Archive for 2022

In closed session Tuesday night after the regular Salem Board of Aldermen meeting, Mayor Greg Parker appointed Sally Burbridge as the new City Administrator with the board unanimously approving the appointment with the roll call vote. The appointment removes the “temporary” designation from her title and an employment agreement with Burbridge is being negotiated with the terms to be released at a later date.

Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk wants to remind everyone today is the last day to pay your personal property tax and real estate taxes in her office at the courthouse without a penalty and interest. Her office will have extended hours for those wanting to pay their tax bills today from 8:00 this morning to 5:30 this afternoon. Remember, if you want to mail in your tax payments, your envelope MUST be postmarked NO LATER than Saturday, December 31st. VanKirk recommends if you wait until Saturday to mail in your payment to take your envelope inside to have it hand stamped. There is also a drop box in the front of the courthouse lawn at the southwest corner of the courthouse square where you can drop off your tax payments 24 hours a day. If you have any questions, call the collector’s office at 729-3911.

Colonel Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, encourages everyone to make good decisions regarding their New Year’s celebration. No one wants to start 2023 with a traffic crash or DWI arrest. During the 2022 New Year’s period, one person was killed and 331 injured in 1,045 traffic crashes in Missouri. The 2023 New Year’s holiday counting period begins at 6:00 this evening and ends at 11:59 Monday night, January 2nd, 2023. If your plans to welcome the new year include alcohol, please designate a sober driver or utilize a ride share service or taxi to ensure you arrive home safely. The roadway is no place for a driver under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If you kill or injure someone, you’ll pay the price for the rest of your life. If you plan to drive this New Year’s, remember to buckle up and make sure all your passengers do the same. Pay attention, obey all traffic laws, and when in doubt, yield the right-of-way. Be sure to use your turn signal to communicate your intentions. The public is encouraged to call the Patrol’s Emergency Assistance Number (800) 525-5555 or *55 on a cellular phone if they witness criminal activity or experience an emergency.

The Dent County Commission met for the last meeting of 2022 Thursday at the courthouse. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams gave the report on the CART funds received in December which came to $80,138.59 which is $14,848.38 more than for December of 2021. Year-to-date, the CART funds are up $91,497.58 and for the year totaled $816,940.64. That is a 12.62% increase in those funds. Sheriff Bob Wells brought in an agreement for inpatient health services at the Dent County Jail that he negotiated with the Salem Memorial District Hospital which provides for services five days a week at the jail for an annual cost of $140,004. This contract replaces the one the jail had with Ozark Correctional Services out of Pulaski County for the same amount of money and will begin January 1, 2023. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray stated his crew would be servicing grader #36 plus would be cleaning up the creek gravel spill from an accident out on the “Quarry Road” or Dent County Road 5220. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson indicated his crew would be servicing and doing maintenance on county trucks #112 and 116. He said another crew would be installing a crossover pipe and adding materials to Dent County Road 6130. Larson further reported he attended a tourism tax committee meeting where they approved one reimbursement request. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles stated he joined the broadband development discussion from the MRPC on December 19th. They are asking residents to look at the FCC Broadband Maps by going to bit.ly/mo.fcc. Type in your address to see what they say the type of broadband service you have on their map. You can challenge what they say on the map if it is not correct for the fixed broadband or the mobile broadband service the FCC indicates you have. You can challenge the mobile site from the map by following their instructions while the fixed broadband you may need help. Residents in Dent County can contact the Dent County Extension office for help in challenging the FCC map at 729-3196. The Office of Broadband Development will also answer questions about the challenge process over the phone at 573-526-1028 or by email at broadband@ded.mo.gov. Skiles went on to say the courthouse would be closed Monday for the New Year’s Day holiday. He also said the swearing in of all elected officials would be held at 10:00 this morning in the courtroom in the courthouse. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said she balanced with the treasurer on all accounts for the month of November and she continues to work on the budget. At the last meeting, the commissioners agreed to sign the lease/purchase financing agreement with Town and Country Bank for two new graders from McCoy Equipment in Cuba. The agreement is for 5 years with an annual payment of $93,766.22 with a 4.25% interest rate. The 1st payment will be due December, 2023. The commissioners will meet again on January 5th at the courthouse at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

At the Arizona National Sheep Exhibitors Thursday, Preslie Strader of Salem was named the Reserve Champion in the Intermediate Sheep Showmanship competition in Phoenix. Congratulations Preslie!

An accident happened Wednesday afternoon around 1:12 in Crawford County on Route M about two miles south of Keyesville Road. According to the highway patrol report, 27-year-old David West of Salem was driving a 2022 Chevrolet Silverado southbound when he fell asleep causing the Silverado to travel off the right side of the roadway. The Chevy struck several trees before coming to rest. West suffered moderate injuries and was flown by Air Evac to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. He was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Silverado was totaled and removed from the scene by Miles and Sons Towing.

During the week of December 16th to December 23rd, the Salem Police Department had a total of 122 calls for service. Officers with the Salem Police Department conducted 28 traffic stops for various traffic violations with seven resulting in a summons or arrest. On Saturday afternoon, December 17th at about 5:00, an officer conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Highway 19 and Truman Street for a driver not having their headlights on. During the stop it was found the driver had an active warrant for her arrest out of the Camden County Sheriff’s Office with a bond of $500. The warrant was confirmed to be active and 31-year-old Shanda Sturdivant of Salem was arrested and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail awaiting bond or extradition. Later that same evening near 8:30, an officer was dispatched to Walmart for the report of a trespasser. It was reported a man that had previously shoplifted and been barred from the premises was inside the store. Officers contacted the 34-year-old man from Salem and issued him a summons to appear in court for trespassing and escorted him off the premises. During the early hours of Sunday, December 18th at 1:30, an officer conducted a traffic stop near Highway 32 and Pershing for failing to signal and numerous lane violations. The officer immediately upon contact noticed an odor of intoxicants emanating from the driver. An investigation into a suspected DWI was conducted, at which time a 49-year-old Salem man was arrested and issued a summons to appear in court for driving while being intoxicated. On Monday afternoon at around 3:30, an officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle near the intersection of Highway 32 and 72 for erratic driving behavior. As a result of the stop, it was found the driver was under the influence of drugs. A 25-year-old Salem man was arrested and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation.

The City of Salem Finance Committee meeting will be held Tuesday evening at 6:00 at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. At the meeting, the committee will review the budget before discussing a proposal to create additional general revenue. The committee will discuss raising funds to pay for the 2023 fireworks display and discuss holding a public meeting on increasing the sales tax percentage for the General Revenue Fund. The committee will also be discussing the issuance of bonds for the sewer and wastewater project before adjourning. The meeting, called by Finance committee Chairman Kala Sisco, is open to the public.

Colonel Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, provided the following preliminary statistics related to the Christmas holiday weekend during the 78-hour counting period, which began at 6:00 Friday evening, December 23rd, and ended at 11:59 Monday night, December 26th. Troopers investigated 306 traffic crashes, 84 of which had injuries and 3 fatalities. Troopers also made 52 arrests for driving under the influence. Last year during the 78-hour Christmas counting period, there were 881 traffic crashes statewide. In those crashes, eight people were killed and another 401 were injured. Of the three fatality traffic crashes investigated by troopers, two occurred in the Troop F Jefferson City area, and one occurred in the Troop D Springfield area. There were no fatality accidents on Friday, December 23rd, then one on each day of the rest of the counting period on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. There were no boating crashes or drownings over the 2022 Christmas holiday counting period.

An accident happened Tuesday afternoon just before 2:15 in Phelps County on Phelps County Road 3640 and Highway KK that took the life of a St. James woman. According to the highway patrol report, a 2011 Buick Lacrosse driven westbound by 18-year-old Cadey Rogers of St. James, failed to yield to a westbound Burlington Northern Freight train traveling eastbound. Rogers was pronounced dead at the scene by Phelps County Coroner Ernie Coverdell and her body was transported by the Phelps County Coroner from the scene. The report went on to state that the crossing had crossbucks and a yield sign. The Buick was totaled and removed from the scene by Spurgeon’s Towing.

The Salem Board of Aldermen met Tuesday night at the City Hall Council Chambers. Finance Director Stacey Houston reviewed the sales tax revenues for the first six months of the fiscal year that included the General Revenue Fund, the Capital Improvement Fund and the Park and Recreation Fund. She said the funds were down this December from last year December slightly, but year-to-date, all the funds are up about 8%. She reviewed the revenues from all the funds that showed the water and sewer sales revenues ahead of budget for the first five months of the year while the electric revenues were right at the anticipated budgeted figure. She reviewed the fund balances with the board for all the city funds to keep them up to date. Temporary City Administrator Sally Burbridge discussed the four bids received by the city to provide municipal financial advisor services, how they were scored, and that the eventual recommendation came from the staff’s familiarity and comfort in dealing with Chris Collier from Piper Sandler & Co. The contract from Piper Sandler & Co was reviewed by City Attorney James Weber who told the alderman they need to understand the expenses they will be charged in Section 7, and that the contract is automatically renewed if not terminated in a timely manner by either party without cause. Weber was also uncomfortable with two other sections that he recommended the board ask to be stricken from the contract. The board voted to approve the bid from Piper Sandler & Co to provide municipal financial advisor services to the city. In discussing Resolution #50-2022 to allow the mayor to enter into an agreement between the city of Salem and Piper Sandler & Co. to provide municipal financial services, the board approved the resolution with the contingency that Section 16, Part C and Section 19 be stricken from the contract. The contingent contract will be submitted to the Piper Sandler & Co attorneys for their review. In reports, Mayor Greg Parker wanted to thank all the first responders for their work during the fire in town last week in the extremely cold weather. Public Works Director Mark Nash said there were 14 call outs to shut off water due to frozen pipes or leaks, plus two main water lines busted during the cold, and more are expected when the temperatures moderate. Nash said there was only one outage reported during the high winds and cold. He did report there is 2,400 gallons of fuel is in the tank at the airport, but it will need to be inspected by the state before it can be sold. There was a small leak at a fitting when the tank was filled but that was repaired quickly. Nash said he feels that very soon the tank will need to be replaced. Nash also wanted to thank Compass who the city purchased their road salt from for delivering 125 tons of salt on the Friday before the winter storm so the city would have it on hand. Although the city couldn’t use much due to the extreme cold conditions, it is available if needed. He also said disconnects would be held today for those who have not paid their utility bill. Alderwoman Kala Sisco said a Finance Committee meeting will be held next Tuesday at 6:00, and a Park and Rec Board meeting will be held Wednesday at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. Alderman Shawn Bolerjack reported the SAFHR program to help renters and landlords who are behind on paying or receiving rent will stop taking applications on January 31st, 2023. He also said MoDOT has been contacted about the stop light at Doss and Warfel Streets as it stays red way too long. The part is on backorder and it may take a few weeks to get the part in. Chief Joe Chase reported clean-up work on the former Annie’s Restaurant will begin after the first of the year. City Clerk Tammy Koller said three people signed up for the east and west ward alderman seats. Incumbent Alderman Shawn Bolerjack has signed up for the East Ward Alderman seat while incumbent Alderwoman Amanda Duncan and former Alderman Bill Riley have filed for the West Ward Aldermanic Seat. The Municipal Election will be held April 4th. Filings closed Tuesday afternoon at 5:00. The board then went into closed session.