News – Wednesday, April 29th, 2026
City of Salem Parks and Recreation Board President Carlos Lopez has called for a meeting of the board today at 5:00 at the Old City Hall Auditorium. After the call to order and roll call will be the Directors Report, followed by approval of minutes. The board will then review and approve the budget. The board will consider approval of the Fourth of July Committee use of the park and a time capsule request, followed by adjournment.
The City of Salem Board of Aldermen met for its regular meeting Tuesday evening. During the public hearing for property annexation, no comments were made, so the regular meeting of the board commenced. After the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call and approval of the agenda and consent agenda, the board approved an electric department budget adjustment. Public Works Director Steve Paine shared that this adjustment was due to the progress of the new electric superintendent. The request was to move $80,000 from line replacements to other line items, including equipment maintenance, tools, special services, safety gear, and wearing apparel. Burbridge clarified this is not an increase in the budget but a transfer within the budget. A first reading was heard for three bills: an ordinance annexing property owned by Christopher and Joslyn Heavin; an ordinance annexing property owned by Terry and Shirley Perkins; and amendments to the city code to allow subcommittees to be established within the Community Involvement Committee. A first and second reading was heard for a task order authorizing Toth & Associates, Inc. for engineering services related to the Philmart/Marathon stormwater culvert replacement project. Portions of the concrete pads in the Phil-mart drive through show signs of sinking, and the culvert under the drive pads is collapsing. This is not a budgeted project but necessary due to the sinking concrete pads. Estimates for the engineering on the project is approximately $70,000. Discussion was held by the board for which funding sources to pursue for construction, which has a yet to be determined cost. The board approved the task order. Meanwhile, another task order was approved for Toth & Associates, Inc. engineering services, related to the city park no-rise certificate and permit project. The permit and no-rise certificate will be filed with the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA.) City reports were then provided. Economic Development Director Carrie Sutterfield shared an economic snapshot of Salem and Dent County, based off of census data. The full slideshow is viewable within the meeting packet. Both Paine and Mayor Greg Parker reminded the community that spring clean-up is coming up, on your regular trash day between May 4th through the 15th. Finally, the board adjourned. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Aldermen will be May 12th and will be open to the public.
Join America250 in celebrating our heritage at “Let Freedom Ring” in Salem with SuzanneRayfield Chilton McKenzie as the presenter this Saturday at 2:00 at the James Family Center at 103 West Center Street, across the street from the James and Gahr Mortuary. The event is sponsored by the Dent County Historical Society. For more information, call Deloris Gray Wood, President of the Dent County Historical Society, at 573-729-2545 or email Suzanne at Suzanne.McKenzie.Author@gmail.com.
Salem Public Library has a special Saturday storytime and meet-the-author opportunity coming up! This Saturday morning, Rachel Johnson will read her children’s book “Mrs. Johnson and the Chocolate Conundrum” at 10:30. For more information, please call the library at (573) 729-4331.
Join the Salem Future Farmers of America Chapter at Pizza Hut from 4:00 to 8:00 in the evening Thursday next week and enjoy a meal while helping students succeed. FFA members will be on-site serving guests food and taking orders, with a portion of the evening’s proceeds to go directly toward supporting FFA activities and agricultural education opportunities. Come out to support a great cause.