Archive for 2022

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Thursday at the Dent County Courthouse. At the meeting, Representative Ron Copeland was in attendance and discussed legislation sent to the governor for his signature. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray said brush would be cut on Dent County Road 2470 while the road crews will be out checking for washouts and storm damages from Wednesday’s downpour. Mobray said a man would also be stockpiling rock at the maintenance shed. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said grading would be done and brush would be cut on Dent County Road 4290. He said pipes will be cleaned out on county road 4050, older pipes will be removed from county road 4020 and some trees will be removed on county road 4010. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported that he and the other commissioners attended the Industrial Development Authority meeting Wednesday night and received financial updates. Skiles said Salem and Dent County Economic Development Director Sally Burbridge provided updates on the certified site at the Masters’ Industrial Park and other projects. Skiles said the courthouse will be closed for Memorial Day. The commissioners decided to put out for chip and seal bids and they will be due in the Dent County Clerk’s office by June 16th at 10:00 in the morning. At the last commissioner meeting, the commission approved unanimously to purchase a new MANTIS mower/tractor from Springdale Tractor for $205,089. The funds for the purchase will come from the county ARPA Funds. The next commissioner meeting will be Thursday, June 2nd at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Dent County Health Center Board of Trustees met last Thursday, May 19th. Health Center Administrator Zach Moser said the communicable disease report included the investigation of only 1 COVID-19 case, 5 cases of Influenza A, and 4 animal bites. Moser noted that the Health Center recommends everyone over the age of 5 get vaccinated against COVID-19. In the diagnostics report there were 170 blood draw appointments they were completed The Health Center can conduct most tests at reduced cost for those without insurance. There were 40 COVID tests during the month and tests are available ranging in price from $10 to $50, however most people can qualify for free testing and no doctor’s orders are required. Moser said that 133 COVID-19 vaccines were administered, plus 36 other vaccines. There was a total of 392 appointments during the month. Assistant Administrator Roma Jones gave the environmental report and said she conducted 4 inspections and fielded 14 environmental questions. In the Administrators report, the only items left on the construction list were replacing the back door, installing the concrete ramp to the front door, installation of a countertop in the testing room, and the installation of the remainder of the new flooring. Moser reported that the Health Center had reached an agreement with April Greener, DNP to work at the Health Center. Greener starts June 6th. According to Missouri Law, she will require a 1-month period of shadowing her collaborating physician before she can begin seeing patients. Moser said currently the Health Center is waiting on over $100,000 in outstanding payments from the State of Missouri. He said the van for the mobile unit, which was purchased in April, came in under budget. Insurance, title, and license have all been paid for and we’re awaiting on the window graphics. The Use of Company Vehicle Policy was reviewed by the Board and approved. Moser reported that the Childcare Subsidies are awaiting a working contract template for childcare providers before that program can be initiated, plus lab equipment approved for purchase last month has been delivered. Health Center expenses for March 2022 were not available at the last meeting so both the March and April expenditures were reviewed and approved by the Board. Moser reported that the Dent County Commissioners had appointed Dennis Floyd back to the Board and he will serve until the next municipal election, when he must file for the final 3 years of his term. The Board of Trustees elected Bob Parsons Chairman, Sandra Headrick Vice-Chair, Dennis Floyd Treasurer and Shirley Larson and Kim Smith as members at large. Then bids were presented for a new phone system with 8 different quotes being reviewed with varying installation and monthly costs. After much discussion the Board approved the purchase through Avaya Directly for a monthly cost of $318.14 and an implementation cost of $2,175. ARPA funding was discussed, and it was recommended that Moser draw up a proposal for lost revenue as a request for ARPA fund use. The Board then went into closed session where they discussed and declined a proposal concerning personnel, and approved a part time summer intern position. The Board set the next meeting date of June 16th at 5:00 at the DCHC.

The Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start to the boating season. During the 2021 Memorial Day weekend, there were 12 boating crashes which included one fatality and three injuries. One person drowned over last year’s Memorial Day weekend. Last year, troopers made 57 driving while intoxicated and eight boating while intoxicated arrests. This year’s Memorial Day holiday counting period begins at 6:00 tonight and will last through Monday night, May 30th, at 11:59. Always be courteous and pay attention, whether you’re operating a vehicle or a vessel, and choose to be a sober driver on land and on the water. A safe, fun weekend starts with planning and good decisions. Boaters in need of assistance or who want to report a crime should use the Highway Patrol’s Emergency Assistance number 1-800-525-5555 or *55 on a cellular phone. Please be courteous to others on the water, wear a life jacket, and obey the law regarding safe operation of a vessel and no wake zones. Causing harm to another person or their property with an excessive boat wake may subject you to enforcement action or civil liability. Always treat other boaters and property owners as you want to be treated. Never operate a boat while you are impaired; never ride with an impaired operator. Remember: Life jackets save lives.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol would like to remind the public that driver examination stations throughout the state will be closed Monday in observance of Memorial Day. Normal operations will resume on Tuesday, May 31st.

The Salem Board of Aldermen held their regular meeting Tuesday evening at the City Hall Council Chambers. After the consent agenda was approved, the board approved Resolution #17-2022 that authorized the mayor to execute an agreement between the City of Salem and the Department of Health and Senior Services for the purpose of sewer shed disease trend monitoring; and approved Resolution 18-2022 authorizing the filing of an application with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Financial Assistance Center’s state ARPA Grant programs for a sub award for the completion of the lead service line inventory or a drinking water, wastewater or stormwater project. Jeff Medows from Archer-Elgin said the application is due by July 14th and there are three programs the city would be interested in: Enhanced treatment at the wastewater facility, the new well and water tower near the hospital, and the new EPA requirement to inventory all lead water lines. The board amended the budgeted amount to purchase a new truck for the Park and Recreation Department of up to $35,000. The board put out a bid for Professional Engineering Services to address their inflow and infiltration problem and they received only one response and that was from Archer-Elgin. They said they will use the DNR Clean Water grant to do smoke tests and isolate areas that have the most infiltration. The grant is an 80-20 grant with $50,000 coming from the grant and the city will have to pay $12,500 for a total of $62,500 cost for the work. The board approved the appointment of Bernie Sirois to the Capital Improvement Committee and Amanda Duncan to the Finance Committee. The board heard a report from ESP on improvements to city property. The HVAC for the old city hall auditorium is almost completed as the unit has been tested for heating and cooling, the police station is currently having work done which should be finished in a couple of days, and the Salem Community Center@The Armory HVAC work should begin June 6th. They discussed roofing improvements at the Park and Rec Building at 3rd and Grand where work is nearing completion, and the leak identification and mitigation at the Armory. They still can’t install the lighting at Al Brown until the water table drops about three feet. City Administrator Ray Walden said he and Jeff Medows from Archer-Elgin will meet soon with DNR on the permitting of the wastewater treatment facility Phase 2. Walden said Waste Management stated they picked up 128 tons of additional trash during the Spring clean-up weeks. The city offices will be closed on Monday, May 30th for Memorial Day. Salem Economic Development Director Sally Burbridge said the Certified Site at the Industrial Park has been cleared off and needs to be graded and seeded. She said the first run of four homes has been selected for the “Welcome Home Program” and the people who pre-qualified have been approved. They will have to come in Thursday to sign papers. The second run of houses is almost ready, and the third run needs a veteran’s family and low-income family to apply to be rounded out. Burbridge also reported on her speaking with the Salem R-80 Board about getting a loan through the Community Foundation of the Ozarks for the Construction Trades Building and the board will be holding a workshop on June 2nd. Salem Park and Recreation Director Melissa Dubois said the pool will open on May 28th. Swim lessons, water aerobics classes and pool party information is available at the Salem Community Center@The Armory until Monday when people can just stop by the pool for more information. She said there are a limited number of spaces left in the Salem Summer Camp in July, as well as in the OATS camp that will be held at the Salem Civic Theatre in late July. People can call her at 729-6290 for more information. The board then went into closed session.

A meeting of the Capital Improvement Committee has been called by chairman Shawn Bolerjack for this evening at 6:00 at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory located at 1200 West Rolla Road. On the agenda will be the proposed 2022-2023 Capital Improvement Projects before adjourning. The meeting Thursday evening is open to the public.

The Salem Police Department released these reports. On the evening of Saturday, April 16th at approximately 7:00, officers were dispatched to the intersection of Water and Franklin Streets for a report of a disturbance. An investigation uncovered that a male subject was highly intoxicated and causing problems with people in the area. While attempting to speak with the subject he was very uncooperative and belligerent. As a result, a 51-year-old man was arrested and placed on a 12-hour safe keep due to his intoxication. Then on the evening of Tuesday, April 19th around 8:30, an officer conducted a traffic stop at Franklin Street and Highway 19 for a brake light not working. Contact was made with the driver and the officer noticed the subject appeared to be intoxicated. After an investigation was conducted a 31-year-old Salem male subject was arrested and later released on a summons to appear in court for driving while being intoxicated. On Thursday, April 21st near 6:00 in the evening, officers were dispatched to the intersection of Water and Franklin Streets for a report of a disturbance. The investigation revealed that the same man from five days earlier was highly intoxicated and causing problems again with people in the area. As a result of the investigation, the 51-year-old Salem man was arrested and placed on a 24-hour hold pending the application of warrants. On Friday evening, April 22nd around 6:00, officers were dispatched to the intersection of Hickory and Third Streets for a report of a domestic disturbance. During the investigation, it was found one of the subjects involved had an active warrant out of the City of Salem. As a result, 30-year-old Alfred Neil Burns of Salem, was arrested and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail. Later that same evening at approximately 10:00, an officer conducted a traffic stop for speeding near the intersection of Highways 19 and 32. During the traffic stop the officer found the driver to be intoxicated and after further investigation, a 19-year-old Salem male was arrested. He was later released to a sober driver and issued a summons to appear in court for driving while being intoxicated. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding any ongoing investigations.