Local News – Tuesday, August 22nd, 2023

Excessive heat this week could mean the City of Salem electric utility might set a new peak from today through Friday, August 25th. There is no specific action required at this time, but things could change quickly. The city is asking that all electric utility customers conserve or reduce your electrical usage as much as reasonably possible. The Missouri Public Utility Alliance, the City of Salem’s electrical supplier, is not seeing huge price increases or reliability concerns at this time. A peak warning means there is a chance that a new peak could be set for City of Salem electric customers. Although there are no electric market supply and demand issues right now, setting a new peak does have consequences. Setting a new peak demand would have cost impacts on the cost to the city to purchase power and that would be reflected on your utility bill moving forward. For tips and ideas on how to conserve electricity and reduce your monthly utility bill check out the “Summer Home Efficiency Tips from MPUA” available on the City’s website at www.salemmo.com. The City appreciates everyone’s understanding and assistance in keeping electric usage as low as possible during this time of excessive heat. For questions about your bill or usage call the Utility Office at 729-4117.

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting at the Dent County Courthouse Monday morning. Salem City Administrator Sally Burbridge talked with the county commission about the Enhanced Enterprise Zone Board Meeting Wednesday at 5:30 at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. She was asking if the commission would consider re-appointing Dean Jones to the board for another five-year term and the commission approved her request. Burbridge said the board is still missing a person representing a tax entity. The meeting Wednesday is open to the public. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray said rock would be added and grading finished on Dent County Road 5170. He said rock would also be added and grading done on county road 5070 while only grading would be done on county roads 2450 and 5530. He stated brush would be cut on Dent County Roads 6370 and 6400, while rock will be added to county road 5460. Mobray went on to report some low hanging limbs on Dent County Roads 2460 and 5040 will be trimmed. District 2 Commissioner Gary Polk indicated that rock would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 2120 and 2130. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson attended the Tourism Tax Commission meeting Monday night and plans to attend the Enhanced Enterprise Zone Board meeting on Wednesday. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported on the Missouri Association of Counties Board of Directors meeting she attended last week where she was updated on legislative issues and more. Corky Stack from AES attended the meeting and said Trim Lights accepted the $45,000 county offer and will move forward with ordering the material for the Christmas Lights to be installed. Stack brought with him the samples of color of the metal tracking as well as paint samples to match the brick. He said the man from St. James who can powder coat the metal strips has reduced his price to no more than $1,200 but would probably be under $1,000. Since none of the track samples provided by Stack were close to the color of the brick, the commission agreed to have the metal strips powder coated for the additional cost. He will have the change order ready by Thursday for the lights and powder coating. The next meeting of the commission will be Thursday morning at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Memorial Hospital will hold their tax rate hearing at 5:45 this evening at the hospital library. The assessed valuation from real estate and personal property in the hospital district is $288,866,898, down from $291,942,497 in 2022. The current tax rate for the district is 24 cents per $100 assessed valuation and that is what the hospital will be asking for again this year. If approved, taxes would account for approximately $683,854. Following the hearing, the board will hold their regular meeting at 6:00 in the hospital library. Interim Administrator Jason Edwards will give his report before the board hears the summary of operations for the month of July as well as statistics. They will also hear about the 340B program, hear the Chief Nursing Officer report, hear a Human Resources update and hear about the hospital foundation. The board will discuss marketing and community relations before talking about the state and matching fund update for a capital improvement, a strategic planning update, the capital budget review and revisit the COVID Vaccination policy. In new business, the board will have to make new appointments to the finance committee and also change the bank account signatures. The board may then vote to go into closed session. The Salem Memorial Hospital Tax Rate Hearing and Board of Directors meeting are open to the public.

The Salem Board of Aldermen will have a tax rate hearing as part of their regular meeting to be held tonight at the City Hall Council Chambers beginning at 6:00. The tax rate for the current year is 67.46 cents per $100 assessed valuation and the city is expected to raise that to the maximum allowed by the state of 67.50 cents per $100 assessed valuation. The board will hear requests from officer Chris Robbins from another ‘trunk or Treat” in downtown Salem on Halloween, and from Dottie Steelman to close off streets for the Opening Night Tiger Parade this Friday night. The board will discuss new requests for services outside the city limits and City Treasurer Stacey Houston will give the financial reports. The board will re-appoint Dean Jones to the Enhanced Enterprise Zone Board before reviewing the sanitation service bid from WCA and discuss a Preventive Maintenance Agreement with Vandivanter Engineering for lift stations and pumps. A number of bills will be read for the first time before four bills will be read for the second time to create ordinances on a conflict of interest disclosure, allowing the subdivision of 1506 South MacArthur, allowing the subdivision of 501 North Washington, and allowing the rezoning of 903 West Scenic Rivers Blvd be changed from Residential R-1 to Commercial C-1. After report from the city officials, the board will go into closed session for contracts and possible litigation. The hearing and meeting are open to the public.