Local News – Wednesday, July 8th, 2020
The Salem Board of Aldermen held a regular meeting Monday at the City Hall Council chambers. The board approved the budgeted purchase of two new Dodge Durangos for the Police Department at a total of $64,738 from Behlman Dodge in Troy on the state bid. City Administrator Ray Walden said all the city utility bills for May have been mailed and please contact the utility department if you have not received your bill or have questions. Their number is 729-4117. The Aldermen stressed their frustration with the billing process and especially with the lack of enough staff to help answer the phone calls and respond to customers in a timely manner. They asked that other city department staff be brought in to help. Walden said he will put every person who is available to help address the problem. The board approved Bill No. 3453 amending the 2020 Fiscal Year budget. The increase in the budget of the Special Street Fund is due to the increase in cost to repair roads to $409,986 from $294,500 in the Fiscal year 2019-2020. This bill also increased the revenue in the fund from the previous year’s reserve to balance the budget. The board postponed discussion on the Hangar Rental Fees until the next meeting when they have more information. The meeting was then adjourned.
The Salem Police Department has released their report for the month of May. They issued 17 equipment repair orders, 13 summonses to appear in court, 32 warning tickets, and 26 traffic tickets, plus they also served 2 fugitive warrants. The Salem Police investigated 9 traffic accidents, wrote 2 property damage reports, 10 stealing reports, and had 1 death investigation. The department investigated 5 driving while having a driver’s license being revoked or suspended, 3 possessions of a controlled substance reports along with 5 drug paraphernalia reports, 11 domestic violence reports, and investigated 4 lost or stolen license plates along with 2 intoxicated pedestrians. The department was also dispatched for 42 animal calls, 26 ambulance assist calls, and performed 90 traffic stops for the month. The Department also conducted 67 follow-up investigations, and conducted 17 well being checks. The Salem Police Department received 657 calls for service during the month of May and had 64 walk-ins to the station. The department drove 9,010 miles during the month of May. There were 11 males and 8 females arrested during the month. The Police Department also served 4 hours during the month as court bailiff in May.
The Dent County Sheriff’s department has released some reports. On Saturday, June 20th, a deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop with an ATV on Dent County Road 3260. The ATV failed to yield and the deputy began to pursue the vehicle. As the vehicle approached Dent County Road 3250, the ATV slowed down and stopped on the side of the road. During the course of the incident, a 40-year-old Salem man was arrested for resisting or interfering with an arrest for a felony, possession of a controlled substance except 35 grams or less of marijuana or synthetic cannabinoid; and for exceeding the posted speed limit which he exceeded by 26 miles per hour or more. The man was also charged prior drug offenses for the possession of marijuana or synthetic cannabinoid of 10 grams or less and the unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office Jail where he was incarcerated. on Friday, June 26th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop at West Franklin Street and South Missouri. During the course of the traffic stop, an 18-year-old Salem man was arrested for driving while being intoxicated – zero tolerance. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released to a family member. If anyone has any information about any investigation, please call the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 729-3241.
State Auditor Nicole Galloway released her office’s regularly-scheduled audit of Phelps County, which gave the county a rating of “fair.” The concerns discussed in the report included the inadequate oversight of the county collector’s financial activities, poor bank reconciliation practices of the prosecuting attorney’s office, unsupported transfers to the general revenue fund, and bonuses paid to Phelps County Board for the Developmentally Disabled employees. The audit found the county commission and the county clerk did not adequately verify the accuracy and completeness of the collector’s annual settlements. The lack of adequate verification can mean an increased risk of loss, theft, or misuse of property tax monies going undetected, and less assurance the annual settlements are complete and accurate. The audit also reported the prosecuting attorney’s office does not prepare adequate and timely bank reconciliations and does not maintain an adequate list of liabilities. In addition, the county commission did not maintain documentation to support the annual transfer from the county’s unemployment fund to the general revenue fund and had not established a comprehensive personnel policy. The county clerk and the county commission also did not ensure county commission meeting minutes were prepared and approved timely. The audit also found the Phelps County Board for the Developmentally Disabled improperly paid bonuses to employees in 2018 and 2020. Bonuses are not allowed by the Missouri Constitution. For the entire report, check out the state auditor’s website at https://app.auditor.mo.gov/