Archive for 2025

At the Dent County Commission meeting Thursday morning, 42nd Judicial Circuit Court Judge Megan Seay presented a “formal demand” letter to the commission requiring them to make the old courthouse ADA compliant with the installation of an elevator. The letter says the elevator must be installed to accommodate those with disabilities as soon as possible. Seay said in her letter that all litigants and citizens who need to access a courthouse should have the right to do so unencumbered and without embarrassment. She goes on to say that the associate courtroom in the Judicial Building cannot accommodate a jury trial, and trials held off site do not have the same sense of decorum and respect for the court proceedings if a jury is involved. She cited that is the case with the Salem City Hall which has numerous exits and entrances. Seay indicated it is the duty of the commission to make certain litigants and court staff are kept safe as possible during court proceedings. In her letter, Judge Seay says that as the Presiding Circuit Judge, she is going to bring the courthouse into compliance with the American with Disabilities Act as it is the right thing to do. Knowing this undertaking will take some time to accomplish, Seay is giving the County Commission 90 days to begin the installation of a chairlift; and to request for bids for the installation of an elevator in the Dent County Courthouse that will need to be published in the Salem News within the next 90 days. Sheriff Bob Wells and the commission discussed an elevator at the old courthouse which could be very costly with the age of the building, and also discussed a new courtroom and judicial offices next to the old jail at Iron and 5th Streets. Commissioner Gary Larson said he has been a proponent of an elevator as well as handicapped accessibility, and at one time had found a grant to help pay to install an elevator at the courthouse for $350,000, but said he was voted down at the time. The cost of an elevator added to the courthouse is expected to exceed one million dollars, not to mention where to add it at the courthouse, and how it will be incorporated into the current historical structure. A new courtroom and judicial center was proposed at the time of the new jail construction, but was deemed too expensive at the time. Dent County citizens passed two jail sales taxes to support the new jail, one for the operation of the jail and the other to pay for the construction. It was discussed, if possible, to extend those sales taxes to help pay for the new courtroom, but that information would need to be presented to L.J. Hart and Company who worked with the county on the jail project who could determine any additional financial costs. The issue would then have to be brought before the people for a vote to extend the sales tax. This could be allowed as the initial bond issue ballot language included the new courtroom and associated judicial offices as being supported by those funds. They will have a conference call with L.J. Hart and Co on Monday morning at 11:00. The commission was going to get updated prices on the chairlift to see if they needed to go out for bid, which it must do if the cost exceeds $12,000. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green said the new box spreader was taken to Knapheide where the motor and gearbox had to be replaced, but the box had been recalled and there should not be any charge to the county for the repairs. He said the box spreader was going to be picked up, then tested at the road and bridge department. He said crews were repairing the brush cutter and were still working on FEMA roads. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams said crews were in the Sligo area replacing a culvert and working on FEMA road repairs. He also said workers are installing new grader blades. Commissioner Gary Larson had no report and County Clerk Angie Curley said the county was paying bills. Prosecutor Andrew Curley visited with the commission about any future claims and procedures. He wanted to add that he appreciated the commission, the whole budget process, them allocating funds for each office holder and felt all office holders try to stay under those allocated funds approved each year. Sean McGonigle with Missouri Association of Counties Workers Compensation Trust came in to discuss the MAC Trust, what they do, and also updated the commission on resources available to them. The next meeting of the commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

An accident happened in Dent County Wednesday afternoon at 1:12 on Highway 119 at Dent County Road 6460. According to the highway patrol report, a 2001 GMC Savana driven eastbound by a 31-year old female of Rolla, failed to yield to a 2015 Dodge Ram 2500 driven northbound by a 59-year-old male from Leasburg, causing the Dodge to travel off the right side of the roadway and overturn. Suffering minor injuries from the Savana were the driver and a 59-year-old male passenger from Leasburg; while the driver of the Dodge and another 59-year-old male from Leasburg, suffered minor injuries. The female from the Savana was treated by the EMS at the scene, while the man from the Savana was transported by a private vehicle to the Salem Memorial Hospital. The two men from the Dodge were taken by a private vehicle to Phelps Health in Rolla. Only the driver of the Savana was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen held their regular meeting Tuesday evening at 6:00 at 202 N. Washington in the Old City Hall Auditorium. After the Call to Order, the Board approved the agenda and the consent agenda. Rob Benowitz approached the podium, during Public Comments, and asked if the Park Exposé portion of The 100 Acre Wood Rally Race, hosted yearly by the City of Salem, could be moved from 4th Street to the area surrounding the Courthouse, due to the ongoing construction on the sidewalks. The Board agreed to add this topic to the agenda for the next regular meeting. During New and Miscellaneous Business, the Board approved the bid from Sunbelt Solomon in the amount of $17,500.00, to replace the old transformer at the Al Brown Fields that was damaged by the flood in November. This money will come out of the Parks and Recreation Fund. The Board heard the first reading of Bill #3640, which would create an ordinance to amend the 2024-2025 annual budget for the City of Salem, increasing revenues by $731,260.60 and increasing expenditures by $360,002.29. Finance Director Stacy Houston explained that the quote for the City’s General Liability insurance came in after the budget was approved and was much higher than what they had originally budgeted for; the budget adjustment will also reflect some insurance reimbursement funds received from claims submitted after hail and storm damage, and funds that were approved, by the Board, from the previous year’s fund balance. The Board also heard the first and second reading of Bill #3639 that would establish an ordinance to allow the board the option to waive fees to collect yard waste by the city after a storm. This bill was approved, however, at this time, there is no set date for when the yard waste pick up will be. After hearing the first and second readings of Bill #3641, the Board approved the contract with Midstate Pipeline Maintenance, LLC for the Salem Waste Water Treatment Facility Phase 2A improvements in the amount of $4,204,916; The Board approved Bill #3638 for a change order for the cost of the elevation storage tank for the new tank and well project with a cost increase of $12,765. Bill #3630, establishing a service availability fee for sewer services provided by the city, and a payment structure based on the size of the meter, failed due to lack of motion. During the reports of city officials, Public Works Director Steve Paine stated he has put out a request for bids to replace the fencing around the plant that was destroyed in the November flood, and he is working with Houston to collect the necessary documentation to submit the claim for FEMA reimbursement. Paine stated the recent DNR inspection went well; the City’s water loss is at 11%, which is down from 17% at the last inspection. Paine stated they continue to work on finding and repairing leaks. Stacy Houston presented the finance report, in which she stated that the 2024 audit results will be presented at the next Board of Aldermen meeting. With no other reports, the meeting went into executive session to discuss contracts and personnel before adjourning.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital board of directors held their regular meeting Tuesday evening at 7:00 in the Doctors’ Library. After roll call and approving the agenda and past minutes, Chief Executive Officer Brooke Bollman gave her report, in which she stated that due to the current presidential administration’s freeze on federal spending, most grants to the hospital will be halted, and the subsequent effects on the Hospital’s income will remain to be seen. (Since this meeting, however, a federal judge has temporarily blocked the presidential administration’s freeze on federal grants). Bollman stated they are still in active negotiations agreements with Phelps Health with no projected timeframe for completion. The Board approved the monthly financials. In the month of December, inpatient admissions, outpatient registrations, and ER visits went up slightly, and there were 213 ambulance runs. Total operating revenue for the month of December was about $2.4 million. Bollman noted a marked decrease in salary expenditures and a rather large increase in the hospital’s health insurance, and stated it may benefit the hospital to discuss implementing an employee health program. Total operating expenses were around $2.4 million for a net profit of $199,308.85. In December, the 340B program saw a net profit of $26,670, and the hospital currently has 24 days cash on hand. During the Chief Nursing Officer’s report, Amber Hogan stated there are many nursing positions open, they are providing IV push education to LPNs, and have submitted two applications for the Dent County Opioid Relief Settlement. The hospital hired one new employee but lost 11. New changes to the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) will be implemented in 2025, including: changes to several questions, the ability to fill out the survey by proxy, and the method of contacting patients. Thanks to ToRCH funding, which is not part of federal grants and should not be affected by the spending freeze, the hospital’s MO Kiosk Pilot Project has been implemented. Services include: applying for benefits, requesting new EBT and Medicaid cards, and checking case statuses. The Board approved privilege requests for three doctors within the Telepsychiatry and Teleradiology departments, and approved funding for the new PFT Machine through the Bank of Salem at 7% for 5 years with a monthly payment of $1341.67 with no early payoff penalties. The total cost for the new machine will be $67,756.95. The Board voted to create a subcommittee to review the hospital’s various policies and procedures and make recommendations for board approval. Before adjourning, the meeting entered into executive session. The next regular Board of Directors meeting will be held the evening of Tuesday February 25th at 7:00 in the Doctors’ library. The regular meetings are open to the public.

The Dent County Sheriff’s office released these reports. On Friday January 17th deputies responded to the 500 block of County Road 5200 for a wanted subject. The suspect, a 33-year-old Rolla woman, was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Dent County Jail. The next day on Saturday January 18th deputies responded to Montauk State Park for a reported trespassing. Deputies discovered two males’ suspects had moved barriers and entered the park, which is closed to the public due to flooding damage. Charges are pending against 50-year-old St. Louis man and 70-year-old Byrnes Mill man. The next week on Monday January 20th deputies responded to Salem Memorial Hospital for a wanted subject.  The suspect, a 38-year-old Salem woman, was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Dent County Jail. Later in the week on Thursday January 23rd deputies responded to 500 block of County Road 6303 for a forgery complaint. The victim, a 45-year-old Salem woman, alleges a check she had mailed was altered. The investigation is ongoing. If you have any information on an ongoing investigation, please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s office at # 573-729-3241.

The Missouri Department of Agriculture has suspended all poultry and waterfowl auctions, shows, and swap meets in counties with confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) cases. Federal officials have identified HPAI in commercial poultry flocks in Newton, Jasper, McDonald, and Lawrence counties. Missouri State Veterinarian Steve Strubberg stated, “The Missouri Department of Agriculture is working hard to contain and eliminate the HPAI virus. Restricting the comingling of poultry is crucial to stopping the spread of avian influenza in Missouri.” Poultry can still be sold and exhibited in unaffected counties with strict biosecurity measures in place. Producers should prevent contact between their birds and wild birds; and report sick birds or unusual death increases to the state veterinarian’s office at (573) 751-3377. HPAI is a contagious viral disease known to be deadly for domesticated poultry. It has impacted poultry in all 50 states since first confirmed in the United States in 2022. The suspension will extend to other counties if additional cases are confirmed in the coming weeks. More information is available at Agriculture.Mo.Gov.

The Mark Twain Beekeepers will be holding a beginner’s beekeeping class on Saturday, February 22nd at the Salem Senior Center located 604 N McGrath Lane from 9:00 in the morning until 4:00 in the afternoon. The cost is $55 per person or $90 for couple or a duo. You will learn all facets of starting your own bee colony and hear from a number of speakers. Lunch will be provided, and you won’t leave hungry. Please register by Saturday, February 1st by calling Gregg at 573-689-2254 or e-mailing marktwainbeekeepers@gmail.com. Your registration will include the name, address and phone number of all who are attending.

Dent County Assessor Jamie Homeyer wants to remind everyone that you should have received your annual assessment form that lists your personal and business property for 2024. These forms were mailed just after the first of the year and they are due on Saturday, March 1st. Those forms MUST be in the Dent County Assessor’s Office by that day or postmarked that day to avoid paying a penalty. You may drop off your assessment list at the assessor’s office at the courthouse and they are open from 8:00 in the morning until 4:30 in the afternoon, weekdays. There is also a drop box on the front lawn of the courthouse for your convenience if you can’t make it by until after hours. You can also mail in your assessment list forms but make sure you have the postal clerk postmark your envelope. You can also e-file your assessment list form online. Just follow the instructions on the assessment form you received in the mail. If you have lost your assessment list form or never received one, or you are new to the area, additional blank forms are available at the Dent County Assessor’s Office in the Dent County Courthouse. The penalty for not getting in your assessment form on time is determined at $10 per every $1,000 of assessed valuation with a maximum penalty of $100 if you have assessed valuation of $10,000 or more.  If you have any questions or need assistance with the form, call the Dent County Assessor’s office at the Dent County Courthouse at 729-6010 or stop by during regular business hours at the corner of Highway 19 and 4th Street in downtown Salem.