Archive for 2022

The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday for their regular meeting at the courthouse. Salem and Dent County Economic Development Director Sally Burbridge introduced newly elected Mayor Greg Parker to the commission. Parker said he wanted the city to work closer with the county and keep the lines of communication open. He was then invited by Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles to the TAC meeting and MRPC meeting Thursday in St. James and was informed about the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Plan update currently going on. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray said he has the district brush cutter back and brush would be cut on county road 2440. He said workers would be checking roads, repairing washouts and cleaning out blocked culverts from the rains on Wednesday. He said he still has a grader issue on one of the John Deere graders that shorted out due to the rain. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson stated his crews would also be out checking roads and repairing washouts. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said the SACBA Gift of Time Awards Banquet will be May 7th at the SACBA Complex and tickets are $30 for the event. He said at the CCAM meeting Tuesday morning, the board voted to terminate any further legal action on Senate Bill 53 after the judge found against CCAM in the case. The commission discussed when the increase in the sheriff’s salary should begin. They agreed they should receive an opinion from the Dent County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Curley on how and when the increase in the sheriff’s salary should be implemented before any change in salary is made. Skiles said at the MAC meeting also on Tuesday, Attorney Travis Elliott recommended the commission vote to accept the ARPA funds standing allowance of $10,000,000 for lost revenue which shows they have a recorded vote in their minutes. The board approved the recommendation and voted to accept the ten-million-dollar allowance. Skiles asked the commissioners to approve sending a letter of support to Senator Justin Brown to request additional appropriations be provided to the Department of Natural Resources earmarked for improvements to the facilities at Montauk State Park. They approved his request, and a letter was signed by all the commissioners. Skiles said the Dent County Health Center has sent a letter to the commission indicating that they have a vacancy and the steps the commission must take to fill that open board position. The Commission agreed to publish the notice in the Salem News on the vacancy on the board and the qualifications required to be on the board before they appoint someone to fill the vacancy. The appointed board member will serve until the next Municipal Election next April. Skiles said he needed to meet with Patrick Stites from MRPC to review information about the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Program and get the details. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said she attended the MAC Conference Tuesday as well as MAC day at the capital. At 10:00, Catherine Dent was in attendance to ask the commission if the new Salem Community Choir could perform on the courthouse lawn on six Sunday afternoons at 2:00. The performance would last about 30 minutes or so. She said electricity would be needed for an electric piano. The Cosmopolitan Club will also be serving lemonade and cookies. The commission approved her request. Interim CEO Bill May and EMS Director Mike Gruenberg were in attendance as was hospital board member A.J. Seay to discuss the funding for the new transformer for the hospital. The costs would include the new wiring that had to be run, new concrete and hooking all of it up. May said Intercounty Electric stepped up to help with the transformer. May also said the hospital still has some major expenditures coming up such as the elimination of the lagoon as well as the need for a new ambulance. Gruenberg said if he ordered a new ambulance now it may cost around $200,000 and may take until 2024 before it would be ready. The county will continue to monitor the situation with the extrication equipment, the ambulance and transformer to see if ARPA funds can be used to help if needed. At the last meeting, Sarah Massengale with the Dent County Extension talked about having a new free event called “the Taste of Salem” around the courthouse square on June 4th from 11:00 in the morning until 4:00 in the afternoon. This event would be a way to promote agriculture products in Dent County. The commission approved holding the event on the courthouse square. The Dent County Commission will NOT be meeting Monday, April 18th and the next meeting will be on April 21st at 9:00. The meeting will be open to the public.

An accident happened Wednesday night just before 10:45 in Phelps County on Highway DD about a mile east of St. James. According to the report from the highway patrol a 2015 Toyota Yarus was being driven east by 23-year-old Daniel Morse-Sexton of Rolla. A pedestrian, 40-year-old Mark Perkins of St. James, walked into to the path of the Toyota and was struck. Perkins suffered serious injuries and was flown by air ambulance to the University hospital in Columbia. The Toyota sustained moderate damage and was removed from the scene by Spurgeon’s Towing.

The City of Salem Board of Alderman met Tuesday night at City Hall Council Chambers. At the meeting, City Administrator Ray Walden went over a number of budget adjustments made in the last nine months in Bill #3503 including the adjustment made for the purchase of a dump truck after insurance proceeds were received from a totaled dump truck, finance director expenses, roof repairs, adjustments to the LWCF Grant for the next fiscal year and others. The anticipated revenues went from $14,066,768 to $15,355,702 while the anticipated expenses went from $13,945,698 to $15,209,632. The bill also shows that Intergovernmental transfers went from $2,038,278 to $1,050,769. The bill was approved by the aldermen. Park and Recreation Director Melissa Dubois described to the board the need for a new truck for the department and that the Park Board approved the purchase of new truck this fiscal year. Dubois submitted three state bids and an alternative bid from Twin City Toyota for a 2022 Toyota Tacoma SR for $32,367. The vehicles in the state bid were not available. The board tabled the purchase until the next meeting to review the financial condition for the Park and Recreation Department and further discussion. City Administrator Walden thanked Mayor Kim Steelman and Alderwoman Catherine Dent for their service on the board and their work at the office. Mayor Steelman said she was proud to have served the city for six years, and also wanted to thank former Mayor Brad Nash for all the work he did for the city. Public Works Director Mark Nash told the board there would be five city vehicles available for the surplus sale this spring. He said the electric department has been revamping and upgrading services. Nash reported the utilities departments are evaluating meter services and replacing water and sewer systems as well as reducing leaks. Nash said some restaurants in the city do not have grease traps for their sewer lines and he will get with Compliance Officer Jared Brown to discuss this need to protect the sewer system. Nash went on to report the city street crews have been cleaning ditches, patching potholes and replacing culverts. Salem and Dent County Economic Development Director Sally Burbridge said the cleanup work at the certified site in the Master’s Industrial Park has been slowed by the weather and the contract may have to be extended. She also said bids for soil boring were being let out to take at least three 25-foot-deep samples. Burbridge said the pre-application forms have been sent out to banks for the “Welcome Home Rehab” Program. She also said she contacted a number of local contractors about a pre-bid meeting on the Welcome Home Program that would be held at the Salem Community Center@The Armory Tuesday. Park and Recreation Director Dubois said late signups for the summer softball, baseball and T-Ball will be accepted until April 18th for $35 per player. She said she hopes the new lighting system will be installed at the Al Brown Fields by summer. The alderman canvassed the Certification of Election results for the Municipal Election held April 5th. Resolution #10-2022 accepted the certification that showed the public elected Greg Parker as Mayor, Kyle Williams for a two-year term as a West Ward Alderman, Tod Kinerk for a one-year term Alderman term as a West Ward Alderman and Kala Sisco for a two-year term as East Ward Alderman. City Clerk Tammy Koller swore-in the newly elected officials as they replaced Mayor Kim Steelman and Alderwoman Catherine Dent on the board. Alderman Shawn Bolerjack was elected President of the Board before the board went into closed session.

Warmer weather usually means an increase in outside projects that may require digging or excavation work. If you are planting a tree, building a deck or completing a large project, Missouri law requires anyone digging underground to notify the Missouri One Call System by calling 811 or 1-800-DIG-RITE, or placing a locate request online at www.mo1call.com at least three working days before excavation begins. The call will be taken by the Missouri One Call Center, which then notifies all relevant utilities in the project area except for propane companies. During this three-day period, utility companies will mark the approximate location of their underground lines, request additional information or advise you that they do not have facilities at the excavation site. Hitting an underground line can cause serious injury, it could disrupt service to you and other customers and it could potentially result in fines and repair costs. Call before you dig. It’s free and it’s the law.

Bring your own artwork from home and enjoy the company of others who enjoy the same hobbies as you to the Creative Art Center. Some art supplies and ceramic pieces will be available for purchase. The open studio date is Saturday, April 23rd. For more information or to register, call 247-0651, message on Facebook or you can e-mail salemartscouncil@outlook.com.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital is asking the public to go online to the hospital website and complete the Community Health Needs Assessment at SMDH.net or by picking up a paper copy in health organizations including pharmacies and clinics, as well as financial institutions, completing it and leaving it at those health organizations or dropping it by the hospital. The community health assessment gives the Salem Memorial District Hospital comprehensive information about the community’s current health status, needs, and issues. This information can help develop a community health improvement plan by justifying how and where resources should be allocated to best meet community needs. It is required every three years so the assessment will be up to date in addressing local community needs. There are 22 questions to be answered and the survey should take no more than five to ten minutes. The surveys MUST be submitted by this Friday, April 15th. The Salem Memorial District Hospital thanks everyone for their help.

The Salem Police Department has released their report for the month of March. They issued 28 summonses to appear in court, 99 warning tickets, and 10 traffic tickets, plus they also served three fugitive warrants. The Salem Police investigated 16 traffic accidents, one death,wrote six property damage reports and five stealing reports. The department investigated two driving while having their license revoked or suspended charges, six reports for possession of a controlled substance reports, eight possession of drug paraphernalia charges, one report of distribution or delivery of a controlled substance, a domestic violence report and two reports of endangering the welfare of a child. The department was also dispatched for 56 animal calls, 23 ambulance assist calls, and performed 134 traffic stops for the month. The Salem Police Department received 835 calls for service during the month and had 18 walk-ins to the station. The department drove 10,690 miles during the month of March. There were 11 males and 11 females arrested in March.

Healthy Dent County has partnered with the University of Missouri Extension to create a monthly ECHO/webinar that will be beneficial to many different organizations and individuals that work to build healthy communities. These sessions will be held the second Wednesday of each month beginning today from 10:00 to 11:00 in the morning. A team of experts in social determinants of health, health equity, community outreach, health policy and community development will offer the online sessions. If you would like to join, visit showmeecho.org.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is urging drivers to keep a cautious eye on the road this spring and give turtles a brake! Many species of Missouri’s turtles become more active during the spring as they emerge from their burrows and cross the roads in search of food and a mate. Common species crossing the roads include the three-toed box turtle, ornate box turtle, and even snapping turtles. These reptiles are often hit by cars during the warmer months but are at special risk in the spring as they emerge from burrows during warm and wet conditions, which can lead them to cross roadways. Unfortunately, thousands of box turtles are killed every year by vehicles. Young males make up most of the travelers, sometimes wandering as many as six miles searching for territories and mates. Females are also crossing the roads in search of nesting areas. Turtles are cold-blooded and depend on external sources of heat to determine their body temperature. This explains why many see them on warm asphalt during cool, spring days. Vehicles are one of the leading factors in box turtle declines, and MDC urges motorists to be cautious and slow down when they see a turtle in the road. If stopping to help a turtle make it safely across, check for traffic and move the turtle in the direction it is traveling. MDC also encourages the public to leave turtles in the wild. Keeping a wild animal as a pet can lead to a slow death, no matter how good the intentions. Leave turtles in the wild, follow the speed limit, and keep your eyes on the road.

Team members at Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park invite the public to hop on over for an Easter Extravaganza from noon to 3:00in the afternoon on this Saturday. Kids of all ages are invited to join us for a fun-filled day of crafts, games and more. All activities will be located at the North Day-Use Area. Be sure to bring a basket or bag to participate in the Easter Egg hunt. The hunt is divided into age categories and are scheduled for three years of age and under at 1:00, four years to six years of age at 1:30 and seven years of age and older at 2:00 in the afternoon. Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park is located at 148 Taum Sauk Trail in Middle Brook. For more information, contact the park naturalist at 573-546-2450, ext. 1003.