Archive for 2021

The City of Salem Utility Committee met on Tuesday evening at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. Several newly appointed committee members were in attendance. The committee got an update on the utility billing from Public Works Director Mark Nash. For the July 15th to August 15th bill there were originally 88 accounts that were on the disconnect list. As of Monday, 66 accounts had been brought up to date with only seven accounts currently being on the disconnect list. Budget billing customers will receive a letter explaining the 13.8% rate increase. There are currently 40 electric meters and 35 water meters that need to be replaced. The parts for the meters are on back order. The committee discussed eliminating the current 1% discount that is available if bills are paid by the 10th of each month. This small discount does not amount to a big discount for most customers but could bring in another $28,000 per year for the city. Chairman Shawn Bolerjack will provide data of how many accounts are residential and how many are commercial that this discount would affect and bring this info to the next committee meeting. A fee waiver policy was discussed for customers that pay via bill pay through their financial institution and the delay in the city getting the checks due to mail delays. It was determined that a policy wasn’t needed, but that the utility staff could not just charge the fee by noting the date on the banks check and not the date the check was received. Bolerjack explained the Request for Proposals for a utility billing audit has been sent out with several companies contacting the city with one company working on submitting a proposal. This will create an audit for the utility billing system by an independent firm. The committee discussed the recent issues that the city’s accounting software, Encode, has with integrating with the new AMI meter reading software. The Encode software is an old type of software and not compatible with many new systems that the city would like to add in the future. After hearing multiple examples of the company being hard to work with, the committee approved recommending the Board of Alderman put out a Request for Proposal for new utility billing software as well as new software accounting system. The committee reviewed a draft new utility bill layout and got a financial update. The committee also got an update on the new Eceleron Pre-Paid Project that will enable customers to pay their account online as well as review their usage. It was suggested that a survey of customers be done on social media to see how many customers would use this system.

An accident happened Tuesday evening around 6:20 in Texas County on Highway N four miles west of Licking. The report from the highway patrol states that a 2017 Suzuki being operated by 26-year-old Karl Holland of Licking impacted a ditch ejecting Holland from the bike. Holland suffered serious injuries and was taken by ambulance to Texas County Memorial Hospital. The Suzuki was removed from the scene by a private party.

It’s the just past the middle of October, and the Ozark Region is just beginning to feel a little like fall. Recent rains and slightly cooler temperatures have brought out more color across the landscape. Although the rolling forested hillsides are speckled with individual tree crowns of yellows and browns, the overall color remains greenish yellow. Scattered trees, mostly oaks, can also be seen with a slight hint of red and yellow showing. The hickories that were yellow last week have now turned brown, and some of their leaves have fallen off. Along the river and creek valleys, American sycamore, black walnut, maple, and elms are looking more autumnal. They are starting to show nice yellows and reds, and some trees are starting to drop their leaves. The best colors are to be found in the understory, below the main tree canopy. Here, black gum, dogwoods, and sassafras are showing a lot of red and purplish hues. Driving down tree-lined country roads offers good opportunities to slow down and enjoy the scenery. For more information on areas to enjoy fall color, to the Missouri Department of Conservation website at www.mdc.mo.gov and click on fall colors.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will be meeting this evening at 5:00 in the High School Library. After the consent agenda the Board will hear communications. In new business the Board will discuss the debt service levy with Brad Wegman of LJ Hart Company, go over contract negotiation with ESP and Chris Salzman, consider MSBA 2021C Policy Update, consider a revised job description for payroll, and approve SRCSP with any revisions. Superintendent Dr. Lynne Reed will report on a variety of issues which include a COVID update, YOP, Missouri Hall of Fame presentation, McDaniels Bus Lane Ribbon Cutting and CSIP. The Superintendent’s report will be followed by principals’ reports, as well as the athletics and facilities report. The Board will hear resignations and then adjourn to closed session. The regular meeting of the Salem R-80 Board of Education this evening is open to the public.

Unused or expired medications will be able to be disposed of safely during drug “Take Back Day.” This Saturday, October 23rd from 10:00 in the morning until 2:00 in the afternoon, you may bring unused or expired medications to either Country Mart or Wal-Mart pharmacy for them to be disposed of properly and safely. “Take Back Day” is sponsored by a partnership with the DEA, Salem Police Department, the Dent County Sheriff Department, and Healthy Dent County Prevention Coalition.

Former Salem Mayor, J. J. Tune, has been charged with one felony count of the unlawful use of a weapon and one misdemeanor count of fourth-degree assault. He was arrested by the Salem Police Department in connection with a landlord-tenant dispute on Friday, October 15th, in which allegedly Tune brandished a pistol and threatened to shoot the tenant unless he signed a document. He was incarcerated in the Dent County Jail with no bond issued.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors received their audit report Tuesday night for Fiscal Year 2021 from Jean Nyberg of BKD, LLP. Nyberg said for the fiscal year ending June 30th, 2021, the hospital showed over a four-million-dollar loss from operations due to increased supply and labor expense and a decrease in patient income. However, in Fiscal Year 2021, the Payroll Protection Program the hospital secured was forgiven, the hospital received 4.4 million dollars in CARES Act money and with numerous audit adjustments, the hospital showed an excess of revenues over expenses of $1,119,282 at the end of the fiscal year. Overall, Nyberg said the cash decreased 4.9 million dollars paying back the Medicare Advance payments as well as the capital improvements made to the hospital. She also said the accounts receivable went down $1,529 million dollars for the year and part of that was due to problems with the account receivables. She reported the Salem hospital has 41 days of revenue sitting in Accounts Receivable and has 90 days cash on hand. Both numbers are good in the hospital industry. She also told the board the long-term debt to capitalization ratio for the Salem Hospital is now at 26% which is due to the improvements made to the hospital. It is the highest they have had in years. Nyberg told the board the net operating margin for the hospital stands at a -28.4% and that is down from -6.0% last fiscal year. The total margin for the hospital stands at 3.7% which is above the average for critical access hospitals. Nyberg went on to report that BKD noted one material deficiency with a significant amount of journal entries, reconciliations and with the accounts receivable. With that being said, the hospital was still given an unmodified opinion which is the best opinion the auditors can give. Nyberg ended the audit report with a review of the COVID Compliance Considerations for the CARES Act Funds, Payroll Protection Program and the Medicare Advance Payments and how that affected the hospital in fiscal year 2021.

New this fall, the University of Missouri Extension is launching a workshop series on Whole System Management of Beef Cattle Reproduction. The objective is to aid Missouri producers in improving the reproductive management of their cow-calf herds through a systems-based approach. There will be a whole system management workshop at Wurdack Farm in Cook Station on Tuesday October 26th. Workshops will include presentations as well group discussions, scenario troubleshooting, and a tour and overview of the reproductive management system at a University of Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station Research Center. Participants will leave with a new perspective about reproductive management of cow-calf herds, viewing common causes of variability in reproductive performance now as leverage points for future improvement. For more information you can email Rachel Hopkins at hopkinsrm@umsystem.edu.

An accident occurred in Salem the morning of September 5th at approximately 5:20. According to the Salem Police Department report, a 2002 Jeep Wrangler, driven by Robert Bryce Starkey of Salem, was westbound on West Roosevelt when the Jeep crossed the center line, ran off the right side of the road striking a tree. The Jeep began sliding and came to rest striking a utility pole. Minor injuries were reported, and Starkey was arrested for driving while being intoxicated. The Jeep sustained disabling damage and was towed from the scene.

The Spring Creek Artisans Pumpkin Day will be held this Saturday from 9:00 in the morning until 3:00 in the afternoon at the Salem Creative Arts Center behind the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center building next to the Farmer’s Market. There will be art, crafts, bake goods, children’s activities and fun! Everyone is welcome!