Local News – Wednesday, January 27th, 2021

The Dent County Commission held their 2021 budget hearing Monday morning at the commissioner’s office in the courthouse. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles went over the major funds that comprise the budget. The General Revenue Fund ended 2020 with net cash available at $1,871,201.38 as actual revenues were about $32,000 more than what was budgeted. The estimated revenues for 2021 were 1.606 million dollars while estimated expenses for this year are 2.063 million dollars, resulting in an estimated ending balance of $1,414,211.17 as of December 31st, 2021. Skiles stated that $300,000 has been budgeted for repairs to be done on the courthouse in 2021. The Road and Bridge Fund ending cash balance in 2020 was $577,460.34. The commissioners have estimated revenues in 2021 at 1.742 million dollars and estimated expenses of 1.996 million dollars that would result in an estimated ending balance of $323,704.34 at the end of 2021. The Assessment Fund ending balance for 2020 was $145,008.20. The commissioners estimated revenues in 2021 of $201,803.43 and with estimated expenses of $226,927.40, the estimated ending balance at the end of 2021 would be $99,884.23. The Law Enforcement Sales Tax (LEST) Fund ending balance in 2020 was $387,575.78 that was helped with increase in actual revenues of over $58,000 in 2020. The commissioners estimate revenues in 2021 to be 1.131 million dollars while the estimated deductions came in at 1.285 million dollars leaving an estimated ending balance of $234,142.45 at the end of 2021. The 9-1-1 fund had an ending balance of $45,630.20 in 2020 that showed an increase in revenues of over $11,000. Expected estimated revenues are $38,290 in 2021 and with estimated expenses of $45,208.17, there would be an ending balance at the end of 2021 of $38,712.03. The Jail Construction and Operations Fund finished the 2020 year with cash available of $1,524,102.18. The fund has expected revenues in 2021 of 1.351 million dollars and estimated expenses of 1.404 million dollars that would leave an ending balance of $1,471,459.59 at the end of 2021. The Jail Construction Trust Fund finished 2020 with an ending balance of $1.539 million dollars. The commissioners estimated revenues of $976,220.76 and with anticipated expenses of $936,423.50, the fund would have an ending balance of 1.579 million dollars at the end of 2021. Skiles also went over the new budgets for the SB40 fund and offered to revue smaller funds to see if there were questions, but there were none. The budget for 2021 was then approved by a 3-0 vote. The hearing was then adjourned.

The salemmo.com website committee is pleased to announce the launch of the revised website which represents a collaboration of the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce, Dent County, and the City of Salem. The new service-focused website is mobile-friendly, secured for user privacy protection, and makes accessibility a priority. The new website also better empowers those internally who manage digital services to the community. The website includes frequently asked questions, news, events, and social media integration. In addition, there is a new “Accessibility Assistant” that you will see on the edge of your screen as a stick figure. When you click on this, you can utilize a number of features designed to help citizens and visitors with accessibility issues related to viewing websites. The newly designed site also provides easier access for businesses to find resources and information critical to maintaining operations and growing in Salem and Dent County. Whether you are thinking of starting a business, wanting to expand your operations or locate in the beautiful foothills of the Ozark Plateau with all the amenities that small town living can provide plus you can find your business information needs and contacts by starting on the salemmo.com website. The branding portion of the project was done in conjunction with the Connection Group and the web development with Revize with funding support from the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce, County, City of Salem and the Dent County Tourism Commission.

The Missouri Conservation Commission gave initial approval to the Missouri Department of Conservation at its January 22nd open meeting on a proposed change to Wildlife Code of Missouri regulations that would allow the expanded use of bicycles on many department-area service roads. Bicycle use on MDC’s approximately 1,000 conservation areas is currently restricted to roads open to public-vehicle traffic and some multi-use trails. This regulation change would expand bicycle access to include most service roads on MDC areas. The proposed change does not apply to electric or other motorized bicycles, which would not be allowed. Exceptions would be service roads during hunting seasons and on area-access roads used by staff at fish hatcheries and other MDC areas where bicycle use could be unsafe or cause damage such as erosion.