Local News – Friday, June 28th, 2019
The City of Salem is reminding everyone that if they would like a brick from the Old Middle/High School, they will be available at the parking lot behind the City Administration Parking lot. The City asks that those interested take only one brick per person. The bricks will be available from 2:00 until 4:00 in the afternoon.
The City of Salem Board of Aldermen held a special meeting following a public hearing and public meeting Thursday night at the City Hall Council Chambers. Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission Gary Brown, discussed with the board the hearing about subdividing a parcel of land located at 202, 204 and 206 West Fourth Street. This is already zoned commercial. There were no objections to the request to subdivide the property. The Planning and Zoning Commission then approved to recommend the request to the Board of Alderman for the subdividing request. Brown also spoke to the board about the proposed zoning update in relation to the passing of Amendment 2 in the state for the selling and cultivating of medical marijuana. An ordinance was prepared with the assistance of Economic development Director Sally Burbridge that the commission reviewed. They recommended to the board to go with the ordinance that was numbered #3420 with two changes being made: the first was in Section 2 under Item A that said no marijuana dispensary shall be located within 500 feet of an existing elementary or secondary school, child day care center, church or public park, not the 1,000 feet in the original ordinance; and in the same section, Item A and subparagraph 3 that says the measurement shall be made along the shortest path between the demarcation points that can lawfully be drawn on a map and not lawfully traveled by foot as stated in the ordinance. The board would take action on the request later. Burbridge then spoke on behalf of Jacob Stotler with a request to let the city close some streets during his downtown historical ghost tours that will be held every other Friday through August 9th. The streets to be closed by the police from about 8:30 until 9:30 would be 4th Street between Iron and Main Streets and also between Main and Henderson Streets, and 3rd Street between Henderson and Washington Streets. The request was approved by the board. Attorney William Camm Seay then read the entire Ordinance #3420 twice because of the suggested changes to the ordinance before the board approved the ordinance. The board also approved the 2019-2020 budget that will begin Monday, July 1st and end on June 30th, 2020. Anticipated revenues for the fiscal year are $13,604,997 with anticipated expenditures of $13,560,727. The budget was approved with a 3-1 vote as Alderman Kenny Nash voted against the budget as he was concerned with the debt being incurred by the city with their improvement projects on the Waste Water Treatment Plant and Sewer Extension. City Clerk Mary Happel presented another trailer court license application to the board that she received from Central Missouri Investments for the trailer park at 703 South Pershing. She said this trailer park had not yet been inspected but there have been very few problems with it in the past. The board approved the license on a contingent basis agreeing to award the license if the trailer park passes the inspection or makes required improvements before a deadline set at the time of inspection. Happel also updated the board on Truman Court Trailer Park that all improvements required will be made by Monday, July 1st. The board then adjourned.
Jacob Stotler will host another Downtown Salem Historic Ghost Tour tonight from 8:30-9:30. The event is free and the public is welcome to attend. Those interested can meet at the Dent County Courthouse gazebo on the square, downtown. The first tour attracted over 400 people to the event. The tour will begin with a trek through downtown, listening to the tales of the past, and tales of those from the past coming back to visit. Some unusual facts about Salem will also be described. See you there!
The deadline to nominate a Missouri veteran/active duty service member for the 2019 Missouri State Fair Military Flag Retreat is July 4, 2019. To be selected, individuals must be nominated using the form available on the Missouri State Fair website. Nominees must be Missouri residents and be available one of the eleven days of the 117th Missouri State Fair. Once a nomination is completed it can be mailed, faxed, or emailed to the Missouri State Fair office. Send in your nominations now to join us in honoring our military service men and women in the first ever Military Flag Retreat Ceremony at the 2019 Missouri State Fair!