Local News – Wednesday, August 19th, 2020

A one vehicle accident resulting in two injuries happened Monday morning shortly before noon on Highway 72 just about three miles west of Salem. According to the report released by the highway patrol, a 2004 Ford Ranger being driven west by 59-year old David Lee of Licking, was passing another vehicle when he lost control of his vehicle. The Ford started skidding and Lee overcorrected, and the Ford traveled off the right side of the road and overturned. Lee suffered moderate injuries and was transported by ambulance to the Salem Memorial District Hospital. A passenger in the vehicle, 53-year old Troy Conley of Raymondville, was taken by Air Evac to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis for the treatment of serious injuries. Both occupants were wearing seat restraints at the time of the accident. The Ford Ranger was totaled and removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing of Salem.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen held its regular meeting Monday evening at the City Hall Council Chambers. Mayor Brad Nash was not in attendance nor was Alderman Rachel Hinderliter. Alderman Kevin James ran the meeting as President of the Board. The board heard a request from the Grace Community Church to close Water Street from their parking lot to the corner of Water and Franklin Streets from noon until 8:00 PM this Friday for a Family Crusade, and again on Sunday, October 20th from 8:00 in the morning until 4:00 in the afternoon for Back to Church Sunday. They approved the request. The board approved the consent agenda that showed sales taxes receipts in August for general revenues, capital improvements and Park and Recreation up from last year in the city. The board heard from Gary Brown, the Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission, about the meeting held on August 4th concerning the subdivision of the Brickhouse Grill addition. Brown said there were no objections at the meeting and Planning and Zoning recommended to the board to allow the subdivision of the property and the board approved that request in Bill #3460. City Administrator Ray Walden said the utility bills for the June consumption are going out this week and anyone who does not get their bill by Friday should call the utility office at 729-4117. He said the due dates on the bills are staggered so that the office will not be overwhelmed. By doing it this way, staff will be able to answer questions and accept payments without long lines at the drive through. Walden said the July consumption is being done and is on track to be billed regularly. Walden said for the fiscal year 2019-2020, the budgeted income from electric consumption was $6,376,799 while the actual income received was $5,400,337. The reduction in income was attributed to milder weather as well as a reduction in rates. The income exceeded the expenses of $5,366,405. Walden said the income from water usage was $1,480,455 with expenses of $1,148,784 and the sewer income in the last fiscal year came in at $762,000 with expenses of $741,675. Walden said the utility committee will be meeting this Thursday night to determine if the city should start to reassess penalties for those with late payments and also to consider start shutting off customers who do not pay. The board approved Resolution 18-2020 to create an agreement with Flynn Drilling to pull, repair and reinstall the pump at Well #6 for a cost of $36,212. City Clerk Mary Happel then explained to the board there were some problems with electioneering at the Dent County Fire House and at the Salem City Hall Basement on election day as Dent County Clerk Angie Curley had to come to each location to address the issue as voters were not comfortable with the proximity of people at the locations. The Dent County Fire Protection District has a policy in place that does not allow campaigning or electioneering on their property which made clearing that location easier, but the city does not have such a policy. The board asked if such a policy could be created and City Attorney Weber said he would have to research the board request to make sure it would comply with state statutes as well as federal voting guidelines. City Administrator Walden said the city has been getting requests about renting space on the city administration building parking lot for the City Wide Yard Sale in October. The board decided the City Wide Yard Sale would go on as normal except that the city administration building parking lot will NOT be used this year as it would be too hard to enforce social distancing. The board then approved two recommendations to the planning and Zoning Commission to fill two vacant seats left by Joe Shelton and Jerry Craig. The new members of the commission are Sherman Odom and Tabitha Utley. The board then went into closed session.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education will be meeting Thursday evening at 5:50 for their public tax rate hearing followed by their regular meeting at 6:00. After the consent agenda and communications, Chelsie Fulton will make a therapy dog presentation before Superintendent Dr. Lynne Reed gives her report. The principals will then update the board with reports on each building before the board hears new business. They will discuss and approved the 2019-2020 Annual Secretary of the Board Report, approve the tax rate established at the tax rate hearing, approve the school resource officer Memorandum of Understanding and then approve the pre-school lease with the Dent County Developmental Disabilities Board. The board will then go into closed session to discuss personnel and real estate before adjourning. The public tax hearing and the regular board meeting will be in the district administrative offices boardroom and are open to the public.