Archive for 2022

The Salem Board of Aldermen met Tuesday evening in the City Hall Council Chambers. In the hearing of persons, the board approved a request from Sarah Massengale to close Iron, 4th and 5th streets on Saturday, June 4th for the “Taste of Dent County” event. After approval of the consent agenda, the board approved Bill #3504 to authorize the mayor to execute a contingency allocation of $9,513 between the City of Salem and Energy Solutions Professionals, LLC for additional point and tuck brickwork services at 301 North Grand. Approval was given for Resolution 11-2022 authorizing the law firm of Cunningham, Vogel and Rost, PC to perform a review of the City of Salem Personnel Policy Manual at a cost of under $3,000. Resolution 12-2022 authorizing the mayor to sign an agreement with United Healthcare for medical insurance for employees was approved. Representatives from Wall Street Insurance attended the meeting via zoom. Inman Insurance is a co- broker for this policy that was set to renew on July 1st with a 5% increase. But a rate reduction was requested which allowed for no cost increase if approved before May 1st for a total premium of $287,244.36 effective July 1, 2022. The board approved Resolution 13-2022 to execute an agreement with SCI Engineering, Inc. for geotechnical services in doing soil bores for $5,950 at the certified site at the Masters Industrial Park, and Resolution 14-2022 authorizing the extension of an agreement between the City of Salem and Godi Excavating Services for work at the certified site in the Master’s Industrial Park. Terry Moore with Energy Solutions Professionals gave an update on the energy savings project that is being conducted at city buildings. The building envelope work, including weather stripping and insulation is substantially complete. The HVAC scope is in progress at the City Administration and old City Hall. The doors and window replacements are at 80% complete. Roofing work is 90% complete at the Park and Rec building and 75% at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. The sports lighting at Al Brown Fields has been slowed due to wet conditions. The 10-foot deep holes for the poles are retaining six feet of water. The light poles are ready to be set when this problem is corrected. City Administrator Ray Walden noted that the Community Wide Yard Sale is set for Saturday, May 7th and the spring clean-up weeks will be the weeks of May 9th and May 16th. Mayor Greg Parker requested and the Aldermen approved the appointment of Harold Hamilton to the Utility Committee. Park and Recreation Director Melissa Dubois reported there are 461 children signed up for the upcoming baseball season. After the final weekend of soccer is complete, the Al Brown fields will be closed to allow for the light pole installation. Economic Development Director Sally Burbridge gave an update on the Certified Site at the Industrial Park and the Welcome Home program and Lead Base Paint Remediation program. Public Works Director Mark Nash provided updates on city crew work. The board approved the purchase of a new Toyota pickup truck for the Park and Recreation Department at a cost of $32,367. Financial Director Stacey Houston provided a financial report that showed fund balances at $5 million. The 20/21 audit report is expected to be complete in May. Alderman Sisco requested an update on the clean-up of the Maggard house on MacArthur Street. Chief Joe Chase has been in contact with the family and will inform them that they have 30 days to complete the cleanup. He will also provide information regarding the city’s demolition program. Alderman Bolerjack reported he recently attended an Economic Development Regional meeting where updates regarding broadband access and Highway 63 improvements from Arkansas to Jefferson City were discussed. He will be scheduling Capital Improvements and Finance Committee meetings in the next couple of weeks. Alderman Williams requested updates on the Airport fuel pump and courtesy car availability. The fuel pump has been ordered and procedures to have the car available will be implemented. The board approved selling five surplus vehicles owned by the city. The board then went into closed session to discuss contracts.

Montauk State Park will be hosting a Spring Kids Free Fishing Day on Saturday April 30th. Kids 15 and under can pick up their required free fishing tags Friday afternoon April 29th between 2:00 and 5:00 at the registration booth near the fish cleaning station or anytime Saturday. For more information contact Montauk State Park Fish Hatchery between 6:30 in the morning till 5:00 in the evening at 573-548-2585.

Montauk State Park will be handing out free seedling on Friday April 29th in celebration of Arbor Day. Park visitors can pick up the seedlings at the White Oak Hole parking lot from 9:00 to 3:00. The trees are provided courtesy of the Missouri Department of Conservation’s George White Nursery. For more information contact the park at 573-548-2201.

Dent County Health Center Administrator Zach Moser reports the Dent County Health Center has received a 1.215-million-dollar grant that was designed to address the health disparities created or worsened by COVID-19. The three main issues the grant will address will be the access and affordability of childcare, access to primary care and the access to care due to immobility and distance. The health center has a plan to address the access and affordability in Dent County by working with existing and new childcare providers to provide free and reduced cost childcare for all Dent County residents. The goal is to increase the capacity of childcare providers in Dent County by 50 children by June of 2023. This will allow more parents to look for jobs and return to work. One of the health center’s goals was to provide access to affordable laboratory testing. The Dent County Health Center plans to increase their laboratory capacity and provide a limited number of free tests. To help with the expected increase in demand, the health center will be hiring a nurse practitioner to help provide screenings and treatment for acute illnesses. The health center also wanted to address the vulnerability of the elderly, disabled and immunocompromised patients. They plan to use project funds to facilitate the implementation of a mobile team that can deliver immunizations, draw blood for lab tests, offer COVID and flu tests and more. The Dent County Health Center is excited to have chance to improve the health of Dent County residents. They are still in the early stages of implementing the program and will continue to keep the public informed on their progress.

Dent County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Curley reports on a court case heard Thursday in Dent County held in front of Judge Nathan Kelsaw. In court, Carlton Curtis from Licking, Missouri pled guilty to two counts of felony stealing. He was sentenced to serve four years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. The sentencing was derived from incidents where Curtis was hired as a contractor to perform construction services with substantial down payments were made by people for labor and materials. According to the report from Curley, there was no effort to start or complete the projects as previously agreed with his clients.

National Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, April 30th. The drop boxes are provided to keep unwanted and expired medication away from kids, persons struggling with substance use disorder, and out of the water supply. Medications can be left in the drop boxes located at the Dent County Sheriff’s Department and the Salem Police Department. Items not accepted include needles, blood/infectious waste, hydrogen peroxide, aerosol cans, and inhalers. Drug Take Back Day is supported by Four Rivers Community Health Center, Healthy Dent County Prevention Coalition, and Prevention Consultants of Missouri.

A special waste collection for residential and farm electronics, appliances, metals and tires will be held from 8:00 until noon this Saturday, April 30th, at Brewer Science located at 2401 Brewer Drive in Rolla. Brewer Science, the City of Rolla, and Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC), with funding through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) and Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District (ORSWMD), are partnering on the April 30th collection. The collection is for residential items only – no materials from businesses will be accepted – and is open to residents from Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Phelps, Pulaski, and Washington counties. To minimize personal contact, those bringing items to the collection are asked to stay inside their vehicles and assistants will unload items. Stoves, washers, dryers, hot water heaters, and other appliances will be collected free of charge. Free electronics also include computer components, laptop computers, keyboards, hair dryers, VCR/DVD players, cell phones or anything that runs on a cord or battery. Oil and gas must be removed from tanks of any items such as push mowers, weed eaters, etc. Please note the following items will NOT be accepted: CDs, DVDs, VHS and data tapes; floppy disks; transformers, capacitors or ballasts not clearly marked “No PCBs”; smoke detectors; thermostats; medical waste; gas containers such as propane, oxygen, nitrous oxide; anything leaking oil or acid, such as batteries; broken ink or toner cartridges; alkaline batteries; light bulbs and fluorescent tubes; broken CRTs, TVs or monitors. Fees on certain items will be collected as follows: $25 for CRT TVs over 27 inches and wood console TVs, $20 for CRT TVs under 26 inches, $15 for flat screen TVs, $10 for all computer monitors and refrigerated appliances with Freon. Fees for tires are as follows: $2 each for passenger tires, $7.50 each for semi-truck tires and $35 each for tractor tires. For more information on items accepted or the fee structure, please contact Tammy Snodgrass at MRPC at 573-265-2993 or at tsnodgrass@meramecregion.org.

A couples or singles paint-n-sip with Danielle Norris will be Friday from 6:30 until 8:30 @ the Creative Arts Center. Let Danielle lead you step-by-step through a spring painting. Bring a beverage and a friend or family member to enjoy and evening away from the stresses of the day or week! This is a perfect way to get into the spring vibe. Be prepared to get creative. All the supplies for the class are provided and the cost is $25. For more information or to register, call 247-0651 or e-mail salemartscouncil@outlook.com.