Archive for 2024

The Dent County Health Center (DCHC) Board of Trustees held their regular meeting Thursday, January 25th. The minutes of the December 21st regular meeting were approved followed by Administrator Zach Moser’s report. In the Communicable Disease Report, Moser stated that there were 103 COVID-19 cases reported, 36 lead cases, three screenings for sexually transmitted infections, 11 cases of Influenza and nine animal bites. In the diagnostics report, Moser said 168 blood draw appointments were completed in December, plus there were 153 appointments for rapid tests for COVID, Flu, RSV, and Strep, plus one lead test was performed. COVID-19 vaccinations totaled 54, while there were 47 influenza doses and 42 other vaccinations administered. A total of 460 appointments were held during December, plus WIC appointments totaled 315. There was also one Show-Me Health Women appointment and four Title X Family Planning appointments. Moser noted that 93 urine drug screenings were conducted on behalf of the Dent County Treatment Court. Assistant Administrator Roma Jones gave the environmental report where there were ten total inspections conducted with one recall, no sewer complaints, and five environmental questions were fielded. In the Administrator’s report, Moser reported Miller Glass installed the new doors on January 24th. He reported that the DCHC was awarded an $80,000 mentorship grant as a mentee for Healthcare acquired infections and antimicrobial resistance. Currently there are two additional NACCHO grants under investigation. Moser is currently working with Healthy Dent County and Salem Memorial Hospital on a rural health network planning grant, plus a coalition of local organizations is also working on an application to the USDA for “Food Prescriptions”. He also reported on the progress on the actions cited in the strategic plan and that the DCHC staff had proposed a modified list of values and proposed a vision statement which were approved by the DCHC Board. The Health Center financial reports for December, including the review results from H & R Block, were presented. Discussion was held on the balance sheet, income statement, and budget statements. After these questions were answered, the financial reports and the report from H & R Block were approved. Moser reported that only Lori Hasten and Carol Lacy had filed for the two open board seats so no election will need to be held. Their new terms begin April 2nd. Bids for snow removal and sidewalk treatment were received from American Automotive, Total Lawncare, and Preferred Services with each having benefits and drawbacks. The bid from Preferred Services was approved by the board. Due to the receipt of several state and federal payments Moser recommended the purchase of a three-month CD for $150,000 and the recommendation was approved by the board. He also recommended that the Bank of Salem Money Market account in the amount of $2,511.50 be closed and moved into the checking account. The closure was approved by the board. No closed session was held. The next regular meeting of the Board was set for Thursday, February 15th at 5:00.

Route KK in Iron County will be reduced as Missouri Department of Transportation crews replace a culvert under the roadway. This section of roadway is located between Highway 32 and the Iron County line. Weather permitting, the work will take place TODAY from 8:00 in the morning until 2:00 in the afternoon. The work zone will be marked with signs. Motorists are urged to use extreme caution while traveling near the area. For additional information, contact MoDOT’s Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-888-ASK-MODOT (1-888-275-6636) or visit www.modot.org/southeast.

The Creative Arts Center will host a three-part “Introduction to Wheel Throwing” class starting Monday and Tuesday, February 5th and 6th, followed by a third class on Tuesday, February 13th. The class will be from 5:30-7:30 in the evening with Tana Kettner & Wanda Nickles. This introductory class will include three sessions which will focus on throwing on the wheel, trimming and adding handles, and glazing, consecutively. In this class you will learn the basics of working with clay on the potter’s wheel and will create your own small wheel-thrown pieces to take home. Future classes will be offered for more advanced throwing. Short fingernails are strongly recommended for this class. The cost of the class is $80.00 and that includes all the supplies. At least four students are needed to make the class, with a six student maximum. 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. For more information, contact: Tana Kettner @ tanakettne65@gmail.com.

An accident happened Monday afternoon at 1:50 in Miller County on Highway 42 at Highway 134. According to the highway patrol report, a 2020 Volkswagon Jette being driven north on Highway 134 by 38-year-old Shana Dunn of Rolla, failed to yield to a 2009 Buick Lucerne being driven east on Highway 42 by 72-year-old August Johns of Richland. Dunn suffered minor injuries in the accident. Johns and a passenger, 79-year-old Juanita Johns of Richland, both received minor injuries. All were taken by ambulance to Lake Regional Hospital in Osage Beach. The Volkswagon sustained moderate damage and was removed from the scene by Hi-Tech Towing. The Buick had minor damage and was removed by Woods Towing. Both drivers and the passenger in the Buick were wearing seat restraints.

An accident happened Monday morning just before 8:00 in Phelps County on Highway 63 near Phelps County Road 7480. The highway patrol report states that a 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 being driven north by 32-year-old Robert Maxwell of Edgar Springs, began sliding on a patch of ice causing the Dodge to travel off the left side of the roadway and overturn. A passenger in the vehicle, 29-year-old Victoria Haynes also of Edgar Springs, who was not wearing a seat restraint, suffered moderate injuries and was transported to Phelps Health Hospital. The Dodge sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by Lucas Towing.

The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce has selected Emily Cook as the new Salem Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director to replace long time director Tabitha Utley. Cook who was born and raised in Salem and is excited to be the director of the chamber for the opportunities it brings in helping the community grow and continue to thrive.

The Dent County Commission met for their regular meeting at the courthouse Monday. At the meeting, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray said his crew is rebuilding hangers at the county road and bridge compound for the six salt spreaders that the county has. The old ones were in bad shape. District 2 Commissioner Gary Polk stated rock would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 5340, while only grading was going to be done on county road 6160. Materials will also be added to county roads 2403, 6120 and 6123. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson said he spoke with Jadwin resident Dan Riley about the unreliable hard line phone service he is getting in the Jadwin area as well as intermittent cell service. Larson also said the Dent County Assessor Jamie Homeyer submitted a contract for the updating of the online MAP service from Justin Basham, an independent contractor, who is replacing Ron Schwartz of Landmark Surveying who passed away. The contract was for six months at $575 per month for a total of $3,450. After six months, the maintenance contract can be renegotiated. Larson also announced the required county commissioner training will be held February 28th, 29th and March 1st. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said the last day to register for the April Municipal election will be March 6th, absentee voting will begin February 20th, March 19th will be the first day for “no excuse” absentee voting, March 20th will be the last day to mail out a ballot, and Monday, April 1st will be the last day to vote absentee. Also, February 27th will be the first day anyone can sign up to run for a county or state office. Those people will need to register at the county clerk’s office. She also wanted to remind voters that if they have recently moved, had a name change, or had problems last year when they voted, to make sure you check and update your registration in her office in the courthouse. After the budget was approved, the commission began paying all the bills they were unable to pay due to the budget process. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Thursday at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital (SMDH) Board of Directors has a vacancy for the Director of Election District one. The SMDH bylaws and Section 206.090.1 RSMo., provide that a vacancy on the board shall be filled by appointment by the remaining Board of Directors. The appointee will hold office until the municipal election to be held in April 2025. Candidates for director of the hospital district shall be citizens of the United States, voters of the election district one and who have resided within the state for one year preceding the election and who are at least 30 years of age. Persons interested in being considered by the Board of Directors shall complete and file a Request for Appointment. The Request for Appointment Form may be obtained in person at the Administrative offices of Salem Memorial Hospital located at 35629 Highway 72 in Salem between the hours of 8:00 in the morning and 4:00 in the afternoon, Monday through Friday, through February 16th, 2024. Applicants are expected to appear at the SPECIAL Board of Directors meeting that will be held on Friday evening, February 16th at 6:00 for a brief interview. District boundary information may be obtained at the Administrative Office of Salem Memorial District Hospital during regular business hours.

The Dent County Sheriffs office has released some reports. On Saturday, January 13th, a deputy responded to the 18000 block of Route C for a report of animal neglect. During the investigation, multiple dogs and cats were found to be outside during inclement weather without proper shelter, food, or water. The owner, a 65-year-old Salem man, became compliant with Missouri statutes and the case was closed. Then on Monday the 15th, a deputy responded to the 5000 block of Highway O for a recovered cell phone. The victim, a 42-year-old Canadian woman, discovered the phone missing in October of 2023 in Austin, Texas. The phone was tracked to Dent County after it was purchased by a resident. The phone was recovered and will be returned to its owner. No local charges were filed in this case. And finally, on Friday the 19th, a deputy responded to the 900 block of Dent County Road 5440 for a report of a horse that had been shot. A 52-year-old Salem man, told the deputy he had discovered his horse had been shot and provided possible suspect information. The investigation is still ongoing. If you have information regarding an investigation, contact the Dent County Sheriff’s office at 729-3241.

An accident happened Sunday evening just after 5:45 in Phelps County on Highway 63, about four miles south of Rolla. According to the highway patrol report, a 2005 Jeep Cherokee being driven south by 30-year-old Megan Strain of Rolla, made a right turn on a county road. The Jeep crossed the center line and struck a 2021 Volkswagen being driven by 31-year-old James Whittingham also of Rolla. Whittingham suffered minor injuries and was transported by the Phelps Health EMS to Phelps Health Hospital. The Volkswagen sustained extensive damage and was towed from the scene by D&D Towing. The Jeep was removed from the scene by the owner. The report went on to state that both drivers were wearing seat restraints.

It is with sincere regret the Salem Memorial Hospital Board of Directors have announced the Salem Memorial Hospital Home Health Agency will permanently close its services as of February 14, 2024. They would like to thank the community for the support given throughout the years.

The Salem Board of Aldermen held their regular meeting at the Salem Community Center @The Armory. The board heard a presentation from Liz Condray with the Salem Area Community Betterment Association on the upcoming visit of the Missouri Humanities Council “Crossroads, Change in Rural America” exhibit that will be at the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center for six weeks beginning on March 23rd. Public Works Director Mark Nash received board approval to purchase eight Gateway modules for the AMI System from Nexgrid Technology Solutions at a cost of $8,266. The board then approved the sale of surplus equipment and vehicles to be listed on the Purple Wave online auction service. City Administrator Sally Burbridge presented the Utility Committee’s recommendation to add a water bill protection program through the Servline Bill Protection Program. The program is for water bill coverage with a maximum of $2,500 at a cost of $2.35 per month. This is not to fix the water leak, just to protect the customer against a high bill when a leak goes undetected. This will be an opt-out program, so customers must inform the city if they don’t want to participate. This program was approved by the board. Resolution No. 1-2024 regarding approval of a new Utility Collections Agency was tabled under the advice of Attorney Weber. The board approved an airport fuel bid from Naegler Transport at a cost of $10,397.50. The board also approved the Park and Recreation Board’s recommendation to purchase a 2022 Ford F-250 at a cost of $42,689 with a budget adjustment of $7,689. Resolution 2-2024, authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement between the City of Salem and the MRPC to provide technical assistance for the CDBG environmental review for $5,500, was approved. The board approved allowing the Mayor to sign the Financial Assistance Agreement and the General Terms and Conditions document for the Lead Service Line Inventory Project to receive the Full Grant Award from state ARPA funds. The board then approved the Utility Committee’s recommendation for the adoption of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) Policy as part of the Salem Municipal Utilities policy for all new customer accounts to receive messaging and phone calls from the City. City Financial Director Stacey Houston gave a financial update. January tax revenues are down 2% from last year. $1.1 million has been received in general fund and the city has begun collecting the additional 1% sales tax and has received $243,000 to date. Houston reported that the total of all city funds is $8.4 million as of December 2023. She noted that Phase 2A of the Wastewater Improvement Project, which is ARPA-funded, and Phase 2B, which is bond-funded, are in the architecture design phase, and she has received billing for Phase 2, which could mean the city will have to seek short-term funding in the amount of $400,000. Park and Rec Director, Melissa Dubois gave her report before Mayor Greg Parker recommended the appointment of a number of people to the Community Involvement Committee which includes Roma Jones, Kristy Bermudez, Alana Sellers, Sierra Connell, Carlos Lopez and Patty and Gary McEwen. The recommendations were approved. The board approved the library board’s request to add Sally Granowski to the Salem Library Board to replace Rhonda Thompson. The board heard the first reading of Bill #3581 to amend the duties of the Utility Committee eliminating the reference to the street department, and the first reading of Bill #3582 that would change the utility deposits from a fixed cost to one that would be 1/12th of the previous year’s utilities at that address. They also heard the first reading of Bill #3583 changing the terminology of the definitions and duties of the building inspector, Bill #3584 that would also change the terminology and responsibilities for violations written by the building inspector, and Bill #3587 amending the annual budget for the City beginning July 1, 2023. The total revenue is amended at $889,076 and expenses at $622,720 for a total change of $41,090. The board approved Resolution #3-2024, a change order as part of the Welcome Home Program for a home located at 503 E. Rolla Road at a deduction of $2,500. Burbridge reported that there were two water leaks at the Civic Center with extensive damage to the Council Chambers. Insurance Claims have been made and city staff have done the clean up. The water has been turned off at the building and a plumber will be asked to assess what changes need to be made. The Sewer Department recently had a DNR inspection on the collection system with no violations being found and a notice of compliance will be issued. After reports from the aldermen and city officials, the board went into closed session.