Archive for 2023

A correction has been made to the accident reported Wednesday in the paper copy of Your World Today that occurred about six miles south of Vienna at 3:05 Tuesday morning. According to the highway patrol report, a southbound 2019 Ford Econoline driven by 71-year-old Truman Reinecke of Afton, Oklahoma, struck a southbound 1997 Ford F-350 driven by 87-year-old Lyle Hutchens of Salem, from behind. As a result of the crash, the Econoline overturned and sustained moderate damage, while the F-350 had minor damage. Reinecke suffered minor injuries and was transported by EMS to Phelps Health. The Econoline was removed from the scene by D&D Towing and the F-350 was driven from the scene. Everyone involved in the accident were wearing their seat restraints. We apologize for the error.

The Dent County Public Water Supply District #1 has issued a 48-hour boil order for their customers on Highway 19. If you are in that part of the district, make sure that you boil any water or use bottled water for consuming or for brushing your teeth! Make sure you boil the water or use bottled water for your pets as well. You may boil water in a microwave as well as on your stove. It is safe to take a bath or shower, but be careful not to swallow any water.

The City of Salem Finance Committee will be meeting tonight at 5:30 at the Salem Community Center@The Armory at 1200 West Rolla Road in the Rotary Room. The committee will be reviewing the recommended capital improvements and as well as each funds budget in preparation the final draft of the fiscal year 2024 budget. Questions and discussion after the review of the proposed budget will be held to determine the version of the budget that will be submitted to the Salem Board of Aldermen for their approval on June 27th. The meeting is open to the public.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will hold a special meeting and budget workshop at 12:30 today. Dr. Howard Neeley and Superintendent Dr. Lynne Reed will be discussing the budget with the board members. The board will also consider a contract for the Construction trades Building and the rescheduling of their regular meeting for Tuesday, June 20th at 6:00 at the district administrative offices. The meeting will be today will be available by Zoom. Contact the Salem R-80 offices to get the Zoom link.

The City of Salem Utility Committee met Wednesday night at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. City Treasurer Stacey Houston went over the 11 month figures for the electric, water and sewer funds showing income and expenses, comparing them with the estimated budget numbers, and then going over the expected budget for the fiscal year 2024. Highlights from her presentation show that $900,000 of the money original scheduled to be transferred to the General Revenue Fund will be reduced to $750,000 with the other $150,000 going into reserves. She also showed the combined reserve funds for the electric department which started the year at around $95,000 will end the year near $827,118 with the transfers from sales, the addition of the service availability fees and the required annual 5% contribution. She also said the well work scheduled for this fiscal year for the water department will not happen until next year, and that will be able to paid for out of the water reserve fund instead of from operations. The sewer department saw revenues increase to over a million dollars with the rate increase last August and some $67,000 will be added to the sewer reserves. It was explained by City Administrator Sally Burbridge the sewer bonds for the wastewater project will not be closed on until 2024 but engineering work and other parts of the ARPA grant will be put into operation. Burbridge also said the supplemental funding the city promised to look into when discussing the bond issue was applied for from the State Revolving Fund and the city qualifies for two million dollars of the 4.6 million dollar project. The committee then discussed electric utility issues that needed to be addressed. First after some discussion, the committee elected to recommend to the Board of Alderman to continue with the electric Service Availability Fee to customers to help fund the reserve fund, but reduce it to an $8.00 fee from the current $10 fee. It will automatically sunset next June unless the committee elects to continue it. They next discussed the city ordinance that automatically will increase or decrease the electric rate based upon the wholesale purchase of power by the percentage of increase or decrease over a 12-month period. That rate was a 7.7% increase. The committee weighed the full 7.7% increase that would cover the cost of electricity and possibly help with the reserves versus the number of increases the public has received over the last year for utilites. They voted 3-3 with Chairman Kyle Williams casting the deciding vote to recommend to the alderman to only raise the rate 3.5%. This would take the electric rate form $.1314 kWh to $.1360 per kWh. They also approved recommending to the alderman to accurately calculate the trued-up figures to determine the proper increase or decrease in the purchase of electricity, the 12-month period used in the ordinance be from May to April of the current year. They also approved to recommend to the aldermen to treat the electric rates for those who are not in the city limits who have city utilities to follow the water and sewer rate policies of being charged 26% higher rates than city dwellers plus double the base or Service Availability Fee. The committee went on to agree to recommend to the aldermen a change in the budget billing program to go from a “fixed” amount to a “running” Average Monthly Payment (AMP) which is like budget billing with small fluctuations in the amount due. Further they agreed to recommend to the alderman that customers must be in “good standing” to qualify for AMP which means no more than two late payments and no disconnects in the last 12 months and no contracts. All contracts would have to be paid in full before they would be eligible for AMP. Finally the committee agreed to recommend to the alderman to allow the city to contract to e-mail utility bills through Incode at a cost of about $4,600 with an annual fee near $700; and for those who still want to have paper bills, to contract with Ozark Mailing Services where they print, fold, insert the bill and return envelope, seal the outside envelope, meter and mail the bills at 79 cents per piece. That cost to the city is about the same in direct overhead and supply costs which does not including payroll and time lost to other duties. A question and answer session was held before the meeting adjourned.

An happened in Maries County on Highway 63 Tuesday morning around 3:05. The accident happened about two miles south of Vienna where, according to the highway patrol, a southbound 2014 Toyota Avalon, driven by 22-year-old Madison Miller of Rolla, failed to negotiate a curve and traveled off the right side of the roadway. Miller was ejected from the Toyotar. She suffered serious injuries and was transported by Phelps Air to the University of Missouri Hospital in Columbia. The Toyota was totaled and removed from the scene by Plaza Towing.

A correction has been made to the accident that occurred about six miles south of Vienna on Highway 63 around 3:05 Tuesday morning. According to the highway patrol report, a southbound 2019 Ford Econoline, driven by 71-year-old Truman Reinecke of Afton, Oklahoma, struck a southbound 1997 Ford F-350, driven by 87-year-old Lyle Hutchens of Salem, from behind. As a result of the crash, the Econoline overturned and sustained moderate damage, while the F-350 had minor damage. Reinecke suffered minor injuries and was transported by EMS to Phelps Health. The Econoline was removed from the scene by D&D Towing and the F-350 was driven from the scene. Everyone involved in the accident were wearing their seat restraints. We apologize for the error.

The City of Salem’s Utility Committee will meet tonight at 6:15 at the Community Center @ The Armory at 1200 West Rolla Road. After the roll call will be the financial review followed by the proposed budget review and utility rate changes for electric and water. A sewer rate change is to be discussed at the July meeting with a new proposed ordinance. Other topics to be discussed will include AMP/Budget Billing Policy changes and e-mailing utility bills followed by a questions and comment period. The meeting is open to the public and has been called by Utility Committee Chair Kyle Williams.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen met Tuesday night at the City Hall Council Chambers. After the consent agenda was approved, the board approved a permit for Larry and Karen Shelby to have pet mini-pigs at the property of the old Crane Tire property on Red Bud Lane. In New Business, the board approved the bid from Far West Line Specialties for tools for the Electric Department for $4,738.02 and the bid of $15,663.25 from Core and Main for the purchase of five new fire hydrants to replace five that cannot be repaired. City Administrator Sally Burbridge explained to the board about three grants that could be used for airport maintenance cost reimbursement. Two of these grants have already been executed and are ready to be submitted. The third grant, an ARPA grant for $22,000 has not yet been executed. She asked and the board approved allowing the mayor to sign the application for the grant. The city will work with Lochner in submitting the reimbursement that could result in a $51,000 reimbursement that would be added to the airport budget as revenue in the next fiscal year. City Building Inspector Jarred Brown presented the recommendations from the Salem Planning and Zoning Commission meeting held on May 25th. The board approved the commission recommendation for a conditional use permit for Jordan and Sarah Watson for their property at 305 West 2nd Street to be used as a vacation rental; approved the commission recommendation of rezoning of the property at 502 West Dillon Street from residential to commercial as requested by Four Rivers Community Health Center; approved the commission recommendation to issue a conditional use permit for an automobile detail shop at 906 West Center by Joe Enloe that includes a number of conditions that have to be followed including the renewal of the conditional use permit after two years; the board approved the commission recommendation to issue a conditional use permit to have trailer, vehicle, as well as agricultural and construction equipment sales at 1002 East Scenic Rivers Blvd as requested by C&A Investments, LLC with the condition of installing a privacy fence between the lot and the residential property; and the board approved the subdivision and replatting of lots as submitted by Briceno Properties, LLC. In Old Business, the board approved the purchase of a load center and electric wiring package for the Al Brown Lighting Project from Fletcher-Reinhardt for $21,871.57. The board approved the request from City Treasurer Stacey Houston to have the mayor sign the Financial Assistance Agreement as well as the General Terms and Conditions document necessary for the city to receive reimbursement for engineering services from the ARPA Drinking Water Grant Award. The city will receive a partial grant of $628,000 and the city will have to contribute $6,342.80 as their part of the grant match. The board heard the first reading of Bill #3540 which would create a lease agreement between the City of Salem and Wave Internet for the use of the bottle rocket tower, but no action will be taken until the next meeting; and the board did approve Bill #3539 that would authorize the mayor to sign and execute the contract between the City of Salem and Hogan’s, Inc. for contact painting and insulation service to Well #2 and Well #4 after the second reading. Administrator Burbridge said a meeting was held that included Public Works Director Nash, Burbridge, the Salem Water and Sewer Department, Archer-Elgin’s Jeff Medows, and Mary West from Missouri Rural Water on the final design for the wastewater engineering improvements. This will create some new verbiage and requirements that will have to be considered in the creation of the sewer rate increase. She thanked staff for the cleanup work at the Cedar Grove Cemetery and said discussion of employee health insurance rates would occur at the next meeting. Public Works Director Nash said the boom arm for the mower is back and they have been cutting creek ditches at the city park and other areas. He also said the city has installed the LORA System near the Al Brown Fields that will allow the city to read about 45 meters remotely including the water meters at the hospital. It will be tested today for accuracy. Alderwoman Kala Sisco wanted to remind citizens of the city’s text blast service and that a Finance Committee meeting will be held at 5:30 Thursday at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. Alderman Shawn Bolerjack wanted to recognize those involved in the “Love Thy Neighbor” program. He said about 20 churches and near 100 volunteers helped repair a number of households in the area for people who simply could not have afforded to do it themselves. The board then went into closed session.

The Dent County Sheriffs Department has released several reports. On Saturday, June 3rd, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 300 block of East Fourth Street. During the stop, it was discovered a passenger in the vehicle, a 34-year-old Salem man, was in possession of suspected methamphetamine. He was arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail. Charges against the suspect are pending. The next day, a deputy responded to the 10000 block of South Highway 19 for a suspicious subject. The person was located and found to have an active arrest warrant. The a 35-year-old Salem man, was arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail where he was incarcerated on the warrant. On Monday, June 5th, a deputy responded to Dent County Road 4170 for a reported domestic incident. During the investigation, a 39-year-old Salem woman was arrested for driving while having her license suspended or revoked. She was arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail where she was issued several citations. Finally on June 9th, a deputy arrested a 25-year-old Lake Ozark man at the Dent County Courthouse for failure to obey a judge’s order. He was transported to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated on the warrant. Please call the Dent County Sheriffs Office at 729-3241 if you have any information regarding an investigation.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will be meeting this evening at 6:00 at the City Hall Council Chambers. The consent agenda will be reviewed by the aldermen which features the Department of Revenue Sales tax distributions received this month for the General Revenue Fund, Park and Recreation Fund and the Capital Improvement Fund; plus the Salem Police Department monthly report and minutes from the previous meetings as well as a recommendation by the Salem Public Library for Harold Hamilton to be approved as Library Board of Trustee. After the consent agenda is approved, the board will hear a request from Larry and Karen Shelby on Red Bud Lane for permission to keep their mini-pigs at their property. In New Business, the board will hear from Public Works Director Mark Nash about bids on tools for the Electric Department as well as bids for new fire hydrants. Up next, City Administrator Sally Burbridge will discuss with the board grant funding for the airport expenses the city is eligible for in the amount of $51,000 from three different grants. Two of the grants have already been executed and she will be asking the board to approve Mayor Greg Parker signing and then submitting the third grant for airport operation and maintenance funds which is an ARPA grant for $22,000. The board will also hear from City Building Inspector Jarred Brown on a conditional use permit for Jordan and Sarah Watson for property at 305 West 2nd Street qualifying the property to be a vacation rental. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended the issuance of the conditional use permit. He will then address the rezoning of the property at 502 West Dillon Street from residential to commercial as requested by Four Rivers Community Health Center who has property adjoining this property which would be used for expansion and additional parking. The Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend the zoning change. Brown will also present a request for a conditional use permit for an automobile detail shop at 906 West Center by Joe Enloe. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approving the conditional use permit with certain conditions that must be followed or the permit would be revoked. Brown will also discuss the request from C&A Investments, LLC for a conditional use permit to have equipment sales at 1002 East Scenic Rivers Blvd. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended the approval of the conditional use permit provided a visual barrier be installed between this property and residential property. Lastly, Brown will discuss with the board a new subdivision and replatting of lots as requested by Briceno Properties, LLC at 1000 South Main Street. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended to approve the subdivision plat. In Old Business, Public Works Director Nash will discuss the purchase of electric materials for the Al Brown Lighting Project from Fletcher-Reinhardt for $21,871.57. City Treasurer Stacey Houston will ask the board to approve allowing the mayor to sign the Financial Assistance Agreement as well as the General Terms and Conditions document necessary for the city to receive reimbursement from the ARPA Drinking Water Grant Award. The Department of Natural Resources has already approved the engineering portion of the contract and the city would receive a partial grant of $628,000 to pay for that along with the city match of $6,342.80. In the reading of bills, the first reading of Bill #3540 which would create a lease agreement between the City of Salem and Wave Internet for the use of the bottle rocket tower will occur, and the second reading of Bill #3539 that would authorize the mayor to sign and execute the contract between the City of Salem and Hogan’s, Inc. for contact painting service to Well #2 and Well #4 will be held. Following the reports of city officials, the board will go into closed session to discuss contracts. The Salem Board of Aldermen regular meeting tonight is open to the public.

Barbara Johnson will be teaching Needle Tatting at the Creative Arts Center this Thursday from 6:00 until 8:00 in the evening. The class is for participants 14 years old and older. Learn how to make beautiful tatted lace with a long needle! Using a blunt, 6” needle, learn the process of creating frothy, delicate lace. You only need to master the double stitch — all other things develop from this. You will make rings, chains, picots, joins and finishing techniques. You will also make a simple small ornament. The cost is $30 per person and all supplies are provided. If interested, you can sign up online at salemcommunitybetterment.com and go to the Creative Arts Center link or email salemartscenter@salemcommunitybetterment.com.