Local News – Wednesday, January 9th, 2019

The Salem Board of Alderman met Monday night at the City Hall Council Chambers. At the meeting, the board approved accepting trade-in allowance from Erb Equipment on six John Deere backhoes for $86,000 that would be used toward the lease/purchase of two new John Deere backhoes that cost $195,530.70. The board then approved to finance the difference in the trade-in value and the cost of the new backhoes that comes to $109,530.70 with the Bank of Salem with an interest rate of 3.50% and a $200 documentation fee. A bid from US Bank of 3.49% had been received with no documentation fee, but the board elected to go with the Bank of Salem. The board approved the purchase of the utility body base from Knapheide Truck Equipment from Jefferson City for $5,865 and also a $300 option for them to remove the old bed. Other options were available but after a long discussion the board put off approving those until Water and Sewer Department Superintendent Jack Emory could be in attendance. City Administrator Ray Walden reported healthy Dent County had 3,781 people visit the Salem Community Center@The Armory during the month of December. He also talked about the Visioning Project 2040 and he said that the committee is requesting public feedback on a draft of a vision document. There are Visioning Kits in numerous locations in town and you can also go online to view the document at www.grosalem.com. He said they are looking to have an updated comprehensive plan finished to bring to the board in five to six months, but he said that is a very aggressive timeline. He also said that next meeting of the Board of Aldermen would be Tuesday, January 22nd due to the Martin Luther King Holiday. The board approved the request from Salem Park and Recreation Director Tye Lydon to apply for an LWCF grant to develop soccer fields in Salem. The thought is to use the Highway 19 south property which is already mostly flat and cleared, but other options may be considered including the old middle school property. The board also approved to allow Lydon to use up to nine hours of time granted to the city by the MRPC as part of their annual fee for their members to help with grant preparation. City Attorney William Camm Seay did some checking and discovered that a telephone conference can not be used as a voting mechanism by the board for decision making as a visual approval or denial is needed on any vote. The board talked about creating a weather ordinance in case of inclement weather that would be triggered by school cancellations, but they decided to just hold the meetings as scheduled. The board also approved to sell a city vehicle, a 2014 Dodge Charger that was a former police car, on the Purple Wave Surplus Vehicles website. The meeting was then adjourned.

Volunteers for AARP will be conducting free tax filing assistance at the Salem Community Center@ the Armory computer lab again this year. This free tax filing assistance will begin on Friday, February 1st and continue every Friday until April 12th. Appointments can be made by calling the Salem Community Center at 729-8163. The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers are trained in filing certain tax forms and schedules, including the Form 1040. However, the Volunteer Protection Act requires that the volunteers stay in the scope of the program. If counselors feel they do not have adequate knowledge or your return is too complex, you may need to seek another qualified counselor or paid tax assistance. Items you need to bring to have your tax returns prepared include a Picture ID; Social Security Cards for you, your spouse and dependents or a Social Security Number verification letter issued by the Social Security Administration as well as birth dates for you, your spouse and dependents on the tax return. You will also need to bring your wage and earning statement or statements. These include Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, 1099-Misc from all employers as well as your year-end Social Security Statements showing total Social Security received and Medicare payments. Also required are any interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099). A copy of last year’s federal and state returns is very helpful if available. You also need to bring proof of bank account routing numbers and account numbers for Direct Deposit, such as a blank check or deposit slip. To file taxes electronically on a married-filing-joint tax return, both spouses must be present to sign the required forms. The Salem Community Center @ the Armory is located at 1200 West Rolla Road. Appointments can be made by calling the Salem Community Center at 729-8163.