Archive for 2024

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning at the courthouse. Amanda Sapaugh with the SB 40 Board brought in the appointments to her board for commissioner approval. The appointees are Wendy Pryor, Cathy Diehl and Phil Christensen and the commission approved all three. Thom Haines was also in attendance and told the commissioners that in his research on the Gladden Bridge replacement (or Standing Rock Bridge), he said that MoDOT is only planning to make it a 26-foot wide bridge instead of a 30-foot bridge like the one on Highway 32-72 East near MFA. He wanted to know if the county knew anything different or talked with MoDOT about the bridge and they have not. Haines said he would continue to call Senator Brown and Representative Copeland and plead his case in his efforts to try to expand the width of the bridge that would allow for hikers and those riding bikes to be able to cross the bridge safely with shoulder room. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray said rock would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 6240 while only grading would be done on county road 6630. Mobray said work on the hangers for the salt spreaders continues when workers are available as there is a lot of welding to be done. District 2 Commissioner Gary Polk said rock would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 2260 and 5340 while only grading would be done on county roads 2240 and 3220. He also reported brush would be cut on county roads 3300 and 3310. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson reported that the Meramec Regional Planning Commission will be working with the county on the distribution of the opioid settlement funds. More information will be released on that once all the agreements are in place. Zach Moser with the Dent County Health Department came in to talk about RSMO Chapter 205.100 where the county commission appoints a County Public Health Officer, so the Health Center can perform their duties following the law. Moser said it is just a formality. The commission then unanimously approved appointing Moser as the County Public Health Officer. Moser also discussed the new food safety regulations and those will go into effect July 1st. The Health Department also has hired a lead inspector to go into houses and see where citizens are being exposed to lead. Corky Stack from AEA Engineering brought in a pay request from Alexander Construction Co for $10,018.99. This was for the change order the commission approved last week. At the last meeting, Commissioner Larson signed the LLEBG Grant with the Missouri Department of Public Safety for the Dent County Sheriff’s Department. This is for a Law Enforcement Block Grant of $9,505.97. The next meeting of the commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting will be open to the public.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey reported that Iron County Sheriff Jeffrey Burkett resigned from office Wednesday which is the day he was to appear in court to be impeached. Bailey had filed the petition of quo warranto to remove Iron County Sheriff Burkett from office last summer. The quo warranto alleged that Burkett “has knowingly or willfully failed and refused to perform official acts and duties with respect to the execution or enforcement of criminal laws of the State, and has engaged in willful acts of misconduct, malfeasance, misfeasance, and nonfeasance in office.” The petition alleged that Burkett was unfit to hold office after allegedly helping Rick Gaston, an Iron County resident, with a plot to kidnap Gaston’s children from their mother after a domestic dispute. After the quo warranto was issued, the Washington County Prosecutor criminally charged Sheriff Jeffery Burkett with one count of participating knowingly in criminal street gang activities, a class B felony; one count of tampering with a victim, a class D felony; one count of attempted kidnapping in the third degree, a class B misdemeanor; one count of stalking in the first degree, a class E felony; one count of stalking in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor; one count of unlawful obtaining of criminal history information, a class A misdemeanor; one count of unlawful disclosure of criminal history information, a class A misdemeanor; one count of misuse of emergency telephone services, a class B misdemeanor; and one count of making a false report, a class B misdemeanor. The Attorney General’s Office argued that Burkett “abused his power and authority as an elected sheriff by encouraging two deputies to make illegal arrests and detentions, knowing that he had no jurisdiction or authority, and knowing that the arrests and seizures lacked any probable cause or reasonable suspicion.”

A beginner’s beekeeping class will be held Saturday, February 17th from 9:00 in the morning until 4:00 in the afternoon at VIP Properties at 102 East 4th Street. The cost is $55 per person or $90 for a couple. A traditional lunch will be provided and payment is due on Monday, February 5th. To register or more information, contact Gregg at 573-689-2254.

A farewell reception for City of Salem Public Works Director Mark Nash was held Wednesday at the Salem Community Center@The Armory with a nice crowd attending and wishing Mr. Nash the best. Following the reception, the Salem Board of Alderman held a special meeting. After the silent roll call, the board went into closed session to discuss personnel. Back in open session some 15 minutes later, the board discussed Bill #3588 that would create an ordinance to allow the city to fill a vacancy in an appointed city position with a temporary or interim replacement. According to City Attorney James Webber, the ordinance in place only gives the city a short time to find a permanent replacement. City Clerk Tammy Koller then read the ordinance twice by caption and the board approved the bill. Mayor Greg Parker appointed Salem Police Chief Joe Chase as the Interim Public Works Director until a permanent replacement can be found. Chase was sworn in by Koller before the board went into closed session to discuss contracts.

The Dent County Commission held their 2024 budget hearing Monday morning at the commissioner’s office in the courthouse. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson presided over the hearing. The General Revenue Fund ended 2023 with net cash available at $2,186,556.97. The estimated revenues for 2024 are $1.848 million dollars while estimated expenses for this year are $2.729 million dollars, resulting in an estimated ending balance of $1,295,718.90 as of December 31st, 2024. The decrease in the ending balance for 2024 was due to the budgeted repairs on the courthouse. The Road and Bridge Fund ending cash balance in 2023 was $616,480.04. The commissioners have estimated revenues in 2024 at $2.967 million dollars and estimated expenses of $3.261 million dollars that would result in an estimated ending balance of $322,415.16 at the end of 2024. Major expenses included the rebuilding of the storage area for the salt spreaders at an estimated cost of $38,800 and an increase in chip and seal costs of $100,000 over last year. The Assessment Fund ending balance for 2023 was $145,707.83. The estimated revenues for 2024 came to $238,566.00 and with estimated expenses of $303,036.01, with the estimated ending balance at the end of 2024 would be $81,237.82. The Law Enforcement Sales Tax (LEST) Fund ending balance in 2023 was $761,967.41 with estimate revenues in 2024 to be $1.191 million dollars while the estimated deductions came in at 1.454 million dollars, leaving an estimated ending balance of $498,860.37 at the end of 2024. A major expense will be the purchase of a K-9 for the sheriff’s department for $28,850. The 9-1-1 fund had an ending balance of $61,331.88 in 2023 with expected estimated revenues are $37,218 in 2024 and with estimated expenses of $40,500.00, there would be an ending balance at the end of 2024 of $58,050.65. The Jail Construction and Operations Fund finished the 2023 year with cash available of $2,265,654.83. The fund has expected revenues in 2024 of $2.243 million dollars and estimated expenses of $2.558 million dollars that would leave an ending balance of $1,950,286.51 at the end of 2024. The Jail Construction Trust Fund finished 2023 with an ending balance of $1.665 million dollars. The commissioners estimated revenues of $1,054,322.87 and with anticipated expenses of $1.360 million dollars that would leave the fund with an ending balance of $1,360,107.70 at the end of 2024. The budget for 2024 was then approved unanimously by the commissioners. The hearing was then adjourned.

Missouri turkey hunters can apply online during February for 2024 spring turkey managed hunts through the Missouri Department of Conservation website at mdc.mo.gov. Managed hunt details and application procedures are outlined on the webpage. Drawing results will be posted starting March 15th. The spring turkey hunting youth portion will be April 6th and 7th with the regular spring season running April 15th through May 5th. Detailed information on spring turkey hunting will be available in the MDC 2024 Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet, available where permits are sold beginning in March. A regulation change for the spring season includes an extension of spring shooting hours for private land only from a half-hour before sunrise to sunset. Shooting hours on public land will remain a half-hour before sunrise to 1:00 in the afternoon. Buy Missouri hunting permits from numerous vendors around the state, online at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits, or through the MDC free mobile app, MO Hunting, available for download through Google Play for Android devices or the App Store for Apple devices.

The Creative Arts center will be offering a class on Folkart Quilled Hearts Tuesday from 6:00 to 8:00 in the evening with Ellen Reynolds. Using recycled paper, students will receive instruction in forming paper straws and then turn them into various quilled elements. These will be assembled in unique heart designs. A touch of red paint and a ribbon will complete each work of art. Each project will be original in design and perfect to give as a Valentines gift, or just “Hand Around”. The class is open to students from High School age through adults. At least six students are needed for the class with a maximum of 12. The cost is $12 and that includes all the supplies. Class registrations are on a first come, first serve basis with online registrations. Interested persons can sign up under “Programs” at the salemcommunitybetterment.com website for activities at the Creative Arts Center.