Local News – Thursday, August 6th, 2020

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen meeting was held Monday evening. The board discussed the proposal by WCA for refuse and recycling services. There were some concerns that some of the recycling was not being picked up and their general manager stated that it may because there were non-recyclable items in the bin that would corrupt the entire load, so the drivers would leave them. It was asked by the aldermen if the sanitation workers could leave a tag or note on the container as to why the recyclables were left, as that should eliminate a lot of calls to the office. The alderman approved the bid to continue with the trash and recyclable pickup that would be billed and collected by the city beginning September 1st for $14.75 for residents, $14.25 for senior citizens and $17.75 for non-residents on city utilities. The board postponed the bids on the police dispatch renovation until the next meeting as Chief Joe Chase was not in attendance at that time due to a personal emergency, but they did approve the bid from Scenic Rivers Vehicle Outfitters to outfit the new police department cars for a total of $10,236.91. The board held a public hearing on the changing of the Floodplain Control Ordinance. A few changes to the ordinance included new mapping panels and a change in the appeal process that would now go before the Board of Adjustment of the Planning and Zoning Commission. After the Consent Agenda, City Administrator Ray Walden reported the Salem Community Center@The Armory had 2,850 participants in July. He also said the city was looking at expanding the drive-up hours and also opening the drive-up facility on the weekend. The city would send out a press release to the media when they are ready to make that change. Walden also said the utility bills for the May consumption were just about finished as they are working on the corrections. Walden introduced Gina from Tyler Technologies who works with Incode and she said they have worked with the city since June. She told the board that the city needed to get a new meter reading interface which has been installed and corrected many of the problems with the meters. She recommended to the board that the July consumption bills go out August 25th, then the August Bills could go out the 20th of September and the September bills could go out on October 15th. Walden said the board will meet with the utility committee to determine if they want to follow that recommendation or do approved Resolution 17-2020 to set up a payment plan with Salem R-80 to pay for a new pad mount transformer needed for the renovations to the ag-education building at a cost of $140 a month for 60 months. The board also approved the existing Code of Conduct before going into closed session.

Between the dates of July 18 and July 31st there were a total of 251 calls for service by the Salem Police Department. Officers with the Salem Police Department conducted 28 traffic stops for various traffic violations, 8 of the stops resulted in a summons being issued or an arrest being made. Of the calls for service and traffic stops the following reports were generated. On July 18th approximately 12:35 in the afternoon an officer was dispatched to Wal-Mart for a report of a shoplifter. It was reported that a 36-year-old female from Licking had stolen $126.21 worth of merchandise. As a result of the investigation the female was arrested and later released on summons to appear in court. That same day an officer made contact with a 43-year-old Salem male at the Salem Police Department. The male had an active warrant for his arrest through the City of Salem. The male was arrested and later posted bond and was released. The same evening at around 8:00 an officer was dispatched to the 900 block of south Hickory for a report of a disturbance. It was found that a highly intoxicated male was acting erratic. The male was asked numerous times to stop acting aggressive towards family and officers but failed to comply. As a result, a 40-year-old Salem male was arrested and later charged with resisting arrest. The male was incarcerated at the Dent County Jail pending the application of warrants. On July 19th shortly after 2:15 in the afternoon an officer was dispatched to the 1800 block of south Oak for a report of a car that had been broken into the night before. It was reported that items from inside the car were taken valued at $320. Other vehicles in the area reported to have been gone though the same night as well. This incident is still under investigation. Just after that at 3:20 officers responded to the 800 block of south Water to attempt to locate a female subject with an active warrant for her arrest. Contact was made with a 52-year-old Salem female who had an active warrant for her arrest out of the City of Salem. She was arrested and incarcerated on the warrant. Later that same evening around 7:22 an officer was dispatched to Casey’s General Store for a report of a male subject acting aggressive and wielding a knife. The male paid for his merchandise but was upset that the cashier would not tell him where his girlfriend was. The male subject left the store. The male subject, a 31-year-old from O’Fallon, Missouri was later located and arrested for unlawful use of a Weapon. The male was incarcerated at the Dent County Jail. Please contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242 if you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation.