Local News – Friday, December 30th, 2022
In closed session Tuesday night after the regular Salem Board of Aldermen meeting, Mayor Greg Parker appointed Sally Burbridge as the new City Administrator with the board unanimously approving the appointment with the roll call vote. The appointment removes the “temporary” designation from her title and an employment agreement with Burbridge is being negotiated with the terms to be released at a later date.
Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk wants to remind everyone today is the last day to pay your personal property tax and real estate taxes in her office at the courthouse without a penalty and interest. Her office will have extended hours for those wanting to pay their tax bills today from 8:00 this morning to 5:30 this afternoon. Remember, if you want to mail in your tax payments, your envelope MUST be postmarked NO LATER than Saturday, December 31st. VanKirk recommends if you wait until Saturday to mail in your payment to take your envelope inside to have it hand stamped. There is also a drop box in the front of the courthouse lawn at the southwest corner of the courthouse square where you can drop off your tax payments 24 hours a day. If you have any questions, call the collector’s office at 729-3911.
Colonel Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, encourages everyone to make good decisions regarding their New Year’s celebration. No one wants to start 2023 with a traffic crash or DWI arrest. During the 2022 New Year’s period, one person was killed and 331 injured in 1,045 traffic crashes in Missouri. The 2023 New Year’s holiday counting period begins at 6:00 this evening and ends at 11:59 Monday night, January 2nd, 2023. If your plans to welcome the new year include alcohol, please designate a sober driver or utilize a ride share service or taxi to ensure you arrive home safely. The roadway is no place for a driver under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If you kill or injure someone, you’ll pay the price for the rest of your life. If you plan to drive this New Year’s, remember to buckle up and make sure all your passengers do the same. Pay attention, obey all traffic laws, and when in doubt, yield the right-of-way. Be sure to use your turn signal to communicate your intentions. The public is encouraged to call the Patrol’s Emergency Assistance Number (800) 525-5555 or *55 on a cellular phone if they witness criminal activity or experience an emergency.
The Dent County Commission met for the last meeting of 2022 Thursday at the courthouse. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams gave the report on the CART funds received in December which came to $80,138.59 which is $14,848.38 more than for December of 2021. Year-to-date, the CART funds are up $91,497.58 and for the year totaled $816,940.64. That is a 12.62% increase in those funds. Sheriff Bob Wells brought in an agreement for inpatient health services at the Dent County Jail that he negotiated with the Salem Memorial District Hospital which provides for services five days a week at the jail for an annual cost of $140,004. This contract replaces the one the jail had with Ozark Correctional Services out of Pulaski County for the same amount of money and will begin January 1, 2023. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray stated his crew would be servicing grader #36 plus would be cleaning up the creek gravel spill from an accident out on the “Quarry Road” or Dent County Road 5220. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson indicated his crew would be servicing and doing maintenance on county trucks #112 and 116. He said another crew would be installing a crossover pipe and adding materials to Dent County Road 6130. Larson further reported he attended a tourism tax committee meeting where they approved one reimbursement request. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles stated he joined the broadband development discussion from the MRPC on December 19th. They are asking residents to look at the FCC Broadband Maps by going to bit.ly/mo.fcc. Type in your address to see what they say the type of broadband service you have on their map. You can challenge what they say on the map if it is not correct for the fixed broadband or the mobile broadband service the FCC indicates you have. You can challenge the mobile site from the map by following their instructions while the fixed broadband you may need help. Residents in Dent County can contact the Dent County Extension office for help in challenging the FCC map at 729-3196. The Office of Broadband Development will also answer questions about the challenge process over the phone at 573-526-1028 or by email at broadband@ded.mo.gov. Skiles went on to say the courthouse would be closed Monday for the New Year’s Day holiday. He also said the swearing in of all elected officials would be held at 10:00 this morning in the courtroom in the courthouse. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said she balanced with the treasurer on all accounts for the month of November and she continues to work on the budget. At the last meeting, the commissioners agreed to sign the lease/purchase financing agreement with Town and Country Bank for two new graders from McCoy Equipment in Cuba. The agreement is for 5 years with an annual payment of $93,766.22 with a 4.25% interest rate. The 1st payment will be due December, 2023. The commissioners will meet again on January 5th at the courthouse at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.
At the Arizona National Sheep Exhibitors Thursday, Preslie Strader of Salem was named the Reserve Champion in the Intermediate Sheep Showmanship competition in Phoenix. Congratulations Preslie!