Your World Today

There will be no Your World Today on Monday due to the Memorial Day holiday. Your World Today’s next publication will be Tuesday, May 26th. Have a happy and safe Memorial Day Weekend!

Memorial Day weekend has often been known as the official start of the summer season. The City of Salem Park and Recreation Department is happy to announce that the Alice Lou Craig Municipal Swimming Pool will be opening Saturday at noon, weather permitting. The cost of admission is $4.00 per child, $5.00 for adults and $4.00 for seniors who are 62-years of age and older. People attending the pool will find that there will be some added restrictions this year to the first phase of the “Show Me Strong Recovery” plan. Salem Park and Recreation Director Melissa DuBois said there will be no chairs or tables in the pool area for now and people should bring with them their own seating. She wants to let patrons know that families can congregate together, but those not in the immediate family will need to keep at least six feet away. She said the decks have been marked with the proper distancing at the diving board, slides and rock wall as well as at the concession stand. Also new this year at the front desk, patrons will be identified when they enter the pool area so that staff can maintain a count of the people in the pool. DuBois stated people will also be able to purchase family and individual pool passes at the front desk as well as book pool parties. Family Season passes are $160.00 for a family of four (two adults and two children) and the Individual Pass is $75.00. A private pool party is $150 for one hour and $200 for 1.5 hours and $250 for two hours. Pool parties can also be shared with another group to help save on costs. She also said people who are interested in swim lessons, the morning water aerobics class or the new class called “water babies” can find out more information at the front desk. Pool hours in 2020 are from noon until 6:00 PM Monday through Saturday and from 1:00 until 6:00 PM on Sunday. Remember that the pool will temporarily close if thunder or lightning is in the immediate area and will stay closed for 30 minutes from the last lightning strike or thunder clap. For more information about the pool, call 729-6228.

Captain Eddie A. Blaylock, commanding officer of Troop I, announces special enforcement operations during the 2020 Memorial Day weekend. The official counting period for this year’s holiday begins at 6:00 tonight and ends at 11:59 Monday night. Statewide, the Patrol will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. (Crash Awareness Reduction Effort) during the extended holiday weekend. This means every available trooper will be on the road enforcing traffic laws and assisting motorists. Troop I will also participate in a 20-Mile Trooper enforcement project. This initiative assigns troopers every 20 miles along Interstate 44 within Troop I. Troopers will focus their attention on seat belt use, impaired drivers, distractive driving, excessive speed, and hazardous moving violations. Troopers will also be available to respond to motorist’s calls for assistance. Motorists in need of assistance or those who want to report a crime should call the Highway Patrol’s Emergency Assistance number 1-800-525-5555 or *55 on a cellular phone.

The Community Foundation of the Ozarks has awarded grants totaling $80,000 to support food needs, services for victims of domestic violence, educational technology improvements and emergency living expenses related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic across the region. The total amount of all Community Foundation of the Ozarks grantmaking for COVID-19 relief now comes to $1.75 million. This week’s grants from the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund were supported with funds from White River Valley Electric Cooperative and the Sunderland Foundation, which made generous gifts to support proposals within their areas of interest. The COVID-19 Response and Recovery grants were awarded locally to the Dent County Service Unit of the Salvation Army in the amount of $5,000 to support low-income families with rent and utility expenses. This area is served by the Dent County Community Foundation. The Community Foundation of the Ozarks encourages anyone who is able to consider donating to a nonprofit in need or the CFO’s COVID-19 fund. Gifts can be made online. The CFO is covering processing fees for gifts made by credit card through June 30, 2020. For additional information on the Salvation Army Dent County Service Unit, please contact Sherry Lea at 573-729-8163.

The Memorial Day weekend is an unofficial start to the boating season. During the 2019 Memorial Day weekend, there were seven boating crashes which included two fatalities and three injuries. No one drowned over last year’s holiday weekend. Troopers arrested 10 people for boating while intoxicated over the 2019 Memorial Day weekend. This year’s counting period for the holiday weekend begins at 6:00 Friday night, May 22nd, and ends at 11:59 Monday night, May 25th. Missouri provides a variety of opportunities for boating. Please be courteous to others on the water, wear a life jacket, and obey the law regarding safe operation of a vessel and no wake zones. Causing harm to another person or their property with an excessive boat wake may subject you to enforcement action or civil liability. Always treat other boaters and property owners as you want to be treated. Boaters in need of assistance or who want to report a crime should use the Highway Patrol’s Emergency Assistance number 1-800-525-5555 or *55 on a cellular phone. Never operate a boat while you are impaired; never ride with an impaired operator. Watercraft operators must consider the effect their actions have on others: Share the waterway and use common sense, good judgment, and courtesy to ensure the safety of all. Life jackets save lives. Wear It!!

The Salem Memorial District Hospital regular board meeting was held Tuesday evening in the Hospital Library as well as through an online conference using Zoom. Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas stated the COVID-19 virus and “Stay at Home” order has had a major impact on the summary of operations for the month of April where the hospital had 92 inpatient admissions with 247 inpatient census days. There were 1,204 outpatient registrations, 1,150 cardiopulmonary procedures, 5,818 lab tests, 886 radiology procedures, 501 rehabilitation treatments, no surgeries and 160 home health visits. Lucas said the hospital was able to incorporate some telehealth visits during the month to help some, but the emergency room visits were down to 452 due to the fear of the coronavirus while the visits to SMDH Family Medicine were also impacted negatively. There were a total of 169 ambulance runs in March with 115 patients transported and 53 dry runs. The hospital showed a loss from operations of $683,817, but did receive a non-operational influx of money from the stimulus of $572,018. This led to expenses over revenues after taxes of $105,511. Hospital Administrator Lucas said expenses were up in March due to the construction work, increase in supplies for COVID as well their contractual obligations in nursing, coding and billing services. Lucas said that no one at the hospital has been furloughed yet and his plan is to not do that, but financial circumstances may force the hospital into making those decisions. He did say that the hospital qualified for the Payroll Protection Program which should help keep everyone at work for the next eight weeks. Lucas discussed the balance sheet which showed almost nine million dollars in cash and he said that was from the stimulus money, the $2.5 million dollar bond issue for the construction at the hospital and also the CMS accelerated program where the hospital was provided $3.25 million dollars that will be reduced by claims over the next six months and is being treated more like a loan. Obvious the cash flow statement showed a huge increase in cash from other sources of $5.8 million dollars. Administrator Lucas said he was encouraged by reductions in the amounts due from Medicaid and commercial insurers in April and hopes that continues, but warned the board that the accounts receivable for April was only about $1.75 million dollars which will be what the hospital will be receiving in June or July. Lucas said all the hospital auxiliary activities in April and May were cancelled, but the Shoe Roads Productions visit was rescheduled for July 9th at the hospital library. Hospital Chief Operating Officer Jason Edwards said the Hospital Foundation’s golf tournament is on for June 5th at the Salem Golf Club, and the Wings and Strings is still scheduled for September 12th. Edwards said the USDA Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program Grant is somewhat on hold with the schools being closed. Edwards said the foundation awarded scholarships to three Salem seniors: Bailee Pace, Madison Woolf and Anna McDaniel. He also reported the support group meetings have all been postponed until things get back to normal. Lucas reported on the patient Satisfaction Survey Results for the 1st quarter and the numbers were down as far as feedbacks were concerned, but the numbers came back excellent in both the Emergency Department and at SMDH Family Medicine. Lucas went on to report the hospital continues to due daily briefings on the COVID-19 situation and will continue with the No-Visitor Policy at this time. They will review that policy in late May or early June, but their major concern continues to be the Long-Term Care patients. The finance committee met on May 12th and put together a proposed budget for the next fiscal year. Board member Ray Bruno said with the current situation, there will not be across the board raises. Any raises given will be strategic raises in this budget. The budget suggests a rate increase of about 5% for all Acute Care, Ancillary and outpatient services, while Long-Term Care will go up $10 per day from $155 to $165. An increase of about 4% was added in the retirement plan and to supply costs while the finance committee expects the drug costs to increase 7.5%. The proposed budgeted net operating revenue is expected at just over $27.7 million dollars with estimated expenses also coming in close to $27.7 million dollars leaving a small gain from operation of $11,440. Property Tax revenues are expected near $500,000 which would leave the hospital with an excess of revenues over expenses of $511,400. The estimated payroll for the next fiscal year is $11,956,764. The hospital’s capital budget came in at $970,083 and that includes $589,468 in long-term leases that includes an ambulance, the MRI machine, expansion costs, a CT scan machine and more. The amount of purchases to be made was cut significantly but still came in at $380,615 with a couple of high dollar items driving up the cost. Remember, tax monies collected are only used for capital purchases and are not used toward the operation of the hospital. The board will review the proposed budget and may propose changes to it before they vote on it at the June meeting. The board approved a resolution in support of the Time Critical Diagnosis Designation at the hospital which they do every two years in support of the STEMI and Stroke programs. The board then went into closed session.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education regular monthly meeting for the month of May will be held tonight at 6:00 at the District Administrative Offices. After the consent agenda and communications, new business will be addressed including the approval of 2020-2021 meal prices, 2019-2020 budget revisions, and preliminary budget for 2020-2021. Surplus property will be approved by the board, plus they will consider a Baccalaureate Request and a support staff salary schedule change. The Board will set the reorganization meeting and regular June meeting dates before they hear resignations. The meeting will adjourn and moving into closed session to discuss personnel. The regular May meeting of the Salem R-80 Board of Education is open to the public.

The Salem Board of Aldermen held a regular meeting Monday at the City Hall Auditorium. The board heard from Juliana Bermudez about her utility bill that showed that she used over 27,000 gallons of water in December with most of the usage on days before Christmas when she was out of town. The new water meter was installed on December 3rd and Public Works Director Mark Nash looked at the meter break down and explained to the board the meter readings were inconsistent and then became normal around Christmas Day. He said the company, Neptune nor he could explain what happened. The board approved replacing the meter and sending off the current meter for testing and adjusting her bill to an average use rate. The board approved the consent agenda before City Administrator Ray Walden referred to the sales tax numbers that were all down year-to-date. He said because of the current trend, the sales tax projections for the upcoming budget will need to be very conservative and the budget will be much tighter than in other years. Walden said that he would get with Alderwoman Steelman to set up meetings for the budget including the finance and capital project committees with all board candidates being invited. Walden reported the Airport Board met last week. He reported they need to work on lease wording for hangers and Walden also said the taxi lane project at the airport has been delayed due to the weather in preparation for the six-unit T-hanger. Walden went on to say there was interest in extending the runway. He said the numbers were not yet in on the electronics collection in Salem Saturday, but he will report them when they come in. Walden said the workers were getting Cedar Grove Cemetery ready for Memorial Day celebrations and the city office would be closed on Monday, May 25th. Walden passed out a draft letter that will be sent to city residents in their upcoming utility bill that includes three options for people to pay their unpaid past utility balance and current balance. Each option will be presented for the resident to determine which is best for them. He said about 40% of the utility bills are now ready and most of the bills should be ready by weeks end. He also said they are working with the software vendor to change the bill format to reflect the new readings. Alderwoman Steelman asked that the bills that are ready be sent out immediately to the city residents and the rest as quickly as possible. The board did not approve Resolution 10-2020 as the contract with N. B. West of Sullivan did not guarantee the price of $7.50 per square yard of nova chips past May 31st and the city wanted a waiver of any mechanics lien. The board did approve Resolution 11-2020 to submit an application to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Air Pollution Control Program, Volkswagon Trust Government Truck Program to reduce emissions from older trucks. If approved, this grant would provide for 50% of the cost of a new 2021 Freightliner Diesel Flatbed with a Terex Commander Digger Derrick and 2020 Diesel Dump Truck. They also approved Bill #3449 to extend the Declaration of Emergency for the City of Salem until further action is needed from the board. This continues the protocols and practices enacted by the city during the initial 60-day period. The board approved the appointment of Richard LaBrash, Sr. to the Salem Housing Authority Board to replace Doris Stempniak whose term would expire October 4th, 2020. LaBrash also agreed to serve an additional four-year term beginning October 5th, 2020. The board then went into closed session to discuss contracts before adjourning.

The City of Salem Planning & Zoning Board of Adjustment will be meeting this Thursday evening at 6:30 in the City Hall Auditorium located at 202 N. Washington, to discuss and receive any written and oral objections on a request for a waiver to allow parking in the 30’ front setback of a new development. The parking area would include lots 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 & 11 of the South Aire Annex between Truman and Rubenstein Streets, a subdivision of land consisting of fourteen lots and owned by Central MO Investments, LLC. The meeting, called by acting chairman Bob Parsons, is open to the public.

Colonel Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, recognizes Memorial Day weekend is highly anticipated, especially after these last few months. A safe, fun weekend starts with planning and good decisions. Please remember to observe social distancing and other CDC guidelines, and stay home if you are ill. If your plans include driving, choose to be courteous and obey all Missouri laws. Use a seat belt when you drive and wear a life jacket when you’re on or near the water. Always pay attention, whether you’re operating a vehicle or a vessel, and choose to be a sober driver. The Patrol will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. (the Crash Awareness Reduction Effort) during the long holiday weekend. This means every available trooper will be on the road enforcing traffic laws and assisting motorists. Motorists in need of assistance or who want to report a crime should use the Highway Patrol’s Emergency Assistance number 1-800-525-5555 or *55 on a cellular phone. For road condition reports, travelers can visit www.mshp.dps.mo.gov. or call 1-888-275-6636. Over the 2019 Memorial Day holiday weekend, eight people died and 433 were injured in 1,009 traffic crashes. Last year, troopers made 96 DWI arrests. This year’s counting period for the holiday weekend begins at 6:00 this Friday night, May 22nd, and ends at 11:59 Monday night, May 25th. Troopers will focus their attention on seat belt use, use of child safety seats, impaired drivers, hazardous moving violations, and speed violations. Motorists are encouraged to do their part to make Missouri’s roadways safer. Speed, inattention, and impaired driving are leading causes of traffic crashes. Please do your part. Obey all traffic laws and make sure everyone in the vehicle is properly restrained in a seat belt or child restraint and above all, have a safe Memorial Day Weekend! We’ve earned it!