Archive for 2023

The Salem Board of Alderman met Tuesday night at the City Hall Council Chambers. After they approved the consent agenda, the board heard from Lisa French regarding the city’s policy on Hearing of Persons and Communication. She asked for a copy of the ordinance that gives Chief Joe Chase the authority to remove citizens from meetings at the request of city officials. She was also concerned that the city was not addressing citizens concerns but only allows them to speak at meetings but not have a discussion or resolution. She claimed this is taxation without representation. She was also concerned that her personal information was released in the board material packet and this should have been redacted. The board approved purchasing a transfer switch for Well #4 at a cost of $17,968 from Aesthetix Electric. This will allow the city to have water if there was a natural disaster and prolonged electrical outage. At the request of staff, the Board denied two bids that were received for a new sign at the entrance to the Industrial Park. New signage is needed to replace the former sign that blew down in 2019. The sign would list all current and future businesses in the park. The budget for this sign as well as new signage at the Airport totals $50,000 and the project will be rebid with updated specs. The board approved board members for the Enhanced Enterprise Zone. This committee is a partnership between the City of Salem and Dent County. Re-appointments for a five-year term are Willie Strader with Farm Bureau and Jamie Homeyer, County Assessor. Appointments due to vacancies include Jeff Dodson, Superintendent of North Wood R-4 and Nathan Wills, Assistant Superintendent of Salem R-80 School. Other members of this board include Dean Jones from Salem Wood Products, Dustin Howard with the Bank of Salem and Daniel Salyer from Phil-Mart. The board approved Bill No. 3579 to change the name of the Community Services Committee to the Community Involvement Committee with a new vision and responsibilities. Chairman Kala Sisco will seek appointment of new members tho this committee at the next meeting. Kyle Williams reported there will be a Utility Committee meeting tonight at 6:15 at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. He will attend the Transportation Priorities meeting at MRPC this week and the Youth Vaping Town Hall meeting on Thursday, December 14 at 5:30 pm at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. He is researching possible MoDOT transportation grants to get a city bus. He stated that Houston, MO has this service that offers free rides at a cost of $60,000 per year to the city. The board then went into closed session.

City Clerk Tammy Koller has announced that Alderwoman Amanda Duncan has submitted her resignation Wednesday from the Salem Board of Alderman effective Tuesday, December 12th.

To mark this year’s most spectacular meteor shower known as the Geminids Meteor Shower, Elephant Rocks State Park will be open to the public for a rare after-dark event this Friday evening. Park representatives will be available to direct guests to the best and safest areas to view the shower. Participants should remember that it is December and should dress for cold temperatures. No campfires will be allowed. In the event of rain, it will be moved to Saturday, December 16th. The event runs from 5:00 in the evening to midnight at Elephant Rocks State Park on Highway 21 in Belleview.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will be holding their regular meeting this evening at 5:30 in the R-80 Board Room. At the meeting, Alex Diehl will be recognized as for being All-State Cross Country. Dr. Reed and Dr. Wills will give their report to the board before the building principals and Athletic Director Clay Moody give their reports. New business to be brought before the board include a resolution calling for a bond election in the Salem R-80 school district, a resolution calling for an election in the Salem R-80 school district for the purpose of increasing the districts operating tax levy, and a resolution authorizing the appropriation not to exceed 115,000.00 for the purpose of prepaying a portion of the districts outstanding general obligation bonds, and authorizing other actions in connection with those bonds. The board is also expected to approve the Director of Operations job description, approve an out of state FFA trip, the FEMA building design and consider CEP for the high school. The board will then hear resignations, if any, before setting the date for the January meeting if different from January 18th before adjourning. The board will going into executive session to discuss personnel. The meeting is open to the public.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Office has released some reports for the first week of December. On Saturday, December 2nd, a deputy responded to Dent County Road 2470 for a report of littering. During the course of the investigation, some information on the suspect was developed and charges were submitted to the Dent County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. On Monday, December 4th, deputies responded to the Salem Wal-Mart for a reported wanted subject. The suspect, a 32-year-old Salem man, was arrested without incident and transported to the Dent County Jail where he was incarcerated on multiple warrants. That same day, a deputy responded to the Dent County Jail for a report of an inmate being in possession of a controlled substance. According to the investigation, a jailer was searching the clothes of a 46-year-old St. Louis man when what was suspected to be methamphetamine was discovered. The suspect was questioned and the investigation is ongoing. The next day, deputies responded to the 1000 block of Dent County Road 6370 for a reported domestic dispute. According to the victim who was a 41-year-old Salem woman, her 47-year-old husband had broken a vehicle window, causing a small cut on her arm. Both parties agreed to separate for the night and the Missouri 12-Hour Rule was invoked. Finally onThursday, December 7th, deputies observed a 32-year-old Salem man who was known to have an active felony arrest warrant. The suspect was arrested and found to be in possession of what appeared to be methamphetamine. He was taken to the Dent County Jail on the warrant and additional charges are pending. If you have information regarding an investigation, contact the Dent County Sheriff’s office at 729-3241.

A one vehicle accident happened Monday morning at 11:50 in Reynolds County on Highway 49 about four miles north of Black. According to the highway patrol report, a 2006 Sterling L9500 being driven by 60-year-old Keith Kramer of Bixby, ran off the of the road. The driver then overcorrected, crossed the center line and ran off the left side of the road and overturned in a ditch. Kramer, who was not wearing safety equipment, suffered moderate injuries and was transported by Life Net to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. The Sterling sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by Buckeys Towing.

An accident happened Monday afternoon just before 4:00 in Phelps County at Pine Forest Drive and Lake Mont Drive. According to the highway patrol report, a 2006 Mercedes C280 being driven by 57-year-old Martin Bohner of Rolla, failed to yield to a 2018 Infiniti Q70 being driven by 61-year-old Francisca Oboh-Ikuenobe, also of Rolla. After the accident, a pedestrian, 51-year-old Johnny Rhodes of Rolla, was attempting to assist the driver of the Infiniti and became trapped between the vehicle and its door as the driver was attempting to put the vehicle into park, but instead put the vehicle in reverse and accelerated. Rhodes was taken to Phelps Health with minor injuries. Oboh-Ikuenobe also suffered minor injuries and was taken by ambulance to Phelps Health hospital. The Infiniti sustained minor damage while the Mercedes had moderate damage. Both vehicles were removed from the scene by D & D Towing. The report went on to state that both drivers were wearing seat restraints.

The Missouri Department of Conservation recently set turkey and deer hunting dates for the 2024-2025 seasons. The hunting dates were approved by the Missouri Conservation Commission at its December 8th open meeting in Jefferson City. Spring Youth Portion of the 2024 turkey season will be April 6th and 7th. The regular Spring Turkey Season is slated for April 15th through May 5th with the Fall Firearms Turkey Season to run October 1st to October 31st. 2024-2025 deer season will include an early antlerless portion in open counties will be October 11th through the 13th. Early youth portion running November 2nd and 3rd. November regular portion set for November 16th through November 26th. CWD portion in open counties will be November 27th through December 1st. The late antlerless portion in open counties will be December 7th through December 16th and the Firearms alternative methods portion with be December 28th, 2024 through January 7th, 2025. Detailed information on the upcoming seasons and portions will be included in the MDC 2024 Spring Turkey Hunting and Regulations booklet and the MDC 2024 Fall Deer & Turkey Regulations and Information booklet, available closer to the seasons. The booklets will be available where permits are sold and online at mdc.mo.gov.

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning at the courthouse for its regular meeting. In the road report, District One commissioner Wes Mobray stated rock would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 6010 while only grading was going to be done on county roads 4235, 4237 and 5480. Mobray also indicated brush would be cut on county road 2470. Mobray reported the road and bridge department updated the CART tax maps from MoDOT with the road improvements or closures from the previous map from 2017. District Two Commissioner Gary Polk said rock was being added and grading was being done on Dent County Roads 4403 and 5260 while only grading was being done on county roads 3080, 3090, 3100 and 3110. Polk said brush was being cut on county roads 3080 and 3090. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson reported he would be attending a SACBA Board meeting Monday night. Deputy County Clerk Melissa Piatt said that County Clerk Angie Curley had balanced with the collector and assessor on all collections, abatements and add-ons for the month of November. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams was in to present the sales tax monies received this month. The General Revenue Fund and Law Enforcement Sales Tax Fund each received $88,614.48 which is about $4,103.31 less than for November of 2022. Year-to-date, the General Revenue Fund and the LEST funds are down about $70,823. The Road and Bridge Fund received $41,712.16 this month, down $2,281.02 from November of 2022. Year-to-date, that fund is down $31,878.12. The Jail Operating and Trust funds each received $83,846.07 and that is down $4,140.13 from November 2022 receipts. Year-to-date, those funds are down $58,549.77. Curt Faigle from the 100-Acre Wood Rally was in to request approval of the commission for the roads they intended to use for the rally in 2024 which will be held on March 15th and 16th. The roads that will be raced on that Saturday will be Dent County Roads 3180, 4040, 4330, 4340, 5380, 5360, 5520, 5530, 5600 and 5690. The commissioners approved his request. Faigle said after three fatalities occurred on different rally courses this past year, he wasn’t sure as many rally drivers will be involved in 2024 as in years past. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Thursday at 9:00 AM at the courthouse and it is open to the public.

An accident happened in Phelps County Saturday evening at 5:05 on Route DD about a mile from St. James. According to the highway patrol report, a 1997 Ford Escort driven westbound by 64-year-old Brenda McCormack of St. James, traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck a tree. McCormack suffered serious injuries and was taken to Phelps Health by the Phelps Health Ambulance. McCormack was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Ford was totaled and removed from the scene by Spurgeon’s Towing.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors will be meeting at 6:00 this evening at the fire station located at #2 South Main Street. After the roll call and approval of the consent agenda, the board will hear the financial reports, approve the bills and review the budget. The board will also review the calendar and hear the monthly reimbursement report. Any old business will then be addressed before the board discusses the 2024 election in new business. After hearing a report from Interim Chief Dennis Floyd, the board will set the date will be set for the January meeting before adjourning. The meeting tonight will be open to the public.

The Salem Memorial Hospital Board of Directors held a special meeting on Friday, December 8th. At the meeting, auditor Jean Nyberg with FORVIS, presented the Board with preliminary findings to include a significant change what was previously reported was the end of year financial findings. The Board was previously presented with a loss of $317,000 for the end of the 2023 fiscal year, but after the preliminary audit adjustments and corrections were made, the Salem Memorial Hospital was showing an actual loss of 2.5 million dollars from operations. This is not the final audit report, but the significant difference in loss brought about an extended board discussion and some hard choices for the Board to consider in order to continue to keep the hospital operational for the long term. After much discussion, the Board of Directors voted to make necessary changes. Reduction in certain service lines including the dialysis and home health departments will begin in the coming months allowing patients involved with those services to be presented with options for continuity of care by transferring to surrounding area services. No consideration was made to enact a reduction in force, therefore employees affected by discontinuing these service lines will be offered a transfer to other areas of the hospital. Other motions were made to review all contracted service agreements and to explore affiliations with other Health Systems.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will meet tonight at 6:00 at the City Hall Council Chambers for their regular meeting. After the consent agenda is approved, the board will hear from Lisa French in the hearing of persons. The board will then hear and discuss bids on the Well #4 service upgrade and the bid for a new sign at the Masters Industrial Park. The board will then vote to appoint new members to the Enhanced Enterprise Zone as well as accept those who want to continue to serve on the board. The board will then hear Bill #3579 changing the name of the Community Services Committee to the Community Involvement Committee. After reports from the city officials, the board will go into closed session. The meeting tonight is open to the public.