Local News – Tuesday, April 6th, 2021

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. At the meeting, Representative Ron Copeland had requested a large copy of the Dent County Amendment 2 Resolution for his office and Sheriff Bob Wells and the Dent County Commission presented Copeland with a copy. He went on to update the commission on a number of state legislative issues currently being discussed. Salem and Dent County Economic Development Director Sally Burbridge brought in her monthly report for March of 2021. She says that a number of counties are working toward the development of an area economic development region for a number of Ozark counties including Phelps, Dent, Maries, Pulaski, Texas, Howell, Oregon, and possibly two others to strengthen bringing economic development to the area to benefit everyone. Currently Dent County numbers are linked into the demographics of Jefferson City and Columbia. The group is meeting monthly and they hope to have the state recognize their group in the near future so they can apply for grants or other assistance that one county alone could not do, but as a group, they could easily accomplish. Burbridge said another Dent County business received CARES RLF funding and she thought there were at least two more applications out there. She said things are looking better to provide low-cost housing as the SHA flipping for community renewal sold their first house, the 2nd one is listed and another home for renovation has been purchased. She said she sat in on a webinar concerning the American Rescue Plan and they indicate in their discussion that cities have a plan in place once it is determined how the funds will be used as to what major investment would have the biggest impact on the economy. Still all hypothetical at this time. She wanted to remind everyone that the Business at Breakfast will be held Wednesday morning at 7:00 at the Salem Community Center @ The Armory on hiring veterans and military retirees. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray said grading would be done on Dent County Roads 5390, 5580 and 6470 while brush would be cut on county road 5690. Mobray said a man would be working on chip and seal road repairs. District 2Commissioner Gary Larson stated materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 3200, 5330 and 5333 while only grading would be done on county roads 6130 and 6160. Larson said brush would be cut on county road 2570 and pipes will be cleaned out under the bridge on county road 3220. Larson indicated a man would be going to Springfield to get oil for chip and seal repairs. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported that he was in Jefferson City Thursday to testify in opposition to House Bill 554 that stated the counties that had passed a use tax would have to place the issue on the ballot again if the bill passed. He said he would be attending a transportation Advisory Committee meeting on Thursday as well as an MRPC External Relations Committee meeting and regular MRPC Board meeting. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said the Municipal Election will be held from 6:00 this morning until 7:00 tonight and she wanted to remind everyone don’t forget your voter registration card or ID. Curley submitted the assessor’s contract for mapping maintenance from Ronald T. Schwartz for $100 per month. The Dent County Commission approved to amend the budget for the loss of the sales tax revenues in General Revenue, LEST, Road and Bridge Fund, and the two jail funds as well as for the FLAP project monies. The budget hearing will be May 17th and the amended budget will be available to the public on May 6th at the clerk’s office. Jeff Banderet from Great Rivers Engineering brought in plan updates on the FLAP projects for the paving of the Tan Vat hill on Dent County Road 6670 that could be completed as early as August, and the low water crossing and road work on Dent County Road 5610 which could take longer. The Commissioners then went into closed session to hear from Anderson and Associates as well as Stack Engineering about the work that need to be done at the courthouse including stages, time frame, costs and more. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting it is open to the public.

An accident occurred Saturday evening at 7:05 in Crawford County on Center Point Road about four miles east of Steelville that took the life of a Steelville man. According to the highway patrol report, a 2018 Kawasaki Teryx, driven by 56-year-old Richard Livesay of Steelville, ran off the south side of the roadway and struck a tree. A passenger in the Kawasaki, 57-year-old James Smith, was pronounced deceased at 9:51 that night at Mercy Hospital in Creve Coeur by Dr. B. Wojcik. Livesay suffered serious injuries and was also transferred to Mercy Hospital in Creve Coeur by Air Ambulance. The report stated that neither Smith or Livesay were wearing safety devices at the time of the accident. The Kawasaki was removed from the scene by Miles Towing.

The City of Salem has announced that utility bills were mailed Monday, April 5th for usage from December 10, 2020 through January 9, 2021. Autodrafts will be processed April 12, 2021. Anyone that has questions about their bill or has not received their bill by Friday, April 9, 2021 is asked to contact the utility office at 729-4117.