Local News – Tuesday, July 3rd, 2018

The Salem Police Department reported that 38-year old Michael Chilton of Salem is being held in jail with a $1 million dollar bond for statutory rape, statutory sodomy and rape. The charges were files after a probable cause statement was forwarded to the Dent County Prosecutors Office. The charges stem from recent allegations that Chilton had sexual intercourse with a young female numerous times since she was 12 years of age. After the allegations were brought to authorities, an investigation was held by the Salem Police Department with the assistance of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. A search warrant was obtained for Chilton’s home and evidence was seized as a result. Chilton was arrested at his home in Salem and has been incarcerated pending the application of warrants. Following his arrest, another young female came forward with similar allegations against Chilton. According to the probable cause statement, Chilton had been making threats to harm his accusers prior to his arrest.

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Monday morning at the courthouse. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams brought in the CART figures that were received in the month of June. She stated Dent County received $57,055.37 which is down from the 2017 figure of $57,862.86. She did say that year-to-date the CART fund is up $1,548.83. Williams also reported on the PILT payments the county received. The Payment in Lieu of Taxes received this year is $169,802.00 which is up from the 2017 figure of $150,416.00 by $19,386.00. In the last two years, the PILT payments have continued to rise. In 2016, the county received $136,490.00 which went up $13,926.00 in 2017. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell stated grading would be done on Dent County Roads 5170, 5510, 6240, 6245 and 6490 while brush would be cut on county road 4220. Purcell also reported the culvert pipes were being cleaned out on county road 4170. District 2 Supervisor Sam Gorman indicated grading would be done on Dent County Roads 3020, 3050, 3060, 3070, 3170, 3175 and 4290 while materials will be added and grading done on county road 4340. Another man would be screening rock. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles wanted to remind those interested they can now apply for recycling grant funding that is now available through the Solid Waste Management District. Skiles stated about $200,000 is available this year. For those who have not applied before, a workshop will be held at the MRPC on July 24th from 10:00 in the morning until noon. All applications are due by NOON on August 24th. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said the last day to register to vote in the August Primary is July 11th and absentee voting continues now at her office. Don’t forget you need a photo ID to vote. She said sample ballots are available at her office for all parties and for those non-partisan voters to review. Dent County Sheriff Bob Wells came in to announce the awarding of the oil change bid for the 18-car fleet for the sheriff’s department to Whitaker’s Auto Body and Towing at a cost of $44.50 per vehicle. The bid is good for one year and begins immediately. At 11:00, Steve Davis from Shive-Hattery Architect and Nick Smith from Septagon who will be the construction manager, discussed the building design and they are ready for the bidding process. They also went over the timeline on the jail project. Bids will be taken on everything from general construction all the way to food service. A pre-bid meeting will be held on July 19th at 2:00 at the Bank of Salem Courtesy Room solely for interested bidders. The bid request will be advertised in the Salem News locally as well as on Dodge, Construct Connect, Bid Clerk and Isquarefoot. The Builders Association in Jefferson City will be contacted and those contractors who have already made contact with interest will be called. Bidders can contact Nick Smith for more information at 1-660-827-2112. All bids will be due in the County Clerk’s office by 2:00 on August 9th. The next meeting of the commissioners will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Board of Aldermen met Monday evening for their regular meeting the city hall council chambers. The board approved the closing of Water Street to Franklin for two occasions including for a community outreach program for the Grace Community Church on Sunday, September 16th from 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM, and also on October 31st between 4:00 and 9:00. The board also approved the closing of Doss Road on Halloween from 4:00 to 8:00 PM for the Salem Methodist Church. After some discussion on the bids for the city hall roof replacement, the board approved the bid from Williams American Construction, Inc for $26,352. This included a 15-year material warranty and two-year workmanship warranty. This was a budgeted purchase. After some discussion on the copier for the police department, the board approved the bid from Xerox for $118.00 per month plus $0.0069 per black and white copy and $0.055 per color copy. Xerox provides the toner, equipment repair, as well as parts and pays the personal property taxes. The police department will have to pay $1,439 to get out of the contract with Corporate, but over five years the department will save over $2,000. The board elected to go with the Xerox lease for five years. City Administrator Ray Walden said the City Administrative Offices would be closed Wednesday for Independence Day and the parade that evening will be held at 6:00 in the evening with the fireworks starting at dark at The Commons. He said the information on the new utility programs should be ready this month for people to pick up and look over. The board approved the appointment of Madonna Mosley to the Salem Housing Authority Board for four more years before going into closed session to discuss personnel and contracts.