Local News – Tuesday, May 14th, 2024

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning for their regular meeting. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams was in to present the sales tax monies received this month. The General Revenue Fund and Law Enforcement Sales Tax Fund each received $88,840.71 which is $7,171.22 more than for May of 2023. Year-to-date, the General Revenue Fund and the LEST funds are up about $10,781.50. The Road and Bridge Fund received $41,912.63 this month, up $5,006.38 from the May 2023 figure of $36,906.25. Year-to-date, that fund is up $3,833.20. The Jail Operating and Trust funds each received $84,247.43 in May and that is up $10,013.64 from the 2023 receipts of $74,233.79. Year-to-date, those funds are up $8,857.69. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray said brush would be cut on Dent County Road 6435 and road signs will be put up on various roads around the county. Mobray said three trees came down from the storms last week that crews would be cleaning up. He said he spoke with Michelle Watkins who is the Central District Engineer for MoDOT, and she said the state will not be paving approaches from the county roads to the state highway. However, if members of the public report potholes on the approaches by calling 1-888-ASK-MODOT (1-888-275-6636), MoDOT will send work crews to make the repairs and patch the potholes. She told Mobray that Highway 19 North would be repaved in 2028 although that did not show up on the recently released STIP plan. Watkins also said the state would not put up signs on the county roads to restrict big trucks as they would then have to put them up on all roads including those in Salem. Mobray said he still wants to talk with someone at MoDOT above Watkins to see if something can be done. District 2 Commissioner Gary Polk said materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 4405 and 5260, while only grading would be done on county road 2313. Polk said rock would also be added to Dent County Road 3260 where a work crew will be repairing the ditch line from a washout. He went on to say brush would be cut on county road 4040. Presiding Commission Gary Larson said he would be at St. James today to sign papers for the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District. Dent County Assistant County Clerk Melissa Piatt said she would be verifying signatures from Dent County residents who signed any of the five state initiative petitions to make sure they are registered voters of the county. The next meeting of the commission will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem R-80 Music Department presents the Spring Band Concert at the High School Gymnasium tonight at 6:00. The concert will feature the 6th grade band, the 7th grade band, the 8th grade band, the High School Second Chance Band and the High School Concert Band. Eeveryone is welcome to attend!!

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will be meeting tonight at 6:00 at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. There will be a CBDG Public Hearing at 6:00 before the then call to order. After the consent agenda, the board will hear public comments and consider a board appointment from Mayor Greg Parker. The board will then consider an expenditure of funds for the Fireworks Display, plus hear bids for Hot Mix Asphalt and an HVAC System for the Animal Pound. Under new and miscellaneous business, the board will consider the following resolutions: Resolution No. 13-2024, authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement between Tri Cat Restoration, the City of Salem, and Judy Kysar for property at 403 E. Hunt; Resolution #14-2024, authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement between Tri Cat Restoration, the City of Salem, and Richard LaBrash for property located at 1500 S. Louise Street; and Resolution No. 15-2024, authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement between Steven Thurmond, the City of Salem, and Oren Welch for property located at 403 W. Hunt. The board will also consider conditional use permits for property at 906 S. Water Street and #2 North McArthur. There will be the first reading of Bill No. 3609, an ordinance amending Section 140.060 of the city code of the City of Salem regarding the creation and membership of the Airport Advisory Board. After reports from city officials, the board will go into closed session to discuss legal actions, litigation, and confidential or privileged communication, which will be followed by adjournment. The meeting tonight of the Salem Board of Aldermen is open to the public.