Archive for 2024

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning at the courthouse. In the road report, the ground is too frozen for any type of road work so both districts will be working in the shop. District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray said men would be working on fixing the sensor on a brush cutter and others would be putting a plow back on the county truck amongst other jobs. District 2 Commissioner Gary Polk said dumptruck #126 has a bad cylinder and will be taken to Springfield, a man will be moving chips for the chip and seal work later this year, and others will be moving old culvert pipes. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson said he attended the Phelps County Housing Authority meeting where they received a clean audit from HUD. He said the MRPC will have the Legislative day at the Capital on January 23rd where members will be meeting with state legislators to discuss some of the priorities affecting this area. One of those priorities is HB 1870 to extend the collection of fees to store hazardous materials. Larson went on to say the county is still waiting on guidance on how to handle the opioid settlement money they have received. He said some counties have already created committees and spent some of the money, but other counties in this region are still waiting on clarification on how and to who the money can be distributed. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said the 2024 county tentative budget is available for the public in her office. Curley reported on the Missouri Association of Counties meeting held Tuesday where they discussed unfunded and underfunded state mandates, jail Prisoner per Diem payments, assessor reimbursements, salaries, clarification on Senate Bill 190 and much more. Also, the budget hearing for the 2024 budget will be held Monday, January 29th at 10:00 at the courthouse. At 10:00, the commission opened bids on surplus and scrap property. Jarred Givens was awarded the small windows with his bid of $12 and the large windows with his bid of $15. Jordan Thompson was the high bid for the scrap cooper for $400, and Pat Tackett was the high bid for the round windows at $250.00, the wrought iron fence for $300 and the wrought iron corner for $100. At the last meeting, Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk gave her updated turnover report for the month of December. A total of $5,134,017 was collected from Real Estate, Personal Property taxes and Merchant’s Licenses. Another $171,822.95 was collected from the State Assessed Utilities like railroads, pipelines, electric transmission lines, etc. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Monday at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Dent County Fire Protection board of directors met Tuesday evening. After the roll call and approval of the consent agenda, the board approved the minutes of the December meeting as presented. The financial report showed an ending balance of 185,138.72 as of December 31st. That figure does include a part of next years tax money that was received earlier in December. During the budget review it was noted that firefighter equipment for the department was 289.31% over budget due to the replacement firefighter gear from insurance and gear purchased with grant money and the replacement of the engine on truck #85. Treasurer Dave Wells stated that at this time, with not all bills in, it appears that approximately 69,000.00 will be carried over from the 2023 budget. Bills, payments, and statements were reviewed with all accounts being reconciled. The budget was then reviewed with the 2022 comparison showing all tax money was collected and the budget was over in some categories due to the insurance paying for damaged gear. The monthly reimbursement report showed a total of 18 calls for the month of December and the same total year to date. Of the calls received, six were fire calls, four were medical, three calls that were canceled. One call each for utility problems, alarms, and Hazmat, with two calls being classified as other. In old business, Engine 85 is being refitted and parts are being used on other trucks. Engine 85 is still not back in service. In new business, Sarah Montoya was passed by the officers board to join the department as a fire fighter. The board of directors with interview Montoya at the next scheduled meeting and make a final decision. Chief Floyd then gave his report to the board and said the he had met with Sentinel Emergency Solutions to check truck prices for SCBA packs for the department and that pricing is being sent to him for review. The next meeting date was set for Tuesday, February 13th at 6:00 at the fire station. The meeting will be open to the public.

The Salem Park and Recreation Board met Wednesday evening at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. After the agenda was approved, the board began a discussion on creating a “smoke free” community ordinance that would affect all city parks, city buildings as well as enclosed areas such as pavilions, playgrounds, recreational areas and common areas like parking lots. It would also cover special events such as parades where local sidewalks and driveways could also be affected. Madison Flores from the Salem R-80 High School spoke on the dangers of second hand smoke using statistics from the EPA and other agencies, and also related a personal experience where after participating in a sporting event, the second hand smoke she was exposed to was so bad she suffered tightness in her chest and had to use an inhaler. Also speaking to the board was James Combs from the Northwood R-4 JAG program who also talked about second hand smoke as well as the dangers of vaping and how dangerous the second hand emissions can be to children. City Administrator Sally Burbridge said the ordinance presented was based on a model ordinance provided by the Dent County Health Center, but the private property and business restrictions were removed as Burbridge said local businesses have done a very good job of self-regulating smoking with most of them eliminating smoking or vaping within their place of business without government intervention. The board discussed a number of possible scenarios and if an instance should escalate, the ordinance gives enforcement privileges to an event manager, code enforcement officer, city administrator or city police. It was also asked if the Park Board was voting to recommend the entire ordinance presented to aldermen which goes beyond the park board‘s responsibility. In actuality, they were only voting to recommend the city parks and playgrounds be smoke free to the aldermen, but they could use that to take the ordinance a step further to include the city buildings and other common areas if they so desire. The Park Board approved recommending the ordinance. The Park Board also approved amending the budget to add an additional $7,689 to allow the purchase of a 2022 Ford F-250 single cab long bed with a 48-month, 125,000 mile warranty from 44 Motorsports in Rolla. The money will come from the fund balance from the previous year in the Park and Recreation Fund of over $500,000. The truck will be used to pick up trash, move equipment and also hold the large water tank for the watering of the new trees. The new truck will replace the old Dodge truck. Park and Recreation Director Melissa Dubois gave her report and said for the year 2023, a total of 1,201 athlete participated in city league youth sports programs. The 2023-24 basketball program has 174 participants up from the 149 from last year. She also stated signups for the popular “Skills and Drills” football program are scheduled to end Friday. Those who want to sign up can go to the Salem Park and Recreation Facebook Page. She said with schools being out, fliers have not been able to get distributed as scheduled. The program will be held February 5th, 6th and 8th and will be run in collaboration with the 5th and 6th grade coaches. Soccer Registration will be held starting January 25th and the cost per athlete will be $35. She also discussed much needed work on the tennis courts. She met with Pro Track and Tennis who provided an option cost of $75,000 to remove the old paint and color coat the three courts, plus another $8,000 to fix large cracks, or instead the city could pay an additional $71,000 to repair all the cracks. Dubois also recommended that when the courts are done, they should also be striped for Pickleball. She said she would like to table the five-year plan that was to be discussed so that more information on the tennis courts could be collected. The board agreed to table discussing the plan. There was a discussion on continuing the “Light Up the Park” Christmas light display as only around ten businesses participated this year. Much of the suspected decline in business participation was due to vandalism and theft. It was decided to continue the program to see if it makes a rebound next Christmas. After reviewing the financials, the meeting was then adjourned.

Missouri’s 2023-2024 deer-hunting season ended January 15th with the Missouri Department of Conservation reporting a preliminary record-setting total deer harvest for the season of 326,026. This year’s new harvest record surpasses the one set in 2006 of 325,457. Of the deer harvested, 147,705 were antlered bucks, 29,060 were button bucks, and 149,261 were does. Top harvest counties for the overall deer season were Franklin with 7,395 and Howell with 6,346. Dent County reported 1,506 antlered bucks, 339 button bucks and 2,013 does were taken for a total harvest of 3,858. Totals from the surrounding counties include Texas with 2,543 antlered bucks, 510 button bucks and 3,128 does taken for a total of 6,181 deer harvested; Crawford County had 1,949 antlered bucks, 457 button bucks and 1,999 does taken for a total of 4,405 deer harvested; Shannon County finished with 1,527 antlered bucks, 358 button bucks and 2,256 does being taken for a total of 4,141 deer harvested; Reynolds County had 1,209 antlered bucks, 329 button bucks and 1,593 does taken for a total of 3,131 deer harvested; and Phelps County had 1,321 antlered bucks, 310 button bucks and 1,362 does taken for a total deer harvest of 2,993. Hunters harvested 299,719 deer during the 2022-2023 deer hunting season with 140,735 being antlered bucks, 27,028 being button bucks, and 131,956 being does.

Dent County Assessor Jamie Homeyer wanted the public to be aware that if you are 100% disabled or are 65-years of age or older, based on your total household income you could be eligible for a Missouri Property Tax Credit of up to $1,100 for real estate taxes paid. To determine if you are eligible, visit with your tax professional or visit the Missouri Department of Revenue website and click on the tab called “taxation” and go to individual taxes. You will be given options to the right and find the “property tax credit” button and clock on it to get all the details. If you owned and occupied your home for the entire year and have over five acres of property, you will need to bring your paid real estate tax receipt to your county assessor’s office, and they will fill out the required form for you to determine your credit. If you live in Dent County, stop by the Dent County Courthouse at the Dent County Assessor’s Office and speak with Jamie Homeyer. Her office hours are 8:00 in the morning to 4:30 in the afternoon, Monday through Friday. You can also call her if you have questions at 729-6010. If you live in a different county, contact your county assessor for help or any questions you may have.

The Missouri Department of Conservation says you can order shrub and tree seedlings through April 15th from the George O. White State Forest Nursery near Licking. Native trees and shrubs can help improve wildlife habitat and soil and water conservation while also improving the appearance and value of private property. The George O. White State Forest Nursery offers a variety of low-cost native tree and shrub seedlings for sale for reforestation, windbreaks, erosion control, wildlife food and cover, and other purposes. The nursery provides mainly one-year-old, bare-root seedlings with sizes varying by species. Seedlings varieties include: pine, bald cypress, cottonwood, black walnut, hickory, oak, pecan, persimmon, river birch, maple, willow, sycamore, blackberry, buttonbush, hazelnut, redbud, ninebark, elderberry, sumac, wild plum, witch hazel, and others. Seedlings are available in bundles of 10 or increments of 25 per species. Prices range from 34 cents to $1 per seedling. Sales tax will be added to orders unless tax exempt. There is a shipping fee and a $9 handling charge for each order. Receive a 15% discount up to $20 off seedling orders with a Heritage Card, Permit Card, or Conservation ID Number. The nursery grows millions of seedlings each year, but some species are very popular and sell out quickly and some seedlings occasionally succumb to harsh weather or hungry wildlife, despite the nursery staff’s best efforts. Even if a species is listed as “sold out,” customers can still place an order for those seedlings because other orders may get canceled, freeing up inventory. Customers won’t be charged for seedlings unless they are available to ship. Again, orders are now being processed so order now! Orders will be shipped or can be picked up at the nursery near Licking from February through May. The 2023-24 seedling order forms were available in the September issue of Missouri Conservationist. They are also available at MDC regional offices and nature centers, or you can contact the George O White State Forest Nursery at 573-674-3229. You can also request a form by e-mail StateForestNursery@mdc.mo.gov. You can also order your trees or shrub seedlings from the mdc.mo.gov website.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will be holding their regular meeting Thursday evening at 5:30 in the R-80 Board Room. At the meeting, the board will hear the PAT report from Jessica Parker and Marybeth Patrick. Dr. Reed and Dr. Wills will give their report to the board before the building principals and Athletic Director Clay Moody give their reports. New business to be brought before the board includes setting the school year tuition rate, approving the ballot initiative names, accepted a band uniform contribution, reviewing the short and long term facility project lists, and hearing any resignations submitted. The board will then go into executive session to discuss personnel. The meeting is open to the public.

The City of Salem Park and Recreation Board will be meeting tonight at 5:30 at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. At the meeting, they will discuss a board appointment, discuss park truck bids, discuss and review a smoke free communities ordinance for the Salem City Parks, and hear the Park and Recreation report from Park and Recreation Director Melissa Dubois. The board will also receive the budget report and budget updates, talk about the tennis courts, and review the five-year plan before adjourning. The meeting of the City of Salem Park and Recreation Board is open to the public.

From now until January 26th, Dent County voters will have the opportunity to elect members to the University of Missouri Extension Council of Dent County. The council has two positions that need to be filled in the Northern district, five in the Central district and two in the Southern district. Voting may be done at or mailed to the Dent County Extension Center at 112 East 5th Street in Salem at the Judicial Building, or you can drop off ballots at the office on the second floor of the Judicial Building between the hours of 8:00 in the morning and 4:30 in the afternoon, Monday through Thursday. Candidates include Heather Johnson and Curt Murr in the Northern District; Jodie Dean, Charlee Sue Jadwin, Allie Fleener and Kolson Seay in the Central District; and Karin Casper and Tracy Strange in the Southern District. Ballots were distributed in Friday, January 12th’s edition of Your World Today and are available at the Dent County Extension Office. If you have any questions, please call the Dent County Extension Office at 729-3196.