Archive for 2026

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen have called a special meeting today in the Old City Hall Auditorium at 5:00. Following roll call and approval of the agenda, the board will discuss the MPUA invoice approval, before adjourning. This meeting is open to the public.

The Missouri Department of Conservation reminds Missouri hunters and anglers that related annual permits expire at the end of February, including 2025 permits for small game, fishing, trout fishing, and combination hunting and fishing. You can buy Missouri hunting and fishing permits from one of many vendors around the state, online at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits, or through MDC’s free mobile apps, MO Hunting and MO Fishing, available for download through Google Play for Android devices or the App Store for Apple devices. Save time by buying hunting and fishing permits for multiple people in a single transaction. Select the “Additional Customer” option during the permit purchase. Avoid having to manually renew permits each year by using MDC’s Permit Auto-Renewal Service. It allows customers to enroll eligible permits in a service that will automatically renew their permits prior to the start of the next season or permit year. The process was designed to ensure customers never have expired permits when they need them most. Learn more about this service at mdc.mo.gov/permits/permit-auto-renewal. Commercial and lifetime permits can be purchased only through the MDC Permit Services Unit by calling 573-522-0107. Contact them for an application. 

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has released its 2025 Progress Update for the Missouri Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy. The update highlights the state’s significant progress in reducing nutrient pollution, improving water quality and strengthening statewide conservation efforts. The Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy is Missouri’s long-term, adaptive approach to reducing nitrogen and phosphorus pollution to help protect local waterways and downstream ecosystems. The update outlines progress Missouri has made through collaboration with state agencies, conservation districts, agricultural partners and local communities. Chris Wieberg, deputy director of MoDNR’s Missouri Geological Survey said that Missouri’s Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy reflects the state’s commitment to balancing agricultural productivity, economic growth and environmental stewardship. Key highlights from the 2025 Progress Update include: More than $168 million invested in conservation practices through the Parks, Soils and Water Sales Tax from 2022 to 2025. Prevention of more than 5.2 million tons of soil and associated nutrients from entering Missouri waterways. Expansion of cover crop adoption, with more than 168,000 acres served in 2025. And implementation of more than 50 active 4R Nutrient Stewardship contracts covering over 4,300 acres by MoDNR’s Soil and Water Conservation Program. The report also highlights Missouri’s participation in national efforts to address Gulf Hypoxia, the development of nutrient trading programs and ongoing research through edge-of-field monitoring and innovative other conservation practices. In addition to documenting progress, the update outlines priorities for 2026 and 2027. These include expanding nutrient trading, increasing watershed modeling, strengthening partnerships with USDA-NRCS and advancing research on emerging conservation technologies.

Applications for the 54th Cadet Patrol Academy are now being accepted. The joint program between the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the American Legion is looking for young men and women ages from 16 to 18 to join the 54th Cadet Patrol Academy class. This week-long class begins June 7th and gives students an opportunity to gain hands on experience and an understanding of law enforcement. Additionally, students can explore different career paths within the Patrol. The Cadets will spend the week mirroring the work recruits do during the Patrol academy. A graduation ceremony will be held for participants on Friday, June 12th. Students who apply must have a GPA of 2.0 or higher, be of good moral character, have a valid driver’s license or permit, turn 16 prior to April 1st, and have an interest in pursuing a career in the Criminal Justice System. Those interested may obtain an application from their local American Legion Post. Questions regarding the Cadet Patrol Academy can be directed to Corporal Michael Halim at 573-522-7650.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen held a workshop prior to its regular meeting Tuesday evening in the auditorium at 202 North Washington Street to discuss policies regarding the use of City Hall. Discussion items included the installation of gates and the locking of certain rooms to restrict access to sensitive areas and protect records; safety concerns related to opening the balcony to the public; and the possible placement of a mat to protect the stage floor. The board also addressed damage to the floor finish caused by tape, paint splatter on the exterior stairs, and security concerns related to locking and unlocking the building after business hours. Additional topics included implementing a refundable cleaning and damage deposit, posting a PDF version of the facility’s rental application on the city’s website, exploring keycard or pin-pad entry systems, and considering discounted fees for productions requiring extended use of the facility over several weeks. Upon conclusion of the workshop, the Board of Aldermen called its regular meeting to order. Following prayer and approval of the agenda and consent agenda, City Administrator Sally Burbridge presented the annual Net Metering Report, noting that the city received 14,663 kWh from three residences within city limits that utilize solar power. The board voted to table action on engineering firm recommendations until the next meeting to allow additional research on the firms under consideration. The aldermen also approved painting the new water tower blue in accordance with the results of a public vote. Alderman John Whelan cast the sole dissenting vote. Parks and Recreation Director Melissa DuBois requested a $10,000 budget adjustment for the purchase of rock to mitigate creek erosion. Funding will come from the prior year’s fund balance, which currently totals approximately $636,000. A portion of eligible expenses may be reimbursed by FEMA, which would offset the fund balance expenditure if approved. Installation of the rock will be completed by the City of Salem Street Department staff. The board approved the request. The board also approved a bid from Behlmann Dodge for the purchase of a new 2026 Dodge Ram truck with a utility bed and 21 miles for $61,879 to replace the Construction Department’s 2005 Ford F-450, which has 131,000 miles, a history of extensive repairs, and a current oil leak. In response to a question from Mayor Greg Parker regarding warranty coverage, Public Works Director Steve Paine stated the vehicle includes a five-year, 60,000-mile limited powertrain warranty. A second reading of Bill No. 3695, concerning mid-year budget adjustments, excluding the recently approved Parks and Recreation adjustment, was approved. The board also approved first and second readings of the following measures: Bill No. 3696, authorizing Change Order No. 2 for the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Phase 2 Improvements Project, to extend a 1.25 inch potable water supply line across the WWTP, totaling $12,469.00 to be paid out of prior year’s funds; Bill No. 3697, and Bill No. 3698, to install lighting on the water tower. The cost of this project comes to $81,800.25 and will include strengthening the handrail support for lights to illuminate the tower face/logo facing the AirEvac pad and highway. This would cost the city the 1% match in the amount of $468.00. Following reports from city officials and the aldermen, the board adjourned into executive session to discuss matters related to attorney-client privilege, real estate, and contracts. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Aldermen is scheduled for February 24 at 6:00 in the Auditorium, and is open to the public. 

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors met Tuesday, February 10th at the firehouse for their regular monthly meeting. After previous board meeting minutes were approved, the financial reports as well as the bills, payments and statements were also reviewed and they were all approved. The board discussed the Junior Firefighter Program policy and the board approved to adopt the policy as presented by Derrick Marfitt. The board is still waiting on more information on the lease on the old Fidelity Tower, now owned by CTI, so that was again tabled. The board approved a policy with spending limits for the fire chief as well as emergency spending and disposal. Under New Business, the board approved allowing the Red Knight Motorcycle Club to use the fire station parking lot on June 13th or on their rain date of June 27th. Coroner Ben Pursiful was not able to attend the meeting and that discussion will have to held at a later date. Fire Chief Derek Thomas presented the monthly reimbursement report that showed the fire district responded to 18 calls in January and a total of 33 calls for the year. There were nine fire calls comprised of a chimney fire, four grass fires, two structural fires, and two other outside fires. Other calls responded to were an electrical hazard short circuit, a carbon monoxide release, a motor vehicle collision, a motor vehicle entrapped extraction, a fire alarm, two unknown calls and a standby call. The next board meeting was then set for March 10th at 6:00 in the evening at the Dent County Fire Protection District firehouse. Following the closed session, the meeting was adjourned.