Archive for 2024

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Thursday morning in the courthouse. In the road report, District One Commissioner Wes Mobray stated rock would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 5020 while only grading would be done on county roads 5460 and 6575. District 2 Commissioner Gary Polk was not in attendance, so Mobray gave the report for District 2 as well. He said rock would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 4030. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson reported on the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District Board meeting when grant applications received for recycling or the reduction of waste came to just over $238,262. The total amount of funds available came to just over $143,700. Larson said all but the Community Outreach grant application received partial funding. The outreach still had money from last year. Larson and possibly Commissioner Mobray will be attending the South Central County Commissioners Association meeting today in Houston. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said citizens can pick up a sample ballot for the November election at her office or they can find one on the clerk’s Facebook page. She said “excused” absentee voting is going on now and “no excuse” absentee voting will begin October 22nd with all absentee voting ending November 4th. She said the last day to apply for a mail-out a ballot will be Wednesday, October 23rd. Curley said her office will be open November 2nd from 8:00 in the morning until noon for absentee voting or to update your voter registration which you can also do now in her office. The next commission meeting will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and it will be open to the public.

The Utility Committee held their regular meeting on Wednesday evening at 6:15 in the Old Auditorium. After approving the agenda and the minutes from the September 11th meeting, Finance Director, Stacey Houston gave a financial update on the Water, Sewer, and Electrical Funds. Other than interest and grant fund revenue, there have not been any major expenditures in either account. Billing updates were provided by City Administrator, Sally Burbridge. Sally stated that they plan to begin implementing budget billing as early as next week. They have also been sending out old, unpaid notices to customers, and receiving payments on those bills, in an attempt to avoid having to send people to collections. She stated that she will be submitting a collections report next month. Public Works Director, Steve Paine, then provided the Utility Report. He stated they continue to conduct service line repairs, and that they have opened the pre-bids for the construction of the new water tower. The electric crew has submitted an order for 28 new transformers, and has repaired 18 street lights with faulty dawn to dusk sensors. He stated that if any citizens notice any street lights on during the day, to please contact the administration office at 573-729-4811 to put in a work order, and they will repair the lights as quickly as they can. He also wanted to clarify that the City has completed their portion of the Al Brown Field Project, they are currently waiting for the contractor, who is aiding those affected by Hurricane Helene, to return and complete their portion of the project. The Committee then opened the floor to hear questions and comments from the community. A citizen approached the podium asking if the new equipment purchased from Nexgrid would fix the metering issues experienced at his personal residence. Sally explained she did not have an answer for that, at this time, but she has been working with Nexgrid on ideas, though they are not yet ready to bring any information to the public. Committee member, Kyle Williams made a motion to change meeting times to the Wednesday after the second Tuesday of every other month, rather than every month. The motion carried, as a result the next meeting will be in December. A second citizen asked if the city had submitted an insurance claim for the water pump that was destroyed in July, Sally said yes. With no further comments or questions from the public, the meeting was adjourned.

This year’s 2024 Heroes Marathon will include a new feature to honor a veteran family member or friend who was a veteran that has passed by making a donation of $20 or more in their memory. That veteran will then become part of the “Ghost Runners Brigade.” Each of the “ghost runners” will be listed in the Honoring our Heroes Official Race Program under the “Ghost Runners Brigade” and their name will be read by a combat veteran during the event. These veterans may be gone but they are not forgotten. There are several locations in Salem where you can pick up a signup sheet that asks for the veteran’s name, their branch of service and rank if known. Those sign-up locations include the KSMO Radio studios, VIP Realty, Riverways Insurance, Regine’s Kitchen, Southtown Furniture, The Salem News, the American Legion Post #99, B & B Motors, Ridge Runner Pump, Wells Packaging, C&E Auto and the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce. Fill out the form and mail it to Heroes, P.O. Box 194, Salem, MO  65560 with your check of $20 or more. Signups will be accepted until October 15th. For more information, call 573-729-1394.

A fatal accident occurred Tuesday afternoon around 2:48 in Phelps County on Highway 8 about 2 miles east of St. James. According to the highway patrol report a 2018 Lincoln MKC driven by 64-year-old Debra Patton of St. James was travelling westbound and travelled off the right side of the roadway. The Lincoln struck an embankment and overturned. Patton was transported by St. James Ambulance to Phelps Health Hospital where she was pronounced deceased by Dr. Timothy Fursa at 3:35 in the afternoon. The Lincoln was totaled and removed from the scene by Miles and Sons Towing. The report goes on to say that Patton was not wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. 

The Board of Aldermen held their regular meeting on Tuesday evening at 6:00 in the old auditorium. The board amended the agenda to include only the first reading of Bill Number 3627, before approving. The Grace Community Church requested permission to close down Water Street, from the South end of their parking lot, down to the corner of Water and Franklin for their church wide Harvest Party to be held on the evening of Sunday October 20 from 6:00 to 9:00. The Board approved this request. The Board also approved a road closure request for the Third Annual Trunk or Treat event to be held the evening of Halloween along 4th Street from 6:00 to 9:00. The Salem R-80 FFA Chapter requested, and was granted, permission to use the Old Fairgrounds property for their upcoming FFA Field Day, on Saturday October 19, from 1:00 to 9:00. The event will feature wood splitting, log splitting, and chainsaw competitions, and will be open to the public for viewing. The Bonebrake Center of Nature and History will be hosting a Halloween event on Saturday the 26th, between Noon and 11:30, and requested to use the Old Middle School Property for parking; this request was approved. The Board then appointed Danielle Kissir to the City of Salem Housing Authority. Kissir will replace Joe Brand, who resigned on March 28, and will fulfill the remainder of his four year term, which does not expire until February 15, 2027. Steve Paine, Director of Public Works, presented the bids. The bid for the purchase of Limestone Rock, from Capital Quarries, for $10.50 per ton for 1” base, $13.50 per ton for 1” clean, and $12.50 per ton for 2” clean, was approved. The final cost of the limestone rock purchase will be approximately $11,000. This money will come out of the Street Maintenance funds. The request to purchase approximately 75 tons of rock salt was approved; the bid went to Compass Minerals for approximately $7,386.00. The City received a bid from Fire Hydrant Services and Repair for $26,000 for the Fire Hydrant Rehabilitation Project. The project was included in the current Water Department budget in the amount of $20,000. Staff proposes pulling the additional funds from the Water Department Equipment Repair line. The board approved this request. The final bid presented was for tree trimming along the City of Salem’s four main feeder lines. The Board approved the bid from Forester Works LLC for $189,002.00. During New and Miscellaneous Business, Financial Director, Stacey Houston presented a request to approve warranty repair or replacement of the 135 water meter modules that have stopped working, which was approved by The Board. The cost for this request is $11,527.86 and will be paid out of AMI Meter Upgrades. There is currently $25,000 budgeted in this expense line. The Board approved the conditional use of the property at 1402 S. Water St for a home-based gunsmithing business. Resolution Number 25-2024, outlining the Technical Assistance Contract between MRPC and the City, was approved. The Board then heard the first readings of Bill No. 3627: an ordinance to allow the subdivision of a property on 1305 E. Third Street, Bill No. 3628: an ordinance to allow the subdivision of a property on 1311 E. 3rd Street, and Bill No. 3629: an ordinance authorizing the City of Salem to enter into a grant agreement with the Missouri Highways and Transportation commission for the Airport Infrastructure Grant. During the Official’s Report, Mayor Parker wanted to remind the citizens that the city wide clean up will begin on Monday, October 21 and conclude on Friday the 25th. Steve Paine gave an update on public works, and stated that if residents are having issues with water, sewer, or electrical, the fastest way to get that resolved is to put in a work order with the Administration Office at 573-729-4811. Alderman Shawn Bolerjack stated that he will not be seeking re-election in April. He plans to fulfill the remainder of his term. The meeting then adjourned.

If you would like to learn how to create an upscale tote bag, Gail Phelan is holding a sewing machine workshop this Saturday from 9:00 in the morning until 4:00. Students will need their own machine, scissors, rotary cutter, (with new blade)/mat, marking pen/chalk, and clips as well as black and white thread, denim or jeans sized needle (size 16-18). You will be provided a variety of options for fabric, lining, webbing, zippers, zipper pulls, zipper ends, stabilizer, interfacing, double sided basting tape, and purse feet. The cost is $75 per person and the class is for people 18-years-old and up. Interested persons can sign up under “Programs” at the salemcommunitybetterment.com website.

The 61st Annual Rose Holland Trout Derby was held this past weekend at Montauk State Park with incredible weather! The Derby raised $16,829 which set a new record for the tournament with the proceeds benefiting the American Heart Association. The money came from the silent auction, trout tag sales and the country store. There were 776 trout tags sold Saturday and another 412 on Sunday. A total of 64 tagged fish were caught during the derby with 15 of them lunkers. Three of the fisherman who caught lunkers were from the local area: Chance McDonald from Rolla caught a 6 lb, 4 oz lunker; Fred Martin of Licking caught a six pound lunker, and Patrick Potts of Licking caught a 3 lb, 8 oz lunker. The Men’s Heaviest Trout caught was by Ken Noce of Bloomsdale, Missouri, which also won him the Slippery Liz II Award for the heaviest fish and it was nine pounds and four ounces; and the Women’s Heaviest Trout was caught by Lisa Brenneke of Bismarck for the third straight year and it weighed in at two pounds and 15 ounces. The Heaviest Brown Trout caught during the tournament weighed in at five pounds and was caught by Garrett Wilfong of Des Arc. Taking First Place in the Kids Heaviest Stringer was Caleb Byrd of West Plains whose stringer total was at four pounds, seven ounces. The Second Place winner in the Kids Heaviest Stringer was Emmett Stafford of Silo, Missouri and his total catch weighed in at four pounds and five ounces. The 3rd place award went to Cole Andrew Petty of Farmington with a stringer that weighed in at four pounds and four ounces; while Gavin Steinhorn of Hazelwood took 4th place with a stringer of four pounds even. The Slippery Liz I trophy, which is the first tag drawn at the derby, went to Phillip Minttler. Fourteen attendance prizes were also given away. The Derby is held in honor of Rose Holland who was the trout hatchery manager at Montauk for 24 years who passed away in 1963 from heart disease. Co-Coordinator of the derby, Darlene Griffith, wanted to thank all those who attended this year’s derby and all the volunteers who helped make it a great success!

The cooler temperatures and changing leaves are a tell-tell sign that winter is on its way. In preparation, the Missouri Department of Transportation will hold its annual winter operations drill on Thursday, October 10th. Motorists may notice an increased number of MoDOT trucks on state routes during the drill, which will begin at 8:00 in the morning in rural areas and 9:00 in urban areas. The exercise should be completed by 3:00 in the afternoon. With turnover rates and many positions still open, driver training on this day is more critical than ever. MoDOT has approximately 3,000 employees across the state involved in work to clear roads and bridges when winter weather hits. During the drill, MoDOT employees will react to a simulated forecast of significant snow for the entire state. The department’s emergency operations centers will active, and all employees involved in winter operations will be deployed to their trucks. Emergency communications systems will also be tested. MoDOT spent $38 million on winter operations last year and used 81,000 tons of salt; 928,000 gallons of salt brine; and 134,000 gallons of beet juice. MoDOT is several hundred employees short of having full staff to plow two 12-hour shifts. Applicants are being accepted now for full-time maintenance workers and for emergency equipment operators. For more information on how to apply for a position with MoDOT, go to www.modot.org or call 888-ASK-MODOT (275-6636). 

The Heartland Regional Food Business Center (HRFBC) is investing $11 million in grants across six states, including Missouri. Grants ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 aim to strengthen local and regional food supply chains. Small and diverse food and farm entrepreneurs serving local markets are eligible to apply. The grants will help businesses start, grow, and connect within the food industry. The first round of applications is due October 15, 2024, with awards tentatively announced on January 15, 2025. For more information and to apply, visit heartlandfoodbusiness.org/business-builder/

The City of Salem Utility Committee meeting will be tonight at 6:15 at the Old City Hall Auditorium at 202 North Washington. At the meeting, the committee will hear financial updates, billing updates and hear work reports from utility crews, followed by questions and public comments before adjourning. The meeting, called by Alderwoman Catherine Dent, is open to the public.

The Missouri Department of Agriculture has announced the availability of funding to help Missouri farmers and food processors obtain organic certification. This support comes through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Certification Cost Share Program. Under this program, producers can be reimbursed for up to 75% of their certification costs, with a maximum reimbursement of $750 per certification scope. Missouri has received $49,425 in program funds for this initiative. To be eligible, businesses must obtain or renew their organic certification and document their certification costs incurred between October 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024. Interested parties should complete an application, which will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted or the eligibility period ends. Applications will be accepted until November 1, 2024. For more information contact Whitney Williams at Whitney.Williams@mda.mo.gov or by calling (573) 751-7794. Those interested in other financial assistance opportunities can visit their website at Agriculture.Mo.Gov.