Archive for 2023

The Salem R-80 Board of Education met Thursday evening at the District Administrative Offices. The board revised the minutes with two small word changes before two students were recognized: Xander During for being named to the All-State Band on the Contra-Alto Clarinet, and Neely Leathers named to the All-State Choir. Superintendent Dr. Lynne Reed gave an update on the Tin Gym as work is nearing completion as the batting cages have been ordered. Reed said the board needs to pay attention to legislative updates that could affect the school including a couple of bills that are dealing with reducing property tax as well as some senate and house bills on open enrollment for schools. She also said the MAP and APR results have been released to schools, but are embargoed until March 7th for the general public. They will be presented at the March meeting. The board approved assigning the 179D tax deduction allocation to ESP contractors for energy savings as the school cannot take them. The board then accepted the retirement of Melanie Wisdom as Upper Elementary School principal, the resignation of Tony Edwards as assistant football coach only, resignation of Mary Beth Patrick as the William Lynch Elementary School Yearbook sponsor, resignation of Brooke Rogers as the high school business teacher, resignation of Stephanie Martin-Dougal as a para-professional, and the resignation of Amy Combs as the Upper Elementary School nurse. In closed session, the board granted an exception to a long-term suspension policy, approved an employee stipend for required staff training, approved absorbing the bridges program, and approved making a change to an employee’s pay schedule from July through June. The board also approved employing Meg Swords as the middle school/high school Assistant Band Director as well as 6-12 general music teacher, approved employing Kristi Steelman as a High School Counselor, and approved extending the administrative contracts of William Lynch Elementary School Principal Herman Blau, High School Principal Tori Snitker, High School Assistant Principal Brendon Piatt and Athletic Director Clay Moody. The board also offered a one-year contract to Middle School Principal Sarah Russell and approved extending the administrative contract of Jody Heavin. The meeting was then adjourned.

The Salem Police Department has released their report for the month of January. They had 106 traffic stops, investigated 13 accidents, responded to 19 ambulances calls, provided 16 escorts, made 20 well being checks and responded to 10 alarms. The Salem Police investigated 11 stealing incidents, seven domestic violence reports, two reports of fraud, five harassment charges, three assaults, wrote two property damage reports and made one death investigation. The Salem Police Department reported they had a total of 525 incidents for the month of January. The department was also dispatched for 29 animal calls and performed 61 follow-up investigations.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors will meet Tuesday night at 6:00 at the hospital library. In the Administrator’s Report, the board will hear the summary of operations and statistics for the month of January as well as the Chief Nursing Officer report, a report on the 340B drug program, a Human Resources update and the hospital foundation report. After the Marketing and Community Relations report, old business will be addressed including the kitchen drain proposal, the clinic architect, finance committee dates, and the final approval of the Governing Body Bylaws. In New Business, the board will discuss the Election of a Secretary to the Governing Board, Medical Staff Bylaw review and approval, and purchases. The board may vote to go into closed session. The meeting Tuesday night of the Salem Memorial Hospital Board of Directors is open to the public.

The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning for their regular meeting. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles was unable to attend the meeting do to symptoms from a concussion he suffered so county clerk Angie Curley appointed First District Commissioner Wes Mobray as acting presiding commissioner for the meeting. In the road report, Mobray said crews were out removing trees and limbs that were blown down during the storm overnight as well as cleaning out culverts and checking roads for any possible washouts. Brush was also being cut on county road 5600. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said his crews were basically doing the same thing as well as patching chip and seal on a number of different roads with the ultimate paving material and were installing a new lift cylinder on the old loader. County Clerk Angie Curley said the courthouse would be closed Monday for President’s Day and the first day to absentee vote will be Tuesday, February 21st. She also said the last day to register to vote for the Municipal Election will be March 8th and sample ballots for all elections are available in her office. She did say there would be no polling location at Dent-Phelps R-3 and Green Forest R-2 as they have no school board election or any other issue they need to vote on. Curley said her office balanced with the county treasurer and collector on all accounts for January including collections, abatements and add-ons. She said she has the financial statement of the county for the year 2022 ready to be submitted to the newspaper. It must have a summary of the receipts of each fund, summary of disbursements and transfers of each fund, the beginning and ending cash balances for each fund, a summary of delinquent taxes for each fund, a summary of warrants for each fund, statement of bonded indebtedness at the beginning and end of the year for each fund, a statement of tax levies of each fund for the year, and gross annual salary of each elected or appointed county official. She has until June 30th to have it published in the Salem News and all the commissioners must sign the certificate of accuracy. Curley also said she received a letter from Rich Devereux and Company, LLC, that they will be unable to do the county audit they were awarded in January for $18,500 due to them being shorthanded. The county will have to put the audit out for bid again. The next meeting of the commissioners will be Thursday, February 23rd at the courthouse at 9:00 and the meeting will be open to the public.

The City of Salem held their regular Board of Alderman meeting on Thursday in the City Hall Council Chambers. The board approved a request from Kerri Konkel to close a number of streets on the afternoon of Sunday, May 7th for a Senior Parade. The board approved Resolution No. 5-2023, which is an agreement between the City of Salem and H.W. Lochner, Inc in the amount of $19,500 for the engineering and project oversight of six T-hangers at the Salem Memorial Airport. City Administrator Sally Burbridge reported that she has done several public education speaking engagements to educate the public about the upcoming sales tax and sewer bond issues on the April ballot. A Town Hall meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 21st from 5-7 PM at the Salem City Hall Auditorium to discuss the Downtown Project, Sewer Bond and Sales Tax issue that are on the April ballot. Mayor Greg Parker reported there are Line Dancing Classes being held at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory every Tuesday in February. The Salem Rotary Club Pancake Day will be held on Saturday, February 25th from 7-11 AM at the Salem Middle School. Park and Recreation Director, Melissa DuBois gave an update on the recent Park Board meeting. She noted there were 106 children that participated in the Football Skills and Drills training and Soccer sign-ups are going on now. The Garden Club will be donating and installing nearly $5,000 worth of trees in and around the perimeter of the city park. The new sound system has been installed at the Civic Theater and the projector is being installed by the electrician. Alderman Sisco reported that Bob Jenkins has resigned from the Finance Committee. She thanked him for his service. A new committee member is needed. If you would like to serve please e-mail Chairman Sisco at ksisco@salemmo.com. Alderman Bolerjack reported that the traffic light at Doss Road has been fixed by MoDOT. Alderman Williams gave a report on the recent Utility Committee meeting before the board went into closed session.