. West Contracting to provide nova chips for the installation of approximately 40,000 square yards on various streets at $7.50 a square yard through August. Alderman James wanted to make sure the city got their 40,000 square yards and Public Works Director Mark Nash said the trucks hauling the material are weighed before and after they are filled with material and that is put on a ticket that must be presented at the job. He will keep track of those tickets. The board approved Resolution #13-2020 which is an agreement with the Dent County Commons for the discharging of fireworks for $1,500 and also to provide grass cutting services and more. The board asked if that could be moved to a different location like the city park, but Mayor Nash says new fire regulations have eliminated virtually every location in town. The board approved Bill #3450 that prohibits ice cream trucks, food trucks, food trailers and carts to sell food or refreshments in the Salem City Park without authorization from the Park and Rec Director or City Administrator. Alderman James also said an ordinance on excessive noise needs to be considered as he knows some of the vendors have had generators that have a noise level over 85 decibels in their trucks which is above industry acceptable levels without ear protection. He also said he would like to have the previous bill apply to more than just the city parks and include other city properties. The meeting was then adjourned.

The Dent County Commission and Meramec Regional Planning Commission will be hosting a meeting for county departments, the city of Salem, political subdivisions and public entities qualified for CARES Act funding this afternoon at 1:00 at the Salem Community Center@ the Armory located at 1200 W. Rolla Road in Salem. The purpose of the meeting is to provide guidance on the CARES Act, discuss eligible expenses and the application process, specific to Dent County’s funding. They will NOT be discussing business grants at this meeting as that process is still being researched. The meeting is open to everyone who is interested.

City of Salem Public Works Director Mark Nash said there will be no water sales at 3rd and Grand Streets at the city water department building until further notice. A pump has to be replaced and he will let the public know when water will be available again for sale.

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning for their regular meeting. Salem and Dent County Economic Development Director Sally Burbridge was in attendance top provide the commission with her report for April. She mentioned there were two ongoing economic prospects that moved forward in the last month including an Ag project that has secured funding and is currently in property negotiations and a food services project that had a recent on-site discussion. She also said the Certified Site Application is moving forward as a request was submitted to the Department of Natural Resources for a Phase 1 environmental site assessment is to be performed and paid for by DNR, plus a survey of the parcels is currently underway that would also include utility mapping. Burbridge said she is still researching other communities for a voluntary program that can range from completely city funded to a partial owner funded program. She provided statistics on the housing market in Salem as well as Dent County. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell indicated that materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 5220 and 6520 while grading only would be done on county roads 5450 and 5600. Purcell said a man was going to Springfield to get oil for chip and seal repair. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said grading was going to be done on Dent County Roads 2080, 2090, 2533, 2580, 2610 and 2613. He also said materials would be added and grading done on county roads 3295 and 5240. Larson went on to say brush would be cut on county roads 3220, 3230, 3240. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported a CARES Act meeting will be held Thursday afternoon at 1:00 at the Salem Community Center@The Armory to discuss the public entity portion of the act only and the meeting is open to all interested entities. Representatives from the Meramec Regional Planning Commission will be there discussing applications, forms, and procedures for public entities to take in applying for these funds from the county. Public entities include the Dent County Health Department, Salem Memorial District Hospital, City of Salem, etc. The private business grant portion of the act has still not been clearly defined and another meeting will be held when MRPC has further clarification on how that will be done. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley wanted to remind everyone the Municipal Election ends tonight at 7:00 and the last day to register for the August Primary for state and county office holders will be July 8th. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Monday at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

An accident happened in Dent County Sunday afternoon at 2:40 on Highway 19 about two miles south of Salem. According to the highway patrol report, a 2010 Chevy Cobalt driven northbound by 23-year old Briana Bacon of Salem, failed to negotiate a curve and traveled off the right side of the roadway, returned to the road and overcorrected. The Cobalt then crossed the center line and struck a 2006 Ford Focus driven southbound by 59-year old Susan Hathcock of Salem, before continuing on and going off the right side of the road where the car struck an embankment and overturned. Bacon suffered moderate injuries and was transported by the Salem EMS to the Salem Memorial District Hospital. Bacon was not wearing a set restraint at the time of the accident. The Cobalt sustained extensive damage and was towed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing. The Ford Focus sustained minor damage and was driven from the scene. The highway patrol was assisted at the scene by the Salem Police Department, the Dent County Sheriff’s Department, the Dent County Fire Protection District and two park rangers.

An accident happened in Dent County at 7:05 Sunday night on Route W about five miles east of Salem. According to the highway patrol report, a 2008 Kawasaki KLR 650 was being driven northbound on Route W by 46-year old Christopher Jella of Belle, when a dog ran into the path of and was struck by the Kawasaki. The vehicle began overturning as it was running off the right side of the roadway. Jella was ejected from the Kawasaki in the roadway. He was transported from the scene by Air Evac to the University Hospital in Columbia with serious injuries. Jella was wearing safety devices at the time of the accident. The Kawasaki was totaled and removed from the scene by American Muffler of Salem.

The Salem Police Department has releases some reports. In the afternoon on May 17th at approximately 1:25, an officer was dispatched to Wal-Mart for a report of a suspicious bag left in the lobby behind the coin machine. When the officer arrived, a male subject was holding the bag which was initially thought to contain a gun. A consent search of the bag was conducted, and marijuana paraphernalia was located inside the bag. The 36-year old Salem male who was in possession of the bag stated the marijuana paraphernalia was his. The male was arrested and issued a summons to appear in court. On the evening of May 18th at about 5:12, an officer conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Washington and Franklin Streets for failing to signal. During the traffic stop, a consent to search the vehicle was obtained and marijuana paraphernalia was located. The driver, a 33-year old Salem man, was arrested and issued a summons to appear in court. On the evening of May 19th around 8:28, an officer was dispatched to the 500 block of East Center Street for a report of a disturbance. It was reported that during a disagreement a 32-year old Salem man had caused damage to the female reporting parties vehicle as she was trying to leave. The man was arrested and given a summons to appear in court for property damage. The male was placed on a 12-hour hold at the Dent County Jail. That same evening at about 7:23, an officer was dispatched to the Salem City Park for a report of marijuana odor emitting from two vehicles parked there. During the investigation contact was made with the owners of the two vehicles. A consent to search the vehicles was obtained and located in both vehicles was marijuana and marijuana paraphernalia. Two females from Salem, a 23-year old a 24-year old, admitted to possessing the marijuana. Both females were arrested and issued a summons to appear in court for possession of marijuana and marijuana paraphernalia. If you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation, contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242.