Archive for 2023

The Dent County Commission met for their regular meeting Monday morning at the courthouse. Ben Johnson from the Salem News asked Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson if there was any further advancement on recycling efforts and he said not at this time. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray stated grading would be done on Dent County Roads 5600 and 6420 while materials will be added to county road 6663 as numerous driveway pipes are to be installed. Mobray said the county received the final acceptance report on the FLAP Project 57 from MoDOT and the county received $127,548.98 for their portion of the work. District 2 Commissioner Gary Polk gave his report and said crews would be working on patching Dent County Road 4300 which is chip and seal, with an asphalt overlay on the hill to keep it from washing out. Commissioner Gary Larson said the MRPC Annual Dinner and Awards Banquet will be held October 26th with a social hour at 5:30, dinner at 6:30 with the program to follow in Hermann at the Hermannhof Festhalle. Two Dent County residents will be recognized for their volunteer efforts: Easton May and Deloris Gray Wood. Tickets are $40 per person and reservations need to be made by Friday by calling Linda Carroll at 573-265-2993. There will also be a special meeting held by the MissouriDepartment of Transportation on a planned bridge replacement project on Highway 19 in Dent County. Especially important to the team is feedback on the timing of the planned 45-day closure. MoDOT will host an open-house style public meeting to discuss the current plans, proposed detour, and other construction details this Thursday afternoon from 4:30 to 6:00 at the Salem Community Center at the Armory, located at 1200 W. Rolla Road in Salem. Larson said anyone who may be affected by this closure for business, recreation or health needs to let their voice be heard at the open house. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Thursday morning at the courthouse and the meeting will be open to the public.

The Dent County Health Center (DCHC) Board of Trustees held their regular meeting Thursday, September 21st. After approval of the minutes of the August regular meeting, November 6th was tentatively set for the full-day Strategic Planning session with People Centric. Administrator Moser presented the communicable disease report which included 11 reported cases of COVID-19 for August. It is suspected that to date the number of COVID-19 cases for September is 3 times that figure. He said there were 31 active lead cases in August and that 10 sexually transmitted infection screenings were conducted during the month. Moser noted there were no influenza cases reported in August. Moser also reported that there were three animal bites reported last month. In the diagnostics report, Moser said 192 blood draw appointments were completed in August, plus 53 COVID tests and 8 lead tests. There were nine vaccines for COVID-19 and 384 other vaccinations administered. Moser did note that the new formulations of COVID vaccines were approved early this month, but as of the date of the meeting, DCHC only has VFC and 317 COVID vaccines and have not received vaccines for private insurance yet. A total of 573 appointments were held during August, plus WIC appointments that totaled 322. Moser noted that in August there were 122 urine drug screenings conducted on behalf of the Dent County Treatment Court. Administrator Moser gave the environmental report where 8 total inspections were conducted, there were no recalls, and 12 environmental questions were fielded. In the Administrator’s report, Moser reported that the Health Center has been experiencing ongoing internet connectivity issues so he has gone through all of the equipment within the building and verified that no internal issues are responsible. Fidelity Communications continues to work on the problem. Moser discussed the Patient Satisfaction Survey and summarized the 11 responses received. The Board was reminded of upcoming events that the Health Center will be participating in including: the Drive Through Flu/COVID Clinic October 12th, the Fall Health Fair October 26th, and the Youth Vaping Town Hall November 6th. The Health Center financial reports for August, including the review from H & R Block, were reviewed. Discussion was held on the balance sheet, income statement, and budget statements. After these questions were answered the financial reports and the report from H & R Block were approved. In New Business, Moser reported the Health Center has been awarded a $186,000 CDC Grant to reduce lead poisoning. The proposed budget was reviewed and explained. The Board voted to approve the budget and the new position. The DCHC has been awarded a NACCHO Childcare Grant in the amount of $30,000. The Board approved the necessary budget adjustment in the amount of $12,000. The ELC-ED Budget was also reviewed, but required no budget adjustments. At 6:15 the Board went in to closed session for the purpose of discussing personnel and bids/contracts. At 6:43 the Board exited closed session having approved a bid from St. Robert Glass to replace three doors on the building in the amount of $16,316, a Certificate of Deposit Resolution 2023-R003 with Progressive Ozark Bank, and a quote from Evapar (under state contract) for a replacement generator and electrical service in the amount of $36,930. Moser later discovered that the bid had been awarded in error. Friday at 12:00 noon, during an emergency closed session meeting, the motion was rescinded by the Board. During the closed session the Board voted to approve the bid from Miller Glass in Rolla in the amount of $15,638. The next regular meeting of the Board was set for Thursday, October 19th at 5:00.

The Salem Board of Aldermen will hold their regular meeting at the Salem City Hall Council Chambers at 6:00 this evening. At the meeting, the board will hear City Administrator Sally Burbridge discuss an amendment to the Personal Days Policy where each employee who has completed their probation will receive two non-accruing personal days per year. The board will then hear Resolution #27-2023 that includes a number of easements needed for the 4th Street Downtown TAP project 9901. The board will discuss the contract with Trumpia for their text blast service before discussing sharing the cost of the electrical installation for the new Construction Trades Building on the Salem R-80 campus. The board will also hear from Chief Joe Chase from the Salem Police Department on a 2023 Dodge Durango Patrol Car before hearing the second reading of Bill #3573 authorizing the mayor to sign and execute an agreement between the City of Salem and Buildtec Construction, LLC for the construction of six T-Hangers at the Salem Memorial Airport. After reports from the city officials, the board will go into closed session. The meeting tonight is open to the public.

MoDOT has announced they will be working on Highway 72 in Reynolds County near Bunker tomorrow which will reduce lanes as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform pavement repairs. The affected section of roadway is located from Route A to Route TT near Bunker, Missouri. Weather permitting, work will take place on Wednesday from 8:00 in the morning to 3:00 in the afternoon. The work zone will be marked with signs. Motorists are urged to use extreme caution while traveling near the area. For additional information, contact MoDOT’s Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-888-ASK-MODOT (1-888-275-6636) or visit www.modot.org/southeast.

Due to a lightning strike Sunday afternoon, KSMO-AM is not currently on the air. We will work diligently in getting the transmitter repaired and back on the air as quickly as possible. KSMO-FM 95.7 is currently on the air and broadcasts the same programming as KSMO-AM. We appreciate your understanding in the matter.

The Missouri Department of Transportation needs your input on a planned bridge replacement project on Highway 19 in Dent County. Especially important to the team is feedback on the timing of the planned 45-day closure. That closure window has not yet been determined and the project team welcomes input from stakeholders about that issue or any other aspect of the project. MoDOT will host an open-house style public meeting to discuss the current plans, proposed detour, and other construction details this Thursday afternoon from 4:30 to 6:00 at the Salem Community Center at the Armory, located at 1200 W. Rolla Road in Salem, MO. Members of the project team will be there to answer questions, provide information, and receive comments. There will be no formal presentation, so attendees may come at any time during the open house. Exhibits will be on display showing the current plans for the project. Comment forms will also be available at the meeting. If you’re unable to attend in person, you can find the same exhibits that will be at the open house on the project’s webpage at www.modot.org/missouri-route-19-bridge-replacement-over-standing-rock-creek-dent-county. A comment form is located at the bottom of that page. Additionally, comments may be emailed to CDCR@modot.mo.gov or mailed to Dent County Route 19 Standing Rock Creek Project, c/o MoDOT, 1511 Missouri Boulevard, Jefferson City, MO, 65102. All comments must be received or postmarked by October 13th.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education held their regular meeting Thursday at the district administrative offices. At the meeting, the board heard from A.J. Tinker with the Construction Trades Program who said he had 42 children in the program featuring eight seniors and nine juniors. Six of those seniors after graduating plan on staying in the construction trade business. Tinker said projects they are working on are the trim work of the old Fleming’s Store, work on the second floor of Dr. Ouzts Veterinary Clinic, and a new roof for the Dent County Feed building. They will also be building a weight lifting platform for the coaches. Mike Wilson reported the slab has been poured and walls are going up on the new construction trades building. He said he would like to make the public aware when the roof is installed. ESP representative Chris Saltzman gave a financial report on the “Tin Gym” project where he said ESP was able to come in on budget even though costs had gone up saying the school will get $16,000 in contingency money back from the $1,857,000 project. He did admit there were a number of issues with a project manager and construction manager, issues with the floor and roof, and problems with the door. The board asked questions about the energy savings and specific costs that Saltzman will address at the next board meeting. In the Superintendent’s report Dr. Lynne Reed said the district auditors were at the school last week, and the district received official notice they were awarded the FEMA grant. Dr. Nathan Wills reported on the results of the MAP and End of Class testing from last year, but the results were only available to the board and are embargoed from the public until December. After the school principals gave their reports, Reed talked about the final Continuous School Improvement Plan, better known as CSIP, the administration prepared and the board approved submitting it to the state. They also approved this years’ bus routes and the Opaa CACFP contract. The board went on to approve updating MSBA policies and approve the overnight trip for 19 FFA students to attend the FFA Convention in Indianapolis in November. Two Salem FFA students will be getting their American FFA Degrees. The board approved the community engagement plan before approving name additions and changes to the scholarship bank account. The board approved Kristi Steelman, Sarah Sanders, Jody Heavin, Lacie Kolbe and Nate Wills to be on the signature card. The board was notified of the resignations of Lesa Hogan as registrar, Suzy Kaffer in food service, Megan Preson as a paraprofessional, Steven McDonald as a custodian and Jessy Kissir as an aide. The board went into closed session where a student issue was heard, a personnel item was discussed, a real estate issue was talked about, and an A Plus appeal was approved. The meeting was then adjourned.