Local News – Thursday, February 17th, 2022

City of Salem Utility Committee and Capital Improvements Committees held a joint meeting on Tuesday evening at the Wilson Family Center. In attendance were the Mayor, all four aldermen, the city department supervisors and committee members. East Ward Alderman and Capital Improvements Committee Chairman, Shawn Bolerjack called the meeting to order and City Administrator Ray Walden updated the committee on the city’s budget process, fund balances, revenue and expense reports to date and a summary of the current fiscal year’s capital projects. The city’s General Revenue Fund of a 1% sales tax totaled $831,116 thru January 31st with a budgeted amount of $1,150,000. The Park and Recreation 3/8 cent sales tax revenue was $311,681 with $425,000 being budgeted. Capital Improvements 1/2 cent sales tax brought in $416,668 with $575,000 budgeted. The Electric Sales Revenue brought in $3,125,636 with $5,750,0000 budgeted. Water sales totaled $559,036 and Sewer Sales totaled $528,536 with both having budgeted amounts of $950,000. The capital projects spent to date totaled $1,174,483 with $3,964,087 being budgeted and projected to be spent by year end of $3,792,653. The city has received ½ of the allocated American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds of $990,000 with the other half being due in May. City staff is currently working on the best way to spend these funds with a deadline of 2024 to have the funds spent.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will be holding their regular meeting this evening at 6:00 in the high school library. After approval of the consent agenda, a parent, Nicky Stringer, has asked to address the board concerning the SRCSP policy before the board hears from Chris Salzman and Doug Adams with an ESP building project update. Superintendent Dr. Lynne Reed with then give her report to the board followed by principals’ reports from William Lynch, the upper elementary, middle school, senior high and the activities and athletics report. In new business, the board will discuss changing insurance payments to be paid the “month of” instead of the month ahead. The board will then approve the 2022-2023 calendar and approve the revised technology support staff job description. They will also select a grant management firm and an architectural firm to apply for the FEMA grant for a safe room at the upper elementary, and approve the bid process for the gym floor sponsorship. The board will hear any resignations before voting to go into executive session. The meeting of the Salem R-80 Board of Education this evening is open to the public.

Dent County Prosecutor Andrew Curley released reports from Circuit Court held in Crawford County Tuesday in front of Judge Michael Randazzo. In the first case, Dennis Loughridge of Leasburg pled guilty to the distribution of meth. He was sentenced to serve ten years in the Missouri Department of Corrections at the request of the prosecutor. In the second case, Judge Randazzo sentenced Jacob Richardson to serve seven years in the Missouri Department of Corrections after he revoked Richardson’s probation for tampering with a motor vehicle.

Employees at The Doe Run Company’s Sweetwater Mill celebrated an impressive safety accomplishment, reaching 25 consecutive years worked with no lost-time incidents. The employees at Sweetwater Mill attribute this achievement to a company culture that’s focused on safety, and the team’s efforts to share their experiences and knowledge with one another. Doe Run integrates a safety mindset into everything it does. Employees complete nearly 16,000 hours of safety training every year, and every shift or meeting at the company begins with sharing a safety tip to keep safety at the top of their mind. This commitment has enabled Doe Run’s other three mills to achieve noteworthy safety milestones with no lost-time incidents that include Brushy Creek Mill at 16 years, Buick Mill at 11 years, and Fletcher Mill at 8 years. In addition, the Sweetwater Mine surface team has reached 18 years with no lost time.

The Healthy Dent County Fitness Center will offer their final Line Dancing class on Tuesday at 6:30 at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. The cost to attend is $5.00 at the door and the class instructor is Rosalie Wright. E-mail Susie at susie@salemcommunitycenter.org for more information or call 739-1127.