Archive for 2023

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors met Tuesday evening at the fire station at #2 South Main Street. The board heard the financial report which showed an ending balance of $151,544.22 as of July 31st. Bills, payments and statements as well as the budget were all reviewed. On the calendar, the board noted the Salem Memorial Hospital will be using the building for training on August 29th. The monthly reimbursement report showed a total of 21 calls for the month of July bringing the total calls year to date to 182. Some of those calls included one building fire, an off-road vehicle fire, three natural vegetation fires, a gas leak and a fire in mobile property. The Board declared in old business certain items as surplus which included two 3-phase air compressors, a Cat Truck engine (government) that is brand new and still in the crate, and one 100K Exterior Generator. The board then held their public tax hearing beginning at 6:15 which remained open until 6:50. Due to the Hancock Amendment, the tax rate for the fire district cannot be raised and the board approved the current rate of 23.77 cents per $100 assessed valuation to be the same for the year 2024. Fire Chief Brad Nash made his report to the board and said the department is still waiting on parts for Engine 85. The chief said the ladder truck has two touch screens that went down making it unusable. The screens were taken to the Technology Junkyard on Highway 72 for repair and they are now ready to be re-installed. The board discussed the lease for the antennae on the old Fidelity, now Cable One tower at the west end of Roosevelt Street. The current rental rate is $3,600 a year and Chief Nash is asking the board to renegotiate the lease terms as the way the lease currently reads, the rental rate will go up 5% every year from now on. The board asked the chief to get more information and possibly see if a lawyer would need to get involved. Chief Nash asked the board how they wanted to handle the surplus property declared earlier in the meeting. The board elected to list it on Purple Wave. The chief will contact Purple Wave to see when they can come and look at the items. The chief also reported that training is working toward creating a fire 1 and 2 training program that would start at the beginning of next year. Before adjourning, the date for the September meeting was set for 6:00, Tuesday evening, September 13th at the Dent County Fire Station.

The Dent County Commission met for their regular meeting at the courthouse Thursday morning. District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray was not at the meeting due to a prior commitment. District 2 Commissioner Gary Polk gave the report for District 1 and said materials were being added to Dent County Roads 5015 and 5017, and brush was going to be cut on county road 6150. He then gave the District 2 report and said brush was being cut on county roads 2240 and 2245 while maintenance work was being done at the shed including the rotating of tires on a grader. Larson was to attend the Healthy Dent County Executive Board Meeting Thursday before attending the Transportation Advisory Committee meeting, the External Relations meeting and regular MRPC Board meeting Thursday night. He did say he met with City Administrator Sally Burbridge and Mayor Greg Parker about the possibility of a city/county glass recycling location and Larson said they were receptive to the idea. A location for the recycling bin would still have to be identified and other logistics would also have to be figured out, but the city and county are looking into it. The commission is still requesting bids for a surplus equipment sale at the Dent County Road and Bridge Department. The bid specs are still available and may be picked up at the Dent County Clerk’s office at 400 North Main today during regular business hours, but no one will be at the county shed for inspection of the equipment today. Bids on surplus equipment will be due at the Dent County Clerk’s office before 10:00 Monday morning, August 14th. Please mark on the envelope that your bid is for the Road and Bridge surplus equipment. The Dent County Commission has the right to accept or reject any and all bids. The next meeting of the commission will be Monday morning at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors has a vacancy for directors for District six and District four. The SMDH bylaws and Section 206.090.1 RSMO. provide that a vacancy on the board shall be filled by appointment by the remaining Board of Directors. The appointee will hold office until the election to be held on April 2nd, 2024. Candidates for director of a hospital district shall be citizens of the United States, voters of the district of which they are a candidate, and who have resided within the state for one year preceding the election and who are at least thirty years of age. Persons interested in being considered by the Board of Directors shall complete and file a request for appointment form in the administrative office through 4:00, August 15th, 2023. The request for appointment form may be obtained in person by going by the administrative offices of Salem Memorial Hospital located at 35629 Highway 72 in Salem. The administration office is open from 8:00 in the morning and 4:00 in the afternoon today, Monday and Tuesday. Interested applicants are expected to appear at the special board of directors meeting on Tuesday, August 15th at 6:00 in the evening for a brief interview. District boundary information may also be obtained at the administrative office of Salem Memorial District Hospital. For more information, call 729-6626, extension 4005.

An accident happened Tuesday afternoon at 12:10 in Howell County on Highway 63 about four miles north of West Plains. According to the highway patrol report, a 2016 Ford F-150 being driven southbound by 26-year-old Sarah Elrod of Rolla, ran off the roadway and became airborne before overturning and coming to rest in the northbound lane. Elrod suffered serious injuries and was taken by Air Evac to Cox South Hospital in Springfield. The Ford was totaled and removed from the scene by Midway Towing of Pomona. The report went on to state that Elrod was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors held a special meeting Wednesday at the hospital library. Prior to the meeting being called to order, Karen Carmier, whose mother passed away earlier in the evening, asked to speak to the board and told the board how wonderful the staff was who cared for her mom. Summarizing her strong statement, she asked the board to pull their heads together and figure things out as the hospital has a tremendous staff and is a critical asset to this community. After the meeting began, board member Judy Thompson read a prepared statement where she apologized to the board for her actions at the last two board meetings that had been caused by ill health and stress. She said she also sent apologies to RHG staff members and Lab Director Melissa Carter for her actions. In her statement, she said she would be retiring from the board after the last meeting in December or earlier depending on her health. She said it is time for younger blood and new ideas to be on the board. The board then accepted the resignation letters of A.J. Seay and Willie Strader with a 4-0 vote, and approved accepting applications from people from District 4 and District 6 who would like to serve on the board. Applications can be made at the hospital administrative offices during regular business hours. A special board meeting will be held Tuesday, April 15th to interview board candidates. The board also approved the operational budget for the fiscal year 2023-24 that was presented at the June meeting, but wanted to delay accepting the capital budget until after Interim CEO Jason Edwards has had a chance to speak with department heads. The board then went into closed session.

The Mudbugs next event at the Bonebrake Center of Nature and History will be “Photo Find” is this afternoon from 2:00 until 3:30 in the afternoon. Participants will look at a picture and then try to find that exact spot at the Bonebrake Center they saw in the photo. The activities are designed to get children outside and comfortable in nature at their own pace. The suggested contribution for each program is $2.00 but additional donations are always welcome. All monies collected go to the Bonebrake Center. Each program is geared toward children from six to 12-years of age, but all aged children are welcome. They ask that parents please accompany their children. For more information, contact Janet Price at moonshadowmomentsllc@gmail.com. You can also leave a voicemail by calling 729-3400.

The Creative Arts Center will be holding a two-day book binding workshop where you can learn to make your own journal. The workshop will be held this Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 until 3:00 in the afternoon with Alexandra ‘Lexie” Mutch. Participants will learn the technique of coptic bookbinding as they will be tearing down paper, cutting and gluing covers unique to their tastes, then sewing a strong and lovely binding for their own blank book. The cost is $30 per person for those 12 years of age and above and all supplies are provided. Interested persons can sign up at the salemcommunitybetterment.com website under “Programs” for the Creative Arts Center. A minimum of three people will need to sign up to hold the class and it will be limited to no more than 12.

An accident happened Thursday morning just after 3:20 in Phelps County on Highway 72 about one miles east of Rolla. According to the highway patrol report, a 2017 Jeep Renagade being driven by a 17-year-old female juvenile of Columbia, was traveling eastbound when she attempted to turn into a driveway and traveled off the side of the driveway into a ditch. The driver, along with a 17-year-old female juvenile from Rolla and a 17-year-old male juvenile from St. Louis, all suffered minor injuries and were taken by the Phelps Health ambulance to Phelps Health hospital for treatment. The Jeep was totaled and removed from the scene by Big Boys Towing. The report went on to state that the driver was wearing a seat restraint while the passengers were not.

Join park team members for a wild herbal class from 8:00 to 3:00 this Saturday and Sunday at the Current River State Park. Have you ever wondered about some of the lotions and potions that your ancestors made that helped with tick bites, sunburns and more? You won’t find the cure to the common cold, but you will learn how to make herbal teas that are comforting and taste good. You will also learn how to make “hiker’s helper” and lip balms, along with some sugar and salt scrubs. These classes are free and cover the same material each day. Participants are encouraged to bring snacks and a drink. Registration is required, and the classes fill up quickly, so be sure to sign up soon. To register or to find out more information, contact Connie at 573-751-1224 or email connie.weber@dnr.mo.gov. Current River State Park is located at 11053 County Road 19D in Salem.

An accident happened on Highway 72 at Lake Springs in Dent County at 5:00 Monday afternoon. According to the highway patrol report, a 2011 Dodge Dakota driven westbound by 35-year-old Albert Bowling of Rolla, was stopped in traffic and waiting to turn left. Stopped behind the Dakota was a 2005 Ford Aerostar, driven by 31-year-old Caleb Steinbarger of Springfield. At that time, a 2012 Chevy Equinox driven westbound by 18-year-old Reagan Neff of Salem, failed to notice the stopped vehicles and struck the Aerostar from behind forcing that vehicle into the Dodge Dakota. The Equinox then overturned into the eastbound lane and was struck by a 2013 Dodge Ram Pickup driven eastbound by 35-year-old Bradley Abbott of Salem and a 2022 Nissan Frontier driven by 52-year-old Tina Inman of Salem. Suffering moderate injuries was Neff who was taken to the Salem Memorial Hospital by the Salem EMS. Suffering minor injuries was Abbott who was also taken to the Salem Memorial Hospital by the Salem EMS. Steinbarger, Abbott and Inman were wearing seat restraints at the time of the accident while Neff and Bowling were not. The Equinox and Aerostar were totaled and removed from the scene by American Automotive. The Dodge Ram Pickup sustained moderate damage and was removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing. The Dodge Dakota had moderate damage and the Nissan Frontier had minor damage, and both vehicles were driven from the scene.

The Salem Hospital Board of Directors have called a special meeting for tonight at 7:00 at the hospital library. In new business, the board will discuss the resignation two board directors and the plan to fill the board vacancies caused by those resignations. The board will also discuss the 2023-24 year budget before adjourning. The meeting Wednesday is open to the public by personally attending or by electronic means or telephone. Any person that would like to attend by telephone or other electronic means should contact the Salem Hospital Administrative Offices at 729-6626, ext 4005.

The Salem Board of Aldermen held their regular meeting Tuesday evening at the City Hall Council Chambers. After the agenda and consent agendas were approved, Mayor Greg Parker excused himself as the board was going to discuss the sanitation bid and he works for WCA. Board President Shawn Bolerjack led the discussion on the only bid received and that was from WCA, the current provider of trash and recycling services in the city. The bid from WCA was for three years starting with a new rate of $18.50 for residents starting September 1st with senior citizens paying $17.50 and those outside the city limits paying $21.50. The rates increase slightly in both 2024 and 2025. This bid did not offer recycling services as WCA would be phasing out household recycling collection after September 1st as the cost to recycle was high and the amount of contaminated recycling was a problem. WCA did say they would work with the city and the Solid Waste Management District through the MRPC to find a way for people to take their recycling to a location where WCA would transport the recycled materials. Utility Committee Chairman Kyle Williams wanted the utility committee to be able to review and discuss the bid. The board then tabled any decision on the bid until after the utility committee makes their recommendation, possibly at a special meeting. Public Works Director Mark Nash asked the board to enter into a preventive maintenance agreement with Vandivort Engineering from St. Louis for services on the nine city pumps and five lift stations. The board wanted a list of the pumps and lift stations and how old they are before approving the request and tabled this item. The board approved Resolution #25-2023 to allow the mayor to execute the agreement with the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce for $10,000 to operate the visitor center and provide tourism services to the area. The board also approved Resolution #26-2023 authorizing the mayor to sign the supplemental agreement #1 between the City of Salem and H.W. Lochner to perform professional services for engineering and project oversight of six T-hangers at the Salem Memorial Airport in the amount of $135,500. The board approved the Planning and Zoning Board recommendation to approve a conditional use permit to Chris Hendrix at 1000 West Scenic Rivers Blvd at Wilson Mortuary to add a crematory; and the board approved the Salem Planning and Zoning Commission recommendation to deny a conditional use permit to Michael Florence for a motorcycle repair and detail service. According to the discussion, the application was denied due to population density. The mayor appointed and the board approved Sherry Lea to replace the late Gary Brown on the Salem Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, and the board approved the mayor naming Alderman Kyle Williams to be the city representative on the MRPC Board. The board heard the first reading of Bill #3556 to create an ordinance to establish a procedure to disclose potential conflicts of interest for certain municipal officials, Bill #3558 to create an ordinance to allow the subdivision of 1506 South MacArthur; Bill #3559 to create an ordinance to allow the subdivision of 501 North Washington into two parcels, and bill #3560 that would create an ordinance to rezone 903 West Scenic Rivers Blvd in the City of Salem from Residential R-1 to Commercial R-1. The last three bills were all recommended by the Salem Planning and Zoning Commission. In the second reading of bills, the board approved Bill #3554 amending the budget for the City of Salem beginning July 1, 2022. In the reports of city officials, Public Works Director Mark Nash said here were 49 utility disconnects with 36 of them reconnected by the end of the day. He said four are still disconnected, but he believes the people may have left the area. Alderman Kyle Williams said the Utility Committee meeting will be at the Salem Community Center@The Armory tonight at 6:15 with a full agenda including a water testing quote, utility fee discussion, water and wastewater service availability fee by usage discussion, outside the city utilities rates with an emphasis on new requests for utility service and the existing account holders. The meeting of the utility committee is open to the public. The board of aldermen then went into closed session.