Local News – Thursday, March 9th, 2023

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 financial report on the utilities showing the electric sales revenues up 34%, mostly due to the rate increase. The electric sales are currently near $4.98 million and are at 74% of the budget amount. The service availability fee has contributed an additional $200,820 to the fund. She also said the water fund revenues are up about 6% to $638,409 which is 83% of the amount budgeted for the year, while the sewer revenues as of March 6th are $670,183 which stand at about 92% of the budgeted amount for the fiscal year which will end June 30th. That increase is also attributable to the rate increase from earlier in the fiscal year. Houston reported the Electric Fund balance is at $616,691 as of February 2nd while the Water Fund balance is $112,280 and the Sewer Fund balance is $60,509. She said the city is currently paying 7.2664 cents per kilowatt hour from their supplier which is 12% higher than last year on the average. Public Works Director Mark Nash said there was one main water line break which has been corrected. Nash said the asphalt plant should be opening near the end of April and the city will be looking at asphalting streets versus the Novachip. The biggest difference is that the road must have a solid base before you can use the 1.5 to 2 inch thick Novachip while the base doesn’t necessarily have to be that way for the four inches of hot asphalt. He also said that chip and seal will not be used due to the amount of citizen complaints. Chairman Kyle Williams gave the report on the sales tax issue question someone brought up at the town hall meeting if the 1% sales tax passed, would that 1% sales tax be applied to utilities as well. The simple answer is no, but it could if the alderman used a subsection of a state statute to allow that to happen, but that would have to be done with the state’s approval and then through an ordinance. According to City Administrator Burbridge, the city is not interested in doing that. A question was also asked about the wording on the ballot concerning the sewer bond issue and that the language does not specifically say the money will be used just for the sewer treatment plant. Burbridge explained that a bond attorney wrote the ballot language and that the money is targeted at the treatment plant improvements, but may also be able to be used to reduce or eliminate stormwater infiltration from entering the treatment plant which is a major cause of the problems. This could be from feeder pipes or drainage systems improperly installed years ago. The Department of Natural Resources would determine what the city may or may not use those funds for if the issue passes. There was also a discussion on net metering and how the city follows the state statute of avoided fuel costs to determine credits which is the minimum rate. This will be brought up at the next Utility committee meeting to be held on Wednesday, April 12th. The meeting was then adjourned.

State Fire Marshal Tim Bean recommends Missourians use the return of daylight saving time this weekend to test home smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. At 2:00 Sunday morning, clocks spring forward one hour. Bean also urges families to practice their fire escape plans. Safety experts recommend families practice their home fire escape plans at least twice each year. Getting into the habit of checking them when changing your clocks takes very little time and makes a tremendous difference to your family’s safety. Working smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in a fire by one-half. About one-half of home fire deaths occur at night between 11:00 at night and 7:00 in the morning when most people are asleep. That is why it is important for all family members to be able to act react quickly and get out. Each family member, including children, should know two escape routes from every room in their residence. This information should be shared with overnight guests, too. Bean also reminds Missourians that they should have carbon monoxide alarms for their homes. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, tasteless, invisible gas that results from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, which can be deadly if undetected. The fire marshal makes these recommends checking smoke and carbon monoxide alarms monthly by pushing the test button and replacing smoke alarms every 10 years because they lose their effectiveness over time. Install additional smoke alarms if you do not have a minimum of one alarm on every level of the home, inside all bedrooms, and outside bedrooms. Plan two different escape routes from your home and practice the routes with the entire family. Families should also select a safe gathering place outside the residence in the event of a fire. Follow the Division of Fire on Facebook or Twitter.

The Creative Arts Center will host a tye-dye class with Laura Miller from the Tye Dye Shop this today from 4:00 to 6:00 where students will be creating a 28 inch by 28 inch heavyweight cotton tye-dye tapestry. They will also hold a beginning crochet class tonight from 6:00 to 8:00 where Gwendolyn Wakefield will teach students basic crochet stitches and they can go home with a project you make yourself. The cost of each class is $25. For more information call or text 573-247-0651, or go online at salemcommunitybetterment.com and look under programs for the Salem Creative Arts Center.