Local News – Thursday, January 12th, 2023
Missouri’s Office of Broadband Development (OBD) is reminding citizens, public officials, and other leaders you still have time to challenge the newly created FCC maps that identify areas to determine what share of $42.45 billion in federal broadband funding will come to the state of Missouri through the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. The National Telecommunications Information Agency, the federal agency responsible for the BEAD program, has indicated that all challenges filed by this Friday, January 13th, will be considered in its decision about how much BEAD funding each state receives. Challenges filed after that date are still important in order to ensure that no locations are missed when the time comes to fund projects using the BEAD allocation. To see the FCC map, visit broadbandmap.fcc.gov. The OBD is partnering with University of Missouri Extension to provide in-person technical support for anyone interested in filing challenges at their county offices across the state. Residents in Dent County should contact the Dent County Extension office is 729-3196. Citizens can also get their questions answered about the challenge process through the Office of Broadband Development at 573-526-1028 or by email at broadband@ded.mo.gov. Later this year, Missouri will use BEAD funding to launch its “Connecting All Missourians” initiative, which aims to provide high-quality broadband internet to every home and business in the state.
The City of Salem Utility Committee met Wednesday evening at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. City of Salem Finance Director Stacey Houston presented the utility usage and revenue report which reflected revenues over expenses in all the utilities from operations, however the sewer fund does have a deficit at the end of December of $71,692 after the Certificate of Participation Payment of $243,055 that was made in November. The electric fund had $786,780 in revenues over expenses, and a budgeted transfer of $593,895 was made before the end of the year leaving a balance after six months of $192,894. The discussion turned to the large, estimated charge for electric the city received in January for the month of December that came in at $528,787 which is almost $200,000 more than the November charge received in December. This was explained as during the extreme cold weather, one of the MPUA’s electric generation stations went down and electric had to be purchased off the market during the December 22nd and 23rd time period which were bitterly cold nationwide. The city set a new peak demand during that time of 13.9 kilowatts and the cost of electric to the city increased to 8.3149 cents per kilowatt hour from 7.1211 cents per kilowatt hour from the previous month. The increase in power costs for the city since July is just under 12.5%. Houston said the Service Availability Fees collected by the end of December came to $143,885 which she has transferred into the Electric Reserve Fund. John Hambacker wanted to discuss with the board a fee for those who are not hooked up directly to a water line and are served by a common water meter. He suggested attaching a small fee for water and sewer to those in this situation to their electric bill as these people are being provided with water and sewer and are not paying a meter charge for those services. Mayor Greg Parker said the city would have to look into the legality of incorporating such a fee before considering it. Hambacker said it would be an additional stream of revenue to help offset some of the overhead costs.
Public comment is being accepted until January 31st on the Dent County Hazard Mitigation Plan. The plan update is available for review on Meramec Regional Planning Commission’s website, www.meramecregion.org. The 2023 plan update is located under the Hazard Mitigation Plans by county along with the county’s approved 2018 plan. A hard copy of the plan is also available at the Dent County Courthouse in the county clerk’s office. The purpose of the plan is to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property from natural hazards. It is required that the county have this plan in place to be eligible for several Federal Emergency Management Agency grant programs. The Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) facilitated focus group meetings and assisted these entities in developing the plan. Following a public comment period, a final draft will be created and sent to FEMA and SEMA for review and approval. If you need assistance locating the plan or have questions, please contact Tammy Snodgrass at MRPC at 573-265-2993 or by email at tsnodgrass@meramecregion.org.
On Monday, January 9th, Sheriff Bob Wells and Prosecutor Andrew M. Curley presented a check for $396.90 to Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams to be placed into the general revenue fund for Dent County. The money is the result of efforts by law enforcement involving the seizure of firearms possessed in connection with the arrest and prosecution of Mark Griffith for unlawful possession of firearms by a convicted felon. In addition to the criminal conviction, the seizure and sale of the firearms is authorized by Missouri law as a punishment and deterrent to persons that illegally own/possess firearms. This money will be used for the benefit of the local community.