Local News – Monday, June 25th, 2018
A special meeting of the City of Salem Board of Alderman has been called by Mayor Brad Nash this afternoon at the City Hall Council Chambers at 202 North Washington to discuss calling a public hearing on sewer rates, adopting the 2018-2019 Budget, consider Ordinance #3391, an ordinance adopting an annual budget for the City of Salem beginning July 1st, 2018 and appropriating funds pursuant thereto, and consider trailer court licenses. The Board will vote to go into closed session to discuss contracts. With the exception of the closed session, the meeting is open to the public.
An accident occurred Friday morning at 6:45 on Route KK about five miles north of Bunker. According to the highway patrol report, a Nissan Altima driven by 18-year old Desiray Cowan of Bunker, was traveling southbound when the Nissan traveled off the right side of the roadway and overturned. Cowan suffered moderate injuries and was transported by ambulance to Salem Memorial District Hospital. Cowan was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Nissan Altima was totaled and towed from the scene by Hills Metals & Motors.
The Dent County Health Center Board of Trustees met on Monday, June 18th for their regular monthly meeting. Administrator Kendra Mobray told the board she attended the June 4th commissioner’s meeting and had a long discussion about joining St Louis County’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. After a follow-up meeting that included pharmacists that discussed enforcement and costs, Mobray scheduled an informational webinar about the PDMP with St Louis County Health Department is scheduled for this afternoon at the Salem Community Center @ The Armory. Pharmacists and physicians have been invited to attend to get more information. Mobray reported that Naloxone has been distributed to the Salem Police Department through the Department of Health and Senior Services MORE Project. On June 14th, first responders from Dent County Fire Protection District and park rangers from the National Park Service received training on Naloxone administration. She also said outpatient lab services were provided to 35 clients in May. Administrator Mobray said there were ten diseases from tick bites investigated in May: nine Reports of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever along with one case of Ehrlichia chaffeensis. Other diseases investigated were one case of Legionellosis and two cases of Salmonellosis. The board also approved a conflict of interest policy be added to the Dent County Health Center Administrative Manual. Mobray informed the Board that several students have been in for required school immunizations. The Dent County Health Center currently bills most insurance companies and offers state vaccine for uninsured, underinsured, and Medicaid clients. Vaccinations are available daily without an appointment. For additional questions on what immunizations are needed, please call the Dent County Health Center at 729-3106. The meeting was then adjourned.
The Salem R-80 Board of Education met Thursday evening at the District Administrative Offices. Superintendent John McColloch updated the board on improvements to the campus that includes typical summer work including the waxing the floors, various painting projects, and adding an office to the white house. Some new doors for the Upper Elementary and High School are also being considered as the old ones are beginning to rust out. McColloch told the board he is working on developing a facility master plan during the 18-19 school year. McColloch also reported on the success of summer school. The Upper Elementary ended with 178 students and William Lynch ended with 94 students. At the high school, approximately 25 students completed drivers’ education during summer school. McColloch went on to assign the Board of Education committee assignments for the 2018-2019 school year. Holly Erway was assigned to CSIP, Drew Whitaker was assigned to Federal Programs, the A+ Programs were assigned to Larry Maxwell, Dustin Howard was assigned to Safety, Technology was assigned to Chris Heavin and Health Services was assigned to Carrie Snider. After the building principals gave their reports, the board voted to accept the 2018-2019 budget that showed total revenues at $12,870,000 while the expenses came in at $12,845,000. The board approved the resolution for the WADA 5% transfer from Fund 1 to Fund 4 in the amount of $374,962 for the purpose of facility improvements. The board went on to approve Board Policy BBFA that deals with the conflict of interest policy with members of the Board of Education, and they approved adopting a resolution for the Dent County Multi-Jurisdiction Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan. The board also approved 2017-2018 budget revisions before accepting the surplus property bid for school bus#15 from Jadwin Canoe Rentals in the amount of $1,821.00. The board accepted the retirement of High School Physical Education instructor Diana Bermudez before going into executive session where the board employed Derek Freeman as a High School physical education instructor, middle school football coach, and an assistant varsity track coach. The meeting was then adjourned.