Archive for 2025

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning in the courthouse. In the road report, 1st District Commissioner Keith Green said grading would be done on Dent County Roads 6435, 6490, 6540 and 6550, while rock will be added to county road 6230 and brush is expected to be cut on county road 6450, but that could be delayed. Green said a tree would be removed from county road 5015 and crews will be checking on some roads after the intense rains from the weekend. Green also reported the county put out for bids for a 1,000 gallons unleaded fuel for the Road and Bridge Department with County Fuels having the lowest price of $2.55 per gallon. District Two Commissioner Jimmy Williams stated patch grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2115, 3270, 3273 and 3275 while brush will be cut on county road 3290. Williams indicated a new culvert was being installed on Dent County Road 3300 where additional rock will also be taken. Williams reported a grader is in the Anutt area to repair storm damage in that area. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson announced he will be attending a Meramec Regional Community Foundation meeting Wednesday, July 9th at the MRPC offices in St. James. Larson also complimented Commissioners Jimmy Williams and Keith Green for doing a good job in light of the continuous severe weather occurrences that have occurred this year that have virtually destroyed some roads, having to deal with FEMA and SEMA claims which takes a lot of time through detailed documentation, and trying to stay within the budget. Larson, who was a 2nd District Commissioner for 15 years, said instead of slowly progressing learning curve, both these commissioners have had to deal with numerous situations calling for immediate decisions and action, prioritizing the most serious work to get done first. He said this means some roads have not gotten the usual attention that they have in the past and again is asking for people to be patient as the work crews are doing the best they can. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley wanted to remind everyone that Route TT in Sligo suffered more damage from storms and will remain closed for the foreseeable future. The commission signed a letter of support for the Scenic Rivers Industries to apply for a grant to get a new paper shredder as their previous shredded was destroyed in their building fire. Jeff Banderet from Great Rivers Engineering was in to present to the commission their bid booklet for the request for qualifications for the upcoming FEMA projects. They were the only RFQ the commission received, and they approved going with Great Rivers Engineering on the project. Banderet said he will put together their full scope of service for the projects and submit the price in a couple of weeks. Banderet did update the commission on the FLAP project which is the back road into Montauk State Park. He said archaeologists made some “findings” and Great Rivers submitted their results to MoDOT and are waiting on their response. MoDOT may want to have a “Phase 2” evaluation of the proposed plan, or Banderet said they may have to use the existing road system. This would need a “Phase 1” archaeological evaluation, and the cost would be about $20,000. He will let the commission know what MoDOT says. Also on the sidewalk TAP grant around the courthouse, Great Rivers is waiting on bids from lighting manufacturers to see if they can come up with ways to find a more economical solution to match the lighting system of the city such as the lights being powered by solar. He says burying the electric is the most expensive option and they hope to find something more affordable. Banderet went on to say new applications for FLAP projects for the years 2028 through 2030 will be due this October 1st and if the county had another project they would like to submit, they would need to let Great Rivers know so that an application can be prepared by then. The next meeting of the Commission will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the Dent County Courthouse and the meeting will be open to the public.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will meet tonight at 6:00 at 202 N. Washington in the Old City Hall Auditorium. After the call to order, pledge of allegiance, roll call, approval of the agenda and consent agenda will be public comments. The Board will consider appointments of Carrie Sutterfield to the MRDC Board and Sherry Lea to the Housing Authority. The second reading of Bills No. 3673 through No. 3677, all pertaining to establishing rates for electric services provided by the City of Salem, will occur followed by reports from city officials. The Board will then go into closed session pertaining to legal actions, litigation, and/or confidential or privileged communication, followed by adjournment.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors will meet this evening at 6:00 at the Fire Station at #2 South Main. After the call to order, roll call, and approval of the consent agenda, which includes review of minutes, financial report and approval of bills, and budget review. The monthly reimbursement report will be considered. In Old Business the Board will consider truck purchases, radio grant, and Fidelity (CTI) Tower Lease. New business will include bank accounts for bond. Chief Floyd will then report followed by the setting of the date for the next meeting. The Board may go into closed session, if needed, followed by adjournment. In their last meeting the treasurer reported that strong local support was reflected in the fact that bonds had been sold to the Bank of Salem for $190,000, Progressive Ozark for $330,000, Edward Jones in the amount of $275,000, and $570,000 to Town and Country Bank. Bills, payments, and statements were reviewed and approved. In old business insurance coverage for the department was discussed with American Insurance bid of $25,995 and Town and Country Insurance bid of $28,441. The Board approved the bid from American Insurance. Brush truck purchases were discussed relative to several different skid units and trucks. Nothing was decided since the units were not readily available. A motion was made and carried to send a payment of $20,000 to hold 2 trucks, which would save $30,000.

An accident occurred Sunday afternoon at 4:30 on Dent County Road 5610 eight miles west of Bunker. According to the Highway Patrol report a westbound 2025 CAN-AM Defender HD10, driven by a 12-year-old male juvenile from Mocksville, North Carolina, travelled around a corner, began sliding, and overturned. A 14-year-old male juvenile from Bunker suffered serious injuries and was transported by Bunker Fire Department to Salem Memorial Hospital. The report stated that both juveniles were wearing safety devices. The CAN-AM was removed by a private party.

These reports were released from the Dent County Sherriff’s office for June. On Sunday June 22nd deputies responded to the 200 block of County Road 4170 for a disturbance call. A 39-year-old Salem woman was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail. Later that same day deputies responded to the unit block of County Road 4220 for an animal complaint. The investigation is ongoing. Then on Thursday June 26th deputies conducted a traffic stop at the roadside park on N. Highway 19. An occupant of the vehicle was found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia. The investigation is ongoing. The next day Friday June 27th deputies conducted a traffic stop on W. Highway 32 near Highway 72. The operator was arrested for driving with a suspended or revoked driving privilege and transported to the Dent County Jail. If you have any information on an ongoing investigation, please contact the sheriff’s office at 573-729-3241.

The Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) and the city of Salem are seeking public input to assess community needs and wants to increase active transportation networks in Salem. The public is encouraged to take a short survey on how individuals utilize transportation and identify safety concerns with the roadway systems at https://mrpcsurveys.typeform.com/SalemATP. The MRPC received a grant from the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) to create an Active Transportation Plan for the city of Salem that will focus on dedicated bicycle routes and accessible support parking. According to Senior Community Development Specialist Orin Pogue, active transportation is vital to encouraging and increasing physical health, connectivity, and community activity. For more information, please contact Pogue at opogue@meramecregion.org or Planning Manager Anne Freand at afreand@meramecregion.org; or call 573-265-2993.

At the Creative Arts Center on Saturday, July 12th from 1:00 until 4:00 in the afternoon, take a treasured Little Golden Book and personalize it with additional pages, pockets, and tags with Gail Phelan. The “Altered Little Golden Books” class is open to anyone 10 years of age (with a parent) to adult with a minimum of four people signing up to a maximum of eight people. Students will use brightly colored papers, buttons and fabric to embellish and expand our Little Golden Books which will be available or bring your own. Students will add hidden places for notes and stickers. The cost is $20 per person and this includes all supplies. To sign up, go to the SACBA website, click on “Programs” link and then on the Creative Arts Center. For more information, e-mail salemartscenter@salemcommunitybetterment.com.

The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson was not in attendance due to a prior commitment. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley appointed District 1 Commissioner Keith Green as acting Presiding Commissioner. In the road report Green said that his guys were off Thursday and Friday for the holiday. He said they have been working on repairing storm damaged roadways. Green said his crew may be able to get back to grading next week. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams reported that his crew worked late on Wednesday in order to get Dent County Roads 5300, 3310, and 4300 safely passable as those roads had suffered severe storm damage over the weekend, especially at the low water crossings. Williams wanted to give citizens a heads up that Monday a farmer that has cattle guards on county road 3180 will be pulling those up to perform some maintenance. Motorist will still be able to travel the road as there are gates that will be open to go around the work. Curley reported that she balanced with the collector, assessor, and treasurer on all monthly collections, add-ons, and abatements for the month of June and that the commissioners had her reports to review. She noted that bills were being approved by the commissioners and that the courthouse would be closed Friday in observance of Independence Day. Curley also noted that Monday the commissioners would be opening bids at 10:00 for engineering services. Zach Moser, Dent County Health Center Administrator, was in to give on update on activities including a CPR Course that had 8 participants. Moser also reported that the Community Health Assessment deadline for the survey is July 15th and that June 30th was the deadline to meet food codes. The commissioners agreed 2-0 sign the Scenic Rivers Industries cardboard pick up enrollment agreement form and SRI will pick up twice a week for $250.00 per month. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be this morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting will be open to the public.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen held a special meeting last Monday evening at 6:00 in the Old City Hall Auditorium, located at 202 N. Washington Street. The meeting agenda was approved after the removal of the closed session. The Board conducted first readings of four ordinances: Bill Nos. 3674 through 3677, relating to proposed changes in electric service rates. The recommendations stem from a recent rate study conducted by Utility Financial Solutions, LLC (UFS), which suggested reinstating a service availability fee: $8 per month for residential customers and $12 per month for commercial customers. Additionally, UFS recommended reducing residential and demand kilowatt-hour (kWh) rates by 2% annually over the next three years, while increasing commercial kilowatt demand (kWd) rates by 8% each year for the same period. This adjustment aims to address the current imbalance, where residential customers are effectively subsidizing commercial users. The Aldermen will vote to either maintain the current rate structure or adopt a tiered system, as recommended by UFS at their next regular meeting. The Board approved Bill No. 3678, authorizing Change Order #5 with Donald Maggi, Inc. for the ongoing Salem Sidewalk Improvements Project. The change includes a timeline extension and an additional cost of $4,581.60 to allow the contractor to order the appropriate meter bases for new downtown streetlights. The Board also considered Bill No. 3679, which outlined a balanced proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year, projecting approximately $27.8 million in revenues and $26.7 million in expenditures. The budget includes $3.9 million in intergovernmental transfers. Discussion centered on whether to reduce a $5,000 allocation from prior airport funds intended for a new electronic gate. Mayor Greg Parker called for a motion to approve the budget, but the initial motion failed for lack of a second. A subsequent motion by Alderman Kinsey to approve the budget with the $5,000 removed also failed to gain support. After further discussion, Alderman Whelan moved to approve the original budget without adjustments. The vote ended in a tie, which Mayor Parker broke by voting in favor, noting that although the funds are allocated, they may not be used if deemed unnecessary. The Board also passed Resolution No. 23-2025, approving a Technical Assistance Contract for Floodplain Administration with the Meramec Regional Planning Commission, and a bid from Nexgrid for the purchase of eight large-capacity electrical meters at a total cost of $5,196, which includes an 18% tariff charge. Revisions to the City’s credit and debit card processing system were also approved, eliminating fees for in-person card payments (excluding online convenience fees), discontinuing auto-pay via debit and credit cards, and ending the use of the U.S. Bank card reader effective July 30, 2025. 

The Salem Police Department released an update regarding the reported shooting last Wednesday night at the 700 block of south Elmer. The Salem Police responded after receiving information that a shooting had taken place. A victim was found shot, rushed to the ER, and later flown out for treatment. The reported shooter remained inside the residence and refused to comply with officers’ commands to exit. A perimeter was established with the assistance of the Dent County Sheriff’s Office and Highway Patrol. Rolla SWAT responded to the scene to assist. The reported shooter, now identified as Timothy Shipp, was taken into custody without incident after a prolonged standoff. A probable cause statement was filed with Dent County Prosecutor, Andrew Curley, and a warrant was issued by Judge Kelsaw for one Count of Assault 1st Degree, and one Count of Armed Criminal Action, both felonies. Shipp is currently being held without bond. The investigation is ongoing. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.