Archive for 2023

Missouri’s Office of Broadband Development (OBD) is reminding citizens, public officials, and other leaders you still have time to challenge the newly created FCC maps that identify areas to determine what share of $42.45 billion in federal broadband funding will come to the state of Missouri through the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. The National Telecommunications Information Agency, the federal agency responsible for the BEAD program, has indicated that all challenges filed by this Friday, January 13th, will be considered in its decision about how much BEAD funding each state receives. Challenges filed after that date are still important in order to ensure that no locations are missed when the time comes to fund projects using the BEAD allocation. To see the FCC map, visit broadbandmap.fcc.gov. The OBD is partnering with University of Missouri Extension to provide in-person technical support for anyone interested in filing challenges at their county offices across the state. Residents in Dent County should contact the Dent County Extension office is 729-3196. Citizens can also get their questions answered about the challenge process through the Office of Broadband Development at 573-526-1028 or by email at broadband@ded.mo.gov. Later this year, Missouri will use BEAD funding to launch its “Connecting All Missourians” initiative, which aims to provide high-quality broadband internet to every home and business in the state.

The City of Salem Utility Committee met Wednesday evening at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. City of Salem Finance Director Stacey Houston presented the utility usage and revenue report which reflected revenues over expenses in all the utilities from operations, however the sewer fund does have a deficit at the end of December of $71,692 after the Certificate of Participation Payment of $243,055 that was made in November. The electric fund had $786,780 in revenues over expenses, and a budgeted transfer of $593,895 was made before the end of the year leaving a balance after six months of $192,894. The discussion turned to the large, estimated charge for electric the city received in January for the month of December that came in at $528,787 which is almost $200,000 more than the November charge received in December. This was explained as during the extreme cold weather, one of the MPUA’s electric generation stations went down and electric had to be purchased off the market during the December 22nd and 23rd time period which were bitterly cold nationwide. The city set a new peak demand during that time of 13.9 kilowatts and the cost of electric to the city increased to 8.3149 cents per kilowatt hour from 7.1211 cents per kilowatt hour from the previous month. The increase in power costs for the city since July is just under 12.5%. Houston said the Service Availability Fees collected by the end of December came to $143,885 which she has transferred into the Electric Reserve Fund. John Hambacker wanted to discuss with the board a fee for those who are not hooked up directly to a water line and are served by a common water meter. He suggested attaching a small fee for water and sewer to those in this situation to their electric bill as these people are being provided with water and sewer and are not paying a meter charge for those services. Mayor Greg Parker said the city would have to look into the legality of incorporating such a fee before considering it. Hambacker said it would be an additional stream of revenue to help offset some of the overhead costs.

Public comment is being accepted until January 31st on the Dent County Hazard Mitigation Plan. The plan update is available for review on Meramec Regional Planning Commission’s website, www.meramecregion.org. The 2023 plan update is located under the Hazard Mitigation Plans by county along with the county’s approved 2018 plan. A hard copy of the plan is also available at the Dent County Courthouse in the county clerk’s office. The purpose of the plan is to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property from natural hazards. It is required that the county have this plan in place to be eligible for several Federal Emergency Management Agency grant programs. The Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) facilitated focus group meetings and assisted these entities in developing the plan. Following a public comment period, a final draft will be created and sent to FEMA and SEMA for review and approval. If you need assistance locating the plan or have questions, please contact Tammy Snodgrass at MRPC at 573-265-2993 or by email at tsnodgrass@meramecregion.org.

On Monday, January 9th, Sheriff Bob Wells and Prosecutor Andrew M. Curley presented a check for $396.90 to Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams to be placed into the general revenue fund for Dent County. The money is the result of efforts by law enforcement involving the seizure of firearms possessed in connection with the arrest and prosecution of Mark Griffith for unlawful possession of firearms by a convicted felon. In addition to the criminal conviction, the seizure and sale of the firearms is authorized by Missouri law as a punishment and deterrent to persons that illegally own/possess firearms. This money will be used for the benefit of the local community.

City of Salem Utility Committee Chair Kyle Williams has called for a public meeting of the committee for tonight at 6:15 at the Community Center @ The Armory. The purpose of the meeting is for the committee to review the City of Salem financial update. The meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Board of Aldermen met Tuesday evening after a public hearing was held on the adding of an additional 1% sales tax to the existing General Revenue Fund sales tax rate that is expected to add an additional 1.2 million dollars to General Revenue. The board heard a request from Council for a Healthy Dent County Executive Director Sherry Lea to make some cosmetic improvements to the event center in the Armory at no cost to the city. All the improvements will be paid for by Healthy Dent County. The board approved the request that will be secured by a written authorization. The board approved the ten-year airport plan with most of the funding coming from grants from MoDOT and 10% from the city. The board also approved the bid for the home at 708 North Hickory for the “Welcome Home” Program. City Finance Director Stacey Houston presented the invoice from Sho-Me Power for $27,881.66 which was more than the $22,242.12 the city previously approved. City Clerk Tammy Koller did report that insurance was going to pay all but the $5,000 deductible of the repair costs. The board approved six budget adjustments in Bill #3530 that amended the budget changing the total amount of anticipated revenues to $14,613,626 and the anticipated amount of expenses to $14,263,871. Both funds increased by $7,500. The board also approved Bill #3531 that authorized the mayor to sign change order #2 between the city and Energy Solutions Professionals, LLC that will free up $81,597 which will be used to do the electric work at the Al Brown Fields and mold remediation at the Parks and Rec shop. The board heard the first reading of Bill #3532 that would call for an election of a revenue bond to pay for required sewer and wastewater improvements; and heard the first reading on the question to call for an election for the public to determine if the city will impose an additional one percent to the General Revenue Sales Tax Rate. The board approved Resolution #1-2023 to make a change order between the City of Salem and 5 J’s Landscaping and Handyman Services at 501 South Hickory on property owned by Dorian Garafola; and they approved Resolution #2-2023 authorizing the mayor to sign an agreement between the city and Mendenhall Contracting, Inc. for the “Welcome Home” program at property located at 708 North Hickory on property owned by the Granowski family. They also approved Resolution #3-2023 that allowed the mayor to execute an employment agreement with Sally Burbridge to become the City Administrator. The contract is a five-year deal with automatic one-year renewals after December 31st, 2027. The board approved the mayor’s re-appointment of Joe Brand and Sherman Odom to the Salem Housing Authority. Administrator Burbridge said she received word the Certified Site application for the property at the Masters’ Industrial Park has been approved by the Missouri Department of Economic Development, and a joint press release will come from the state and city either Friday or next week. Burbridge said she spoke with Jeff Medows from Archer-Elgin about the downtown project and the city has applied for a two-month extension as the city itself will have to do the right-of-way work with the property owners. The grant to extend the 4th Street project is currently being reviewed. Mayor Greg Parker thanked Sally for all her work stepping in as temporary city administrator, and he thanked Shawn Bolerjack for his work on the sales tax issue. He wants to remind the public to educate yourself on city issues. Public Works Director Mark Nash discussed the resurfacing of streets and said he would prefer to use a hot mix of asphalt this year instead of chip and seal as it will last longer, and the price difference isn’t as large as it used to be. There may be a few less roads done, but they will last longer. He said the MPUA offers engineering services for projects, then uses local employees to do the work if they are awarded the contract. The aldermen saluted Chief Joe Chase and the Salem Police for Police Appreciation Day held on Monday. The board then went into closed session to discuss personnel.

A Missouri Lottery player uncovered a $1 million Scratchers prize in Salem on a weekend and couldn’t wait to claim his prize. He recounted that after a trip to the Farmers Market, he had purchased two “$1,000,000 Jackpot” Scratchers tickets at Phil-Mart at 500 South Main Street in Salem. He won a $100 prize on the first ticket. On the second ticket, he uncovered one of the game’s $1 million top prizes. In fiscal year 2022, players in Dent County won more than $3 million in Missouri Lottery prizes, retailers received more than $301,000 in commissions and bonuses, and more than $208,000 in Lottery proceeds went to education programs in the county.

An accident occurred in Crawford County Tuesday morning at 8:00 on Highway 19 about a quarter of a mile north of Steelville. According to the highway patrol report, a southbound 2011 Mercedes CLS550, driven by 57-year-old Michael Spencer of Ballwin, was stopped in traffic due to a crash ahead and was struck from behind by a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee operated by 68-year-old Victoria Keys of Steelville. Keys and a passenger in the Jeep, 20-year-old Jonathan Wilkinson of Steelville, suffered minor injuries and were transported by an EMS to Phelps Heath in Rolla. According to the report, neither Keys nor Wilkinson were wearing safety restraints at the time of the accident, while the report stated that Spencer was. There was moderate damage to both vehicles, and they were towed from the scene by Miles & Son Towing.