Local News – Thursday, March 30th, 2023

The Salem Board of Aldermen held their regular meeting Tuesday evening at the City Hall Council Chambers. City Finance Director Stacey Houston reported on the sales tax revenues and said the electric, water and sewer revenues are tracking more than budgeted but the expenses are as well. Total year to date, the General Revenue Fund is $1,156,490 with $1,252,600 budgeted. The Park and Rec Sales Tax Fund revenue is at $433,679 with $425,000 budgeted and the Capital Improvement Sales Tax Fund revenue is at $578,246 with $650,000 budgeted. The board approved the bid from Nexgrid for 40 Lora Modules in the amount of $5,593.60. These modules with be for the Dilworth, Al Brown Fields area and used to collect information from the water meters and transfer it through a wi-fi connection. Kristen Deluca presented the audit report for year ending June 30, 2022. The audit showed the city’s total assets are $30,481,514 and total liabilities are $11,460,237. The total net position for the city is $18,544,871 with a change in net position for the year of $377,658. The net change in fund balances, which include the General Revenue Fund, Park and Recreation Fund and Capital Improvement Fund was $1,349,989. The electric fund showed a decrease in net position of $268,392, while the water fund showed an increase of $6,553. The Airport Fund showed a decrease of $118,756 and the Sewer Fund also showed a decrease of $175,295. Findings for the audit included the financial statements preparation and review were in accordance with GAAP practices, and that no one on city staff is qualified to perform this service. As always, the auditor reported that segregation of duties is encouraged in the office, but she did note the absence of a significant portion of board minutes as they were unavailable. Deluca strongly suggested that these minutes be brought up to date as quickly as possible. The board approved Bill #3537 a Task Order engineering contract for CM Archer Elgin for services for the Waste Water Treatment Plant Phase 2A for a total of $842,000 to be paid from ARPA funding, and Phase 2B for $743,000 to be paid by an alternative source to be determined after the April election results are known. The board also approved Bill #3538 for a Task Order engineering contract with CM Archer Elgin for a new water well and elevated storage tank at a cost of $628,000. This will be part of the $3.7 million Drinking Water Infrastructure ARPA grant awarded to the city. City Administrator Sally Burbridge requested that the board allow all future minutes to be in a more streamlined manner by eliminating all discussion and only including the motions and votes. This will assist the City Clerk in getting caught up on the outstanding minutes as noted by the auditor. She also requested that ordinances be read only one time, then the two week review period, then read at the next meeting for recommendation. This would give the citizens additional time to comment as well. The last Town Hall meeting will be held on Thursday at 6:30 pm at the City Hall Auditorium. She said a demonstration for lining material for manhole covers will be held on Monday, April 17th from 9 in the morning until noon. Public Works Director Mark Nash noted that asphalt will arrive on Monday and pothole patching will begin. An audit of the city’s power poles is needed to determine the ones that need to be replaced. Two of the city’s bucket trucks have been red tagged and cannot be used without required repairs. One truck will cost more than $40,000 to repair. Mayor Greg Parker thanked Catherine Dent and the Cosmopolitan Club for their recent fireworks fundraiser. Aldermen Kala Sisco noted that the Park and Rec Department is seeking local businesses that want to advertise on the sports fence banners. Aldermen Shwan Bolerjack wanted to remind everyone that the city has the sewer bond issue and sales tax issue on the ballot at the upcoming April 4th election. Alderman Kyle Williams, on behalf of the 100 Acre Wood Rally committee, thanked the fans and citizens for a great rally this year. The board then went into closed session.

The Dent County Sheriffs office has released some reports. On Thursday the 16th, deputies responded to the 11000 block of Route K for a wanted subject. During the course of the arrest, it was discovered a 32-year-old Salem man had an active felony warrant out of Texas County. The man resisted arrest by deputies before being taken into custody and transported to the Dent County Jail where he was incarcerated on the warrant. That same day, a 34-year-old Salem man assaulted two court officers before fleeing from the courtroom. The same subject was apprehended the following day and after assaulting two deputies, he was taken into custody and transported to the Dent County Jail where he was incarcerated. On Wednesday, March 22nd, deputies assisted the Reynolds County Sheriff’s Office by recovering a stolen vehicle on Route B that had been stolen from the Bunker area. The vehicle was towed from the scene and the investigation was turned over to the Reynolds County authorities. The next day on March 23rd, deputies and EMS personnel responded to the 3100 block of Dent County Road 6580 for a report of an unconscious subject in a vehicle. During the course of the investigation, a 39-year-old Salem woman was arrested for a DWI. She was transported to the Dent County Jail where she was processed per departmental procedures and released with a citation. If you any information regarding an investigation please call the Dent County sheriffs office at 729-3241.