Local News – Tuesday, September 26th, 2023

The Dent County Commission met for their regular meeting Monday morning at the courthouse. Ben Johnson from the Salem News asked Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson if there was any further advancement on recycling efforts and he said not at this time. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray stated grading would be done on Dent County Roads 5600 and 6420 while materials will be added to county road 6663 as numerous driveway pipes are to be installed. Mobray said the county received the final acceptance report on the FLAP Project 57 from MoDOT and the county received $127,548.98 for their portion of the work. District 2 Commissioner Gary Polk gave his report and said crews would be working on patching Dent County Road 4300 which is chip and seal, with an asphalt overlay on the hill to keep it from washing out. Commissioner Gary Larson said the MRPC Annual Dinner and Awards Banquet will be held October 26th with a social hour at 5:30, dinner at 6:30 with the program to follow in Hermann at the Hermannhof Festhalle. Two Dent County residents will be recognized for their volunteer efforts: Easton May and Deloris Gray Wood. Tickets are $40 per person and reservations need to be made by Friday by calling Linda Carroll at 573-265-2993. There will also be a special meeting held by the MissouriDepartment of Transportation on a planned bridge replacement project on Highway 19 in Dent County. Especially important to the team is feedback on the timing of the planned 45-day closure. MoDOT will host an open-house style public meeting to discuss the current plans, proposed detour, and other construction details this Thursday afternoon from 4:30 to 6:00 at the Salem Community Center at the Armory, located at 1200 W. Rolla Road in Salem. Larson said anyone who may be affected by this closure for business, recreation or health needs to let their voice be heard at the open house. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Thursday morning at the courthouse and the meeting will be open to the public.

The Dent County Health Center (DCHC) Board of Trustees held their regular meeting Thursday, September 21st. After approval of the minutes of the August regular meeting, November 6th was tentatively set for the full-day Strategic Planning session with People Centric. Administrator Moser presented the communicable disease report which included 11 reported cases of COVID-19 for August. It is suspected that to date the number of COVID-19 cases for September is 3 times that figure. He said there were 31 active lead cases in August and that 10 sexually transmitted infection screenings were conducted during the month. Moser noted there were no influenza cases reported in August. Moser also reported that there were three animal bites reported last month. In the diagnostics report, Moser said 192 blood draw appointments were completed in August, plus 53 COVID tests and 8 lead tests. There were nine vaccines for COVID-19 and 384 other vaccinations administered. Moser did note that the new formulations of COVID vaccines were approved early this month, but as of the date of the meeting, DCHC only has VFC and 317 COVID vaccines and have not received vaccines for private insurance yet. A total of 573 appointments were held during August, plus WIC appointments that totaled 322. Moser noted that in August there were 122 urine drug screenings conducted on behalf of the Dent County Treatment Court. Administrator Moser gave the environmental report where 8 total inspections were conducted, there were no recalls, and 12 environmental questions were fielded. In the Administrator’s report, Moser reported that the Health Center has been experiencing ongoing internet connectivity issues so he has gone through all of the equipment within the building and verified that no internal issues are responsible. Fidelity Communications continues to work on the problem. Moser discussed the Patient Satisfaction Survey and summarized the 11 responses received. The Board was reminded of upcoming events that the Health Center will be participating in including: the Drive Through Flu/COVID Clinic October 12th, the Fall Health Fair October 26th, and the Youth Vaping Town Hall November 6th. The Health Center financial reports for August, including the review from H & R Block, were reviewed. Discussion was held on the balance sheet, income statement, and budget statements. After these questions were answered the financial reports and the report from H & R Block were approved. In New Business, Moser reported the Health Center has been awarded a $186,000 CDC Grant to reduce lead poisoning. The proposed budget was reviewed and explained. The Board voted to approve the budget and the new position. The DCHC has been awarded a NACCHO Childcare Grant in the amount of $30,000. The Board approved the necessary budget adjustment in the amount of $12,000. The ELC-ED Budget was also reviewed, but required no budget adjustments. At 6:15 the Board went in to closed session for the purpose of discussing personnel and bids/contracts. At 6:43 the Board exited closed session having approved a bid from St. Robert Glass to replace three doors on the building in the amount of $16,316, a Certificate of Deposit Resolution 2023-R003 with Progressive Ozark Bank, and a quote from Evapar (under state contract) for a replacement generator and electrical service in the amount of $36,930. Moser later discovered that the bid had been awarded in error. Friday at 12:00 noon, during an emergency closed session meeting, the motion was rescinded by the Board. During the closed session the Board voted to approve the bid from Miller Glass in Rolla in the amount of $15,638. The next regular meeting of the Board was set for Thursday, October 19th at 5:00.

The Salem Board of Aldermen will hold their regular meeting at the Salem City Hall Council Chambers at 6:00 this evening. At the meeting, the board will hear City Administrator Sally Burbridge discuss an amendment to the Personal Days Policy where each employee who has completed their probation will receive two non-accruing personal days per year. The board will then hear Resolution #27-2023 that includes a number of easements needed for the 4th Street Downtown TAP project 9901. The board will discuss the contract with Trumpia for their text blast service before discussing sharing the cost of the electrical installation for the new Construction Trades Building on the Salem R-80 campus. The board will also hear from Chief Joe Chase from the Salem Police Department on a 2023 Dodge Durango Patrol Car before hearing the second reading of Bill #3573 authorizing the mayor to sign and execute an agreement between the City of Salem and Buildtec Construction, LLC for the construction of six T-Hangers at the Salem Memorial Airport. After reports from the city officials, the board will go into closed session. The meeting tonight is open to the public.

MoDOT has announced they will be working on Highway 72 in Reynolds County near Bunker tomorrow which will reduce lanes as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform pavement repairs. The affected section of roadway is located from Route A to Route TT near Bunker, Missouri. Weather permitting, work will take place on Wednesday from 8:00 in the morning to 3:00 in the afternoon. The work zone will be marked with signs. Motorists are urged to use extreme caution while traveling near the area. For additional information, contact MoDOT’s Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-888-ASK-MODOT (1-888-275-6636) or visit www.modot.org/southeast.