Your World Today

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen met Tuesday night at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. The Board heard from Kelly Sink from the Meramec Regional Planning Commission about the CDBG grant in a public hearing which will help with the construction costs of the Phase 2B wastewater treatment improvements. Voters approved the bond to pay for the improvements that opened the door for the CDBG grant of $750,000 as well as state funding of two million dollars. If the city gets the grant, they would only need to finance around 1.4 million dollars in bonds. After the consent agenda, Mayor Greg Parker appointed one person to the Finance Committee and four people to the Capital Improvements Committee which the board approved. Alderwoman Kala Sisco said Healthy Dent County has agreed to use their 501 C (3) status for the collection of funds for the Fireworks display at the Commons. Sisco said Sierra Connell will be the contact person for donations and people can write checks to Healthy Dent County and write “Fireworks Fund” in the memo line. For more information, call Sierra Connell at 573-247-9722. Sisco said the board last year put $10,000 in the budget to help with the fireworks display and asked the board to approve that allocation for the expenses of the display such as the rental of The Commons and more. The board approved her request. The board approved the bid from Pierce Asphalt for hot mix asphalt to pave two streets for $107,289, then voted to reject all bids on the HVAC System for the Animal Pound and require a warranty be include in the bids. The board approved Resolution #13-2024, authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement between Tri-Cat Restoration, the City of Salem, and Judy Kysar for property at 403 E. Hunt; approved Resolution #14-2024, authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement between Tri-Cat Restoration, the City of Salem, and Richard LaBrash for property located at 1500 S. Louise Street; and approved Resolution No. 15-2024, authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement between Steven Thurmond, the City of Salem, and Oren Welch for property located at 403 W. Hunt. The board also approved conditional use permits for property at 906 S. Water Street and #2 North MacArthur to be used for short-term vacation rental. The board heard the first reading of Bill No. 3609, an ordinance amending Section 140.060 of the city code of the City of Salem regarding the creation and membership of the Airport Advisory Board to make it have an odd number of members. City Administrator Sally Burbridge said the airport engineers will be having a pre-construction meeting this month and will have the materials delivered in June. Mayor Parker gave former alderman Kyle Williams a plaque for his service on the board. Public Works Director Steve Payne gave his report before Park and Recreation Director Melissa Dubois told the board the Splash Pad is now open. She also said signups for her Summer Parks Program are now open. Dubois also discussed the damage to the pool and showed the alderman the pictures showing the cracks and tears in the liner as well as damage to fencing from the hail. The damage is covered by insurance except for the deductable. The amount of damage is estimated at $145,000 and the city will have to put together the specs to go out for bid to replace the liner. Once the bid is awarded, it will still take a pool company about four weeks to remove and install the new liner, so the pool will not open this summer. After the aldermen gave their reports, the board went into closed session.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will be holding their regular meeting this evening at 5:30 in the Salem R-80 board room. After the consent agenda is approved the Board will hear reports from Dr. Reed and Dr. Wills before the administration reports are heard from William Lynch, the Upper Elementary, Middle School, and the Senior High. Clay Moody will then give an update on athletics and activities followed by other reports. In New business, the board will declare Chromebooks surplus property and requst bids for purchase. They will approve an MSBA Policy with suggestions from Brian Andrews, plus approve a contract with Shield Solutions and the Career Ladder Plan. The Board will consider the Healthy Dent County sponsorship, approve the contract with Show-Me Therapy Services and First Student for ECSE. The Board will approve an MOU with University of Missouri for a College Advisor, plus approve out-of-state trip requests from FFA, Constructon Trades, and the Choir. The Board will also consider a ballot initiative for the August election, and approve a lease agreement with Dent County Developmental Disablilities, in additon to approving the Summer School Food Service Program. The Board will hear resignations and then adjourn into Executive Session to discuss student attendance appeals, personnel, and real estate. The Board will then return to open session and adjourn. The meeting is open to the public.

There will be a collection box at Salem Public Library for old, damaged, or soiled American flags. Anyone may leave a flag between Monday, May 20 and Saturday, June 8. The library will deliver flags in need of retirement to American Legion Post 99. The Legion will properly dispose of them in accordance with the United States Flag Code.

At the Dent County Commissioner meeting Monday, Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk and the Dent County Commission discused Senate Bill 190 and the new language that is coming out today to hopefully clarify the law. The original SB 190 language was unclear on how it was to be processed which is why the local commission refrained from moving forward after the Governor signed the bill. VanKirk said the software for her computer system to even implement the Homestead Credit has not yet even been created and the developer right now is working on it for Laclede County. The initial cost of this new software will be $20,000 that will be paid for by taxpayer money. The cost of any updates for each year are unknown. VanKirk said the county collectors will be holidng a workshop very soon to come up with an application process for people who are 62 years of age and older who would qualify for the program. There is also some confusion if this credit is for county taxes only, or is for all the taxing entities such as school districts, hospital districts, etc. If this is for county property taxes only, the credits could be small for the real estate owner and may not be there at all if the county sales taxes raise too much money which would then require a rollback in property taxes as required by the Hancock Amendment. It is hoped the new language will help clarify these points. Following the collector’s workshop, VanKirk will present her findings to all the county officer holders that will be affected by SB 190 to discuss how this will be implemented in Dent County. Only then will they bring it to the comissioners for discussion and adoption. They is a lot of misinformation about this bill and what it will do, and if anyone has any questions, please call Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk at 573-729-3911.

In a press release from Salem Parks and Recreation Director Melissa Dubois, the Parks and Recreation Department regrets to inform citizens that the Alice Lou Craig Municipal Swimming Pool will remain closed for the 2024 Summer season due to significant damage sustained to its pool liner from the hailstorm on April 18th. As a result of the extensive damage, it is necessary to keep the Alice Lou Craig Municipal Swimming Pool closed for the season while arrangements are made for professional replacement of the pool liner. Ensuring the safety and quality of our facilities for the community is our utmost priority, and we apologize for any inconvenience this closure may cause. Updates regarding the progress of repairs and plans for the upcoming season will be provided as soon as they become available. During this closure, we encourage citizens to explore other recreational opportunities offered by the City of Salem Parks and Recreation Department, and other entities including parks, trails, and recreational programs available throughout the community. The Park and Recreation Department appreciates the understanding and cooperation of the Salem community during this time. For more information and updates, please visit the City of Salem Parks and Recreation Department Facebook page or contact us directly. You can contact Melissa DuBois, Parks and Recreation Director for the City of Salem Parks and Recreation Department, at 573-729-6031 or email her at: salemparks@salemmo.com.

This Saturday from 10:00 until 12:30 at the Creative Arts Center, Jennifer Johnson will teach you how to needle felt into a beautiful wool succulent in this beginner friendly class. You will make your own 2”-3” needle felted plant from start to finish. One ceramic pot will be provided per person. All materials are included, including foam mats, felting needles and wool. The class will be taught as a follow along guide, with one style of succulent being demonstrated. There is room for creative color choice and shape! The barbed felting needles are very sharp, so it is not recommended for children younger than 14. No experience is necessary, but good hand-eye coordination and focus is a must. The cost: is $30 and a minmum of five people need to sign up to hold the class which will hold no more than 10. Class registrations are on a first come, first serve basis with online registrations at the SACBA website under the Creative Arts Center. Felting mats, needles, and colorful wool enough to make an additional succulent will be available as a kit for purchase after the class so you can continue to have fun with your new skill!

The City of Salem Utility Committee will be meeting tonight at 6:15 in the evening at the Salem Community Center@The Armory at 1200 West Rolla Road. At the meeting, the committee will hear about utility billing and payments as well as changes in the office. The committee will hear about the Service Protection Program and be updated on the MMMPEP meeting held May 9th. The committee will also hear work reports from city employees before there is a draft budget presentation and rate discussion. The Utility Committee meeting tonight is open to the public.

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning for their regular meeting. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams was in to present the sales tax monies received this month. The General Revenue Fund and Law Enforcement Sales Tax Fund each received $88,840.71 which is $7,171.22 more than for May of 2023. Year-to-date, the General Revenue Fund and the LEST funds are up about $10,781.50. The Road and Bridge Fund received $41,912.63 this month, up $5,006.38 from the May 2023 figure of $36,906.25. Year-to-date, that fund is up $3,833.20. The Jail Operating and Trust funds each received $84,247.43 in May and that is up $10,013.64 from the 2023 receipts of $74,233.79. Year-to-date, those funds are up $8,857.69. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray said brush would be cut on Dent County Road 6435 and road signs will be put up on various roads around the county. Mobray said three trees came down from the storms last week that crews would be cleaning up. He said he spoke with Michelle Watkins who is the Central District Engineer for MoDOT, and she said the state will not be paving approaches from the county roads to the state highway. However, if members of the public report potholes on the approaches by calling 1-888-ASK-MODOT (1-888-275-6636), MoDOT will send work crews to make the repairs and patch the potholes. She told Mobray that Highway 19 North would be repaved in 2028 although that did not show up on the recently released STIP plan. Watkins also said the state would not put up signs on the county roads to restrict big trucks as they would then have to put them up on all roads including those in Salem. Mobray said he still wants to talk with someone at MoDOT above Watkins to see if something can be done. District 2 Commissioner Gary Polk said materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 4405 and 5260, while only grading would be done on county road 2313. Polk said rock would also be added to Dent County Road 3260 where a work crew will be repairing the ditch line from a washout. He went on to say brush would be cut on county road 4040. Presiding Commission Gary Larson said he would be at St. James today to sign papers for the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District. Dent County Assistant County Clerk Melissa Piatt said she would be verifying signatures from Dent County residents who signed any of the five state initiative petitions to make sure they are registered voters of the county. The next meeting of the commission will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem R-80 Music Department presents the Spring Band Concert at the High School Gymnasium tonight at 6:00. The concert will feature the 6th grade band, the 7th grade band, the 8th grade band, the High School Second Chance Band and the High School Concert Band. Eeveryone is welcome to attend!!

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will be meeting tonight at 6:00 at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. There will be a CBDG Public Hearing at 6:00 before the then call to order. After the consent agenda, the board will hear public comments and consider a board appointment from Mayor Greg Parker. The board will then consider an expenditure of funds for the Fireworks Display, plus hear bids for Hot Mix Asphalt and an HVAC System for the Animal Pound. Under new and miscellaneous business, the board will consider the following resolutions: Resolution No. 13-2024, authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement between Tri Cat Restoration, the City of Salem, and Judy Kysar for property at 403 E. Hunt; Resolution #14-2024, authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement between Tri Cat Restoration, the City of Salem, and Richard LaBrash for property located at 1500 S. Louise Street; and Resolution No. 15-2024, authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement between Steven Thurmond, the City of Salem, and Oren Welch for property located at 403 W. Hunt. The board will also consider conditional use permits for property at 906 S. Water Street and #2 North McArthur. There will be the first reading of Bill No. 3609, an ordinance amending Section 140.060 of the city code of the City of Salem regarding the creation and membership of the Airport Advisory Board. After reports from city officials, the board will go into closed session to discuss legal actions, litigation, and confidential or privileged communication, which will be followed by adjournment. The meeting tonight of the Salem Board of Aldermen is open to the public.