Local News – Tuesday, February 28th, 2023

The Salem Quiz Bowl Teams took First Place in the JV division and Second Place in the Varsity division at the SCA Quiz Bowl Tournament this past Saturday that was hosted at Thayer. A number of Salem players also were awarded individual medals. For the Varsity, Cole Coursen took 3rd Place, Tyler Schellhammer captured 7th Place, and Eli Brakensiek tied for 10th Place, but lost the medal in a sudden death playoff. For the JV team which went undefeated on the day, individual medals went to Marshall White who took 1st Place, Noah Gerischer who captured 2nd Place, and to Preston Duncan tied for 10th Place, who tied with Carter Foster for 10th Place, but Preston took the medal in a sudden death play off. The only team the Varsity lost to was Houston who won the SCA Quiz Bowl Tournament. Playing on the Varsity Team were seniors Tyler Schellhammer, Abby McBride, and Cole Coursen plus juniors Eli Brakensiek and Rory Dahms. Playing on the JV Team were Marshall White, Carter Foster, Noah Gerischer, Preston Duncan and Jordan Sherman who are all freshmen. Susan Sheeley and Sarah Sanders coach the Salem High School teams.

At the Dent County Commission meeting Monday, the Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release between the Missouri Department of Revenue and the County of Dent, was finally presented to pay back the extra tax money the county received due to a coding error at the Missouri Department of Revenue. The total amount of money the county will have to pay back is $933,148.23 and this will be done over seven years spanning from March 1, 2023 to March 1, 2030. The amount to be removed monthly from the sales tax payments to the county will be $11,108.91 with 20% of the payment coming from the Jail Operating Fund and the Jail Trust Fund, 12% from the Road and Bridge Fund, and 25% from the Law Enforcement Sales Tax Fund and the Dent County General Revenue Fund. The commissioners signed the agreement.

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning for their regular meeting. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley appointed Gary Larson to serve as the acting Presiding Commissioner for the meeting. At the meeting, John Baker asked the commission to add rock to the Tune Cemetery Road as it was beginning to get muddy and Larson said he would have his crew get out there to add materials to Dent County Roads 3195 and 3193. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams gave the report on CART funds received in February by the county and the figure came in at $75,409.62. That is $9,762.20 more than February of 2022 and year-to-date, the increase is $23,788.15 which is about an 18.52% increase. In the road report, both Commissioner Wes Mobray and Larson said work crews would be out checking for downed limbs or trees, clogged culverts, and washouts for the storm early Monday morning. In his report, Larson said he attended the Tourism Tax Committee meeting where they approved five of six requests. Dent County Clerk Curley said excused absentee voting is going on now in her office and the last day to register to vote in the April 4th Municipal Election will be March 8th. The commissioners approved the maintenance contract from Ron Schwartz for the Assessor’s office for land transfers and how they affect parcels. The commission also signed the “Notice of Award” sent by engineer Corky Stack with P.J. Meyers Hauling and Excavation out of Cuba for the jail sewer repairs and grinder installation for a total of $42,500. The commissioners also signed the annual contract agreement with Gallagher Benefit Services called their Client Compensation Disclosure, Solvency Letter and Privacy Notice. Curley also said she contacted the state about the resignation of Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles. The county office will be filled by appointment by the governor. For any person who would wish to apply for the office, you will need to go to this website: board.mo.gov. You will have to create an account. Once you create your account, interested persons can select “Dent County Presiding Commissioner” on their application. Curley said she also has contacted the political parties central committees. Although no time table has been definitely set, the state feels an appointment could be made some time in mid-April. The commissioners will not be meeting this Thursday due to their annual training on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Monday, March 6th at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Board of Aldermen will hold their regular meeting on tonight at 6:00 at the City Hall Council Chambers. In the hearing of persons, Rob Benowitz will ask the board to close off 4th Street south of the courthouse from Highway 19 to just west of Iron Street for a 100-Acre Wood “Tribute to Ken Block” on March 16th from 8:30 until 9:00 in the morning. The board will also hear from “The Local” about closing off 4th Street from South Jackson to South Washington Street for the “1st Annual Local Social” from 4:00 PM until 9:00 PM also on March 16th. There will be music, a wing eating contest, a Giant Jenga Tournament and more. The board will discuss bids received for the setters and saddles needed for water meter installations with Public Works Director Mark Nash. City of Salem Finance Director Stacey Houston will go over the current financial situation for the city with sales tax revenues ahead of budget for the fiscal year in all funds. The board will hear and discuss Resolution #7-2023 that would authorize the mayor to enter into an agreement between the City of Salem and Gilmore and Bell, PC to provide disclosure compliance services for the city’s two Certificates of Participation. The board will then hear reports from City Administrator Sally Burbridge, Mayor Greg Parker, Public Works Director Mark Nash and each individual alderman before adjourning. The meeting Tuesday night is open to the public.