Archive for 2022

A Public Hearing concerning the Ozark Run Scenic Byway will be held this Tuesday, August 30th from 2:00 until 4:00 in the afternoon at the Eminence City Hall. This new proposed Scenic Byway does not go through Dent County in its current form but could lay the groundwork for other extensions in the future that could possibly affect your property. An organization called “Scenic Missouri” out of Ballwin, Missouri, has applied to the Missouri Department of Transportation to designate 375 miles of existing highway stretching from St. Louis to Thayer and Branson as a “Scenic Byway” made up of five “sprints.” Their goal is to “recognize the intrinsic qualities” of our region and help the world “discover the Ozarks”. This would in turn bring tourism dollars to the area. According to their 102-page application with MoDOT, it says “no changes can be made to existing laws, nor can new laws be established without approval by the local governments. Property rights are not infringed upon with the designation of a byway.” However, further reading shows that not to be entirely the case as once implemented, all advertising such as signs and billboards are prohibited except upon your own property for your particular business. What is also described in the application goes beyond just the roadway and its right-of-way but would include “the area adjacent to the roadway that possesses any of the intrinsic qualities. This may or may not include everything that can be seen from the roadway.” The ultimate vision for the Ozark Run Scenic Byway is to provide a designated driving route across the entire Ozark/Ouachita region running from one corner to the other spanning through Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma which would make it a National Scenic Byway. The full route, as currently proposed, would cover 1,155 miles. This would make it one of the five longest National Scenic Byways. With its unique and significant qualities, the Ozark Run may even be a strong candidate for All-American Road status. To review the entire application, go to www.modot.org/ozark-run-proposed-scenic-byway. If you can’t make it on August 30th to the Eminence public hearing, additional town hall meetings will be held in Oregon County on Thursday, September 1st at the Town Hall in Alton from 5:00 until 7:00 PM, and in Howell County at the West Plains Civic Center Theater on Tuesday, September 13th from 6:00 until 8:00 in the evening. All of the public hearings are open to the public.

An accident happened Thursday afternoon at 3:50 in Reynolds County on Highway 72 about five miles east of Bunker. According to the highway patrol report, a 2000 Gold Dodge Durango driven eastbound by 61-year-old Richard Frost of Bunker, ran off the right side of the roadway, struck an embankment and overturned. Frost suffered serious injuries and was transported by Air Ambulance to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. The Dodge Durango was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing in Salem.

An accident occurred in Phelps County Friday morning at approximately 7:21. According to the highway patrol report, a westbound 2018 Yamaha R1 Motorcycle, operated by 35-year-old Jonathan Anderson of St. Louis, travelled off the left side of the roadway and overturned. Anderson suffered serious injuries and was transported by medical helicopter to Missouri University Hospital in Columba. The report stated that Anderson was wearing safety devices at the time of the accident. The motorcycle sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by D & D Towing. The Highway Patrol was assisted by The Doolittle Fire Department and the Phelps Health EMS.

Salem Memorial District Hospital has issued revisions to their visitor policy per the Compassionate Care Visitation Act-SB710, No Patient Left Alone Act-HB-2116, and the Essential Caregiver Program Act. SMDH has developed these revisions to protect patients and health care professionals before and during an infectious, contagious, communicable, or dangerous diseases. Some of the revisions are all visitors will be screened for Covid-19, visitors must be at least 12 years of age, and only two visitors per patient at a time, unless extenuating circumstances. Also, visitors are expected to stop the nurse’s station before entering a patient room. For more information contact SMDH at 729-6626, check out their website at smdh.net or Facebook page.

Dent County Prosecutor Andrew Curley reports that on Friday, August 26th in the Dent County 42nd Judicial Court in front of Judge Michael Randazzo, Britta Terrill of Salem, who was on probation for the felony possession of a controlled substance, had her probation revoked and was sentenced to seven years in the Department of Corrections. In the next case, Prosecutor Curley reported that Daniel Lloyd of Salem pled guilty to the felony possession of methamphetamines. He was sentenced to serve seven years in the Department of Corrections under State Statute 559.115 due to his prior felony criminal history.

The City of Salem held their tax rate hearing to set the real estate and property tax rate for the year 2022 Tuesday afternoon at 5:30. One person spoke at the hearing on how the equity value of people’s homes in Salem have decreased by 3.56% according to Data USA IO and that any rate increase will hurt. The Salem Board of Aldermen held a public hearing to discuss the proposed increase in sewer rates. Three people spoke in opposition to the increase citing the low average income of people in Salem, that over 33% of residents are senior citizens who could least afford an increase, and another gave Mayor Parker six questions that she wanted answers to and said she wouldn’t pay the increase she showed a bottle of water to the audience that allegedly came from her faucet that was discolored. In the regular board meeting, the board approved the request for a permit from Chris Robbins to hold a community “trunk or treat” on Halloween from 4:00 in the afternoon until 11:00 that evening on 4th Street from Highway 19 to MacArthur. He wanted the permit to facilitate groups in the area which the board approved. After the consent agenda was approved, the board approved Bill #3515 creating an ordinance that will raise the cemetery fees for the Cedar Grove Cemetery beginning January 1st, 2023; approved Bill #3516 to create an ordinance to raise the business license fees from $25 to $35 starting January 1st, 2023; approved Bill #3517 amending the annual budget for the City beginning July 1, 2021 to adjust appropriations for the electric reserve, sewer D&R and sanitation funds; and the board approved Bill #3518 that created an ordinance setting the tax rate of 67.46 cents per $100 assessed valuation for real estate and personal property in the city for General Revenue purposes. That is the same rate as last year. As per the state auditor’s calculations, the city could have raised the tax rate to 69.31 cents per $100 assessed valuation but elected to keep the rate lower by a 2-1 vote with Alderman Kinerk voting no. Public Works Director Mark Nash presented bids for a new sprayer and the board went with the bid from Salem Farm Equipment for a Cimaran CMLS-PCO 200 Sprayer for $3,921. That price was below the budgeted amount of $5,000 and came with a two-year warranty. They also approved the bid from Airgas for a Miller Welder which is a commercial welder for $6,854.57 which came in under the budgeted amount of $7,000; approved the purchase of new tires for the cemetery and street department vehicles from Jet Tire and Auto for $3,274.24; and the board approved the bid for a new pad mount transformer for the Al Brown Field lights from T&R Electric for $15,718 that has a three-year warranty. Finance Director Stacey Houston presented the board with an updated financial report and discussed the status of some of the funds. Terry Moore from ESP updated the board on the HVAC work which is complete at the administration building, city hall auditorium, police station and about 80% done at the Armory. He said the door and window replacement is virtually complete with a punch list on the buildings, while the tuck and point just got started at the Armory and is over 80% done on all the other buildings. He said the light poles have been set at the Al Brown Fields and the light controls have been installed. A bid for the electric hookups at Al Brown Fields will be done through ESP by Hawke Electric. Jeff Medows from Archer Elgin said the Wastewater Plant Permit draft has been done and will be reviewed before being submitted to DNR next week. The ARPA Application for a five-million-dollar grant has been submitted to help pay for the $9.4 million cost of the Phase 2 improvements. The city will know by late October if they have been chosen to receive the competitive grant. Medows said the Highway 72 and Route J sewer extension is done and the lift station at the hospital has been tested. The new pump station on Route J is still on order and work is being done on the Jennifer Street drainage project. Medows said the TAP Grant for the downtown revitalization continues and they will need to get easements from the property owners. He also said an ARPA fund application has been put in for Well #9 and the elevated storage tank. Mayor Greg Parker said he was going to get with the county and is trying to address the homeless situation and all the camping going on in town. Public Works Director Mark Nash said the water department continues to work on water leaks, the street department is clearing out ditches and the electric department has a couple poles to change. Economic Development Director Sally Burbridge said the industrial park sign will have to be relocated off the highway right-of-way, the final grading by Godi’s Excavating at the certified site began Tuesday, and Burbridge said a draft of the answers to the two questions the state Department of Economic Development asked on the certified site will be reviewed and before being sent off this week. The board then went into closed session.

A public hearing will be held by the city of Salem Planning and Zoning Commission this evening at 6:00 in the city hall council chambers at 202 North Washington. The purpose of the meeting is to give all interested parties the opportunity to be heard on a request by Mark Bottomley for a use permit for an Air BNB on property located at 901 North Main Street. Immediately following the close of the public hearing, the Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public meeting in the city hall council chambers to either accept or reject the conditional use permit. Following that meeting, the City of Salem Airport Board will meet at 6:45. The board will hear updates on the fuel tanks, consider the purchase of new credit card readers for the fuel system, the Schwartz hanger, and the new hanger project. Also on the agenda is the gate opener, pilot lounge, routine airport maintenance, and other business. The hearing and meetings are open to the public.