Local News – Friday, November 16th, 2018
The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors received their audit report Tuesday night for Fiscal Year 2018 from Jean Nyberg and Jessica Cullen from BKD, LLP. Nyberg said for the fiscal year ending June 30th, 2018, the hospital’s cash and investment position increase by $280,000, showed an increase in new patient revenue of 1.6 million dollars or about a 9% increase, and operating income improved $129,000 to $437,217. She said the hospital should be getting a reimbursement of about $700,000 from Medicare from the audit results sometime in February. Nyberg noted the hospital had excess of revenues over expenses of $1,269,240. She reported that Salem has 45 days of revenue sitting in Accounts Receivable and has 92 days cash on hand. Both numbers are outstanding in the hospital industry. She also told the board the long-term debt to capitalization ratio for the Salem Hospital is only about 5.1% which is very low and the hospital would have no trouble expanding or investing in capital projects where they would need financing. Nyberg told the board the net operating margin for the hospital stands at about 2.0% while most critical access hospitals are showing a negative 2.8%. The total margin for the hospital stands at 4.2% which is again way over the critical access average of about ½ of one percent. Nyberg went on to report that BKD noted no significant deficiencies with the audit and gave the hospital an unmodified opinion which is the best opinion they can give. They followed up the audit with a review of the health industry and some changes that may affect the hospital in the future, but overall she said the direction the hospital is currently on after making numerous changes over the last two years is impressive.
The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Thursday morning in the Dent County Courthouse. In the road report both District One Commissioner Dennis Purcell and District Two Commissioner Gary Larson indicated that due to the 3 plus inches of snow, which wasn’t enough to warrant plowing, their crews were out checking for and treating slick spots. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles indicated that last Thursday he attended the Public Housing Authority and Meramec Regional Planning Commission board meetings in St. James. He reported that over 100 housing units in Dent County were receiving HUD rental assistance. Skiles went on to say that MRPC has received a grant that is to be used primarily for opioid education. He also pointed out that there would not be a Commissioners meeting Monday as they will be attending the Missouri Association of County Commissioners meeting. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported that bills were being approved by the Commissioners for payment and that her office continues to work on the 2019 budget. Last week a representative from Lagers Retirement was in with information about doing a case study for $650.00, which the Commissioners approved 3-0. With no Commissioners meeting Monday and the Courthouse being closed Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving the next meeting of the Commission will be Monday, November 26th at the Courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.
University of Missouri Extension will be holding a Drone Technology and Farmers workshop Wednesday, November 28th from 10:00 until noon at Wurdack Research Center at Cook Station. Lunch will be provided by Crawford County Cattlemen’s Association. Participants will have the opportunity to learn how drones can give farmers more time and labor-saving options. Live drone demonstrations will be conducted. The workshop program will be provided by Rusty Lee, Field Specialist in Agronomy, with Missouri University Extension. The registration is to be completed by November 20th by calling the Crawford County Extension Office at (573) 775-2135. The registration fee of $10.00 is to be mailed to Crawford County Extension, PO Box 190, Steelville, MO 65565. The 3rd Annual Honoring Our Heroes Marathon, Half Marathon, Marathon Relay and 5K for runners and walkers is coming up this Saturday. Runners and walkers will meet at the Lions Club Park in Rolla and be bussed to the Salem Commons to begin their 26.2 mile run back to Lions Club Park finish line. Half Marathoners will cover half the distance, while the 5K is held in and around Lions Club Park. Fans will have the opportunity to cheer their runners all along the route. During the 2nd annual event in 2017 there were over 230 participants from 25 different states and over $15,000.00 in proceeds were donated to local veteran’s organizations. If you haven’t registered yet, you can today from 4;00 until 6:00 at the Salem Community Center @The Armory before their Pasta Party which is free for all runners. If you aren’t running and would like to attend, the cost of the pasta party is $8.00 for adults and $4.00 for children.