Local News – Thursday, September 15th, 2022

Healthy Dent County’s 11th Annual “Girls Night Out” event will be held today from 4:30 to 7:30 at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. Attendees will experience shopping with unique vendors, prize giveaways, FREE samples, door prizes, food samples, and many other exciting items. Participating exhibitors will bring unique products and services of interest to women. Over 50 vendors will display and sell their products and services. Bring your girlfriends for an evening of pampering, shopping and eating. There is a $5.00 admission fee and admission is limited to all women and girls 12 years of age and older. Healthy Dent County Executive Director Sherry Lea stated to help alleviate some parking issues, members of the Salem Rotary Club will serve as parking attendants. They will use golf carts to help shuttle attendees from nearby parking lots. Bring in canned food or non-perishable food items for a chance to win a Gift Card. One ticket per item, the more you donate, the more your chances increase to win the gift cards. Food donations will be given to Sacred Heart Food Pantry and Grace Harbor. For additional information, please call 729-8163 or e-mail jackie@salemcommunitycenter.org.

The City of Salem Utilities Committee met Wednesday night at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. Finance Director Stacey Houston presented financials for all the utility funds and Chairman Kyle Williams said all the funds are close to expected budgeted amounts at this time. Public Works Director Mark Nash said the city has repaired three water main breaks in the last two days, but leaks have been fewer since it has cooled down. Temporary City Administrator Sally Burbridge said next week, the Excelleron demonstration is not how the public will use the system, but more for the staff and committee members to see how the system works. The utility meeting next Wednesday is open to the public. The committee discussed net metering and the MPUA rules for what cities can put on their system from residential solar power systems. Director Nash said there are new rules for net metering that comes to total kilowatt hours used less the total kilowatts put back on system that comes to the net cost. State statutes put a ceiling on the amount of solar power at 5% that a city can accept for their entire system. The committee approved recommending to the Salem Board of Aldermen setting up a twice-a-year Average Monthly Adjustment in the spring and fall for those on budget billing to get their account up-to date. After failing to raise the trash rate 25 cents per month last year forcing the city to use $11,094 from reserves last year to balance the budget in the trash fund, Administrator Burbridge said the city would need to raise the trash rate a minimum of 64 cents for the next nine months to breakeven. After some discussion, the committee approved recommending to the board raising the trash service rate $1.00 per month starting October provided a stipulated contractual rate had not been established. Chairman Kyle Williams discussed the need for a use tax to collect a sales tax on Internet and out-of-state sales. This would help the city’s General Revenue Fund balance and reduce the need for a transfer from the electric fund. Williams adjourned the meeting and allowed the 15 people or so who were in attendance to remain and talk with the committee members about their concerns.

A one vehicle accident happened Tuesday afternoon at approximately 3:20 in Dent County on Highway 32 about a mile east of Highway 72. The report from the highway patrol states that a 2021 Nissan Rogue being driven by 41-year-old Freda Francis of Bunker was traveling west when she fell asleep, traveled off the roadway, and struck a ditch. Francis was taken to the Salem Memorial District Hospital by a private vehicle for treatment of minor injuries. The Nissan sustained moderate damage and was removed from the scene by Rowdy’s Towing. According to the report, Francis was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will hold their regular meeting tonight at 6:00 at the City Hall Council Chambers. At the meeting, the mayor will appoint with board approval an assistant city clerk, a west ward alderman, a city treasurer, a park and rec board member and a utility committee member. The oath of office will then be administered to the assistant city clerk, alderman and city treasurer. In the hearing of persons, Skip Dahms would like to address the board about closing off a portion of 4th Street downtown for the annual Kids Carnival. After the consent agenda, the board will hear and discuss Bill #3519 that authorizes Mayor Parker to enter the City of Salem into a power supply and administration agreement among Missouri Joint Municipal Electric Utility Commission which is doing business as Missouri Electric Commission with the city being a member of the Mid-Missouri Municipal Power Energy Pool. The board will also review and discuss Bill #3520 that would amend the city code on the picking up of tree limbs and yard waste to stop the free monthly pickup and institute a $40 collection fee effective January 1, 2023. The board will then review and discuss Bill #3521 that would establish new sewer rates for those in the City of Salem. The board will also hear and discuss five resolutions dealing with the Voluntary Residential Demolition Program. The board will hear bids including those for cleaning the airport fuel tank, to buy materials to repair the salt storage building and to purchase repair clamps to stop water main breaks. In new and miscellaneous business, the board will hear about the live trap rental agreement and also about airport hangar fees. The board will then hear from temporary City Administrator and Economic Development Director Sally Burbridge, Mayor Greg Parker, Public Works Director Mark Nash and the individual aldermen. The board will then go into closed session. The meeting tonight at 6:00 is open to the public.