Local News – Wednesday, June 16th, 2021
The Salem Board of Aldermen held a special meeting Monday evening at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. At the meeting, the board approved Bill #3481 to approve the change order #10 between the City of Salem and Smith and Edwards Construction, Inc. for the Highway 19 South sewer extension project. The board also approved the change in wording on Resolution #18-2021 amending the City of Salem payment plan. This will allow the city to begin to offer people payment plans beginning for the February 8th through May 15th utility bills. Also, Alderwoman Kim Steelman felt that with it already being June 15th and with a number of people needing payment plans, she proposed and the board approved to extend the shut off date to July 15th for those who have not paid their bill and need to time to set up a payment plan. Those who want to take advantage of the 5% discount must pay their bill in full by June 20th. The board couldn’t vote on this ordinance change at this meeting since it hadn’t been posted for 24 hours, but City Administrator Ray Walden said this gives office personnel guidance and they can inform people of this change as they come in. They also removed the requirement that people have to pay 50% of their utility bill before making a new payment plan. Each plan will be tailored to each individual customer. The Aldermen meeting was then adjourned and the Finance Committee and Capital Improvement Committee meeting began. Administrator Ray Walden said that as of 10:00 Monday morning, 427 accounts have paid their utility bill in full, while 146 customers on payment contracts and another 234 with budget billing and payment contracts have over $100 balance in arrears. The committee then discussed the 2021-2022 budget and went over proposed capital purchases that may be made in the next fiscal year.
A one vehicle accident happened Monday evening at 9:40 in Phelps County on Route W about four miles west of Highway 63. The report from the highway patrol states that a 2012 Ford F-250 being driven by 19-year-old Colton Franks of Rolla, attempted to avoid a deer in the roadway. Franks crossed the center of roadway, traveled off the left side of the road and struck a tree. Franks suffered moderate injuries and was transported by Phelps Health Ambulance to Phelps Health Hospital. The Ford was totaled in the accident and removed from the scene by Dishman’s Towing. The report went on to state Franks was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident.
A near drowning occurred Monday in Reynolds County at the Johnson Shut-Ins State Park at about 2:30 in the afternoon as 19-year-old Tama Keawena of Jennings, Missouri, was swimming when she hit her head on a rock. Keawena became unconscious, became submerged and was rescued by nearby individuals who conducted CPR until rescue personnel arrived on the scene. State Park Ranger Sgt Heston assisted the water patrol at the scene. Keawena suffered moderate injuries and was taken by the Reynolds County Ambulance to the Iron County Medical Center.
The Salem R-80 Board of Education will be meeting in the High School Library Thursday evening at 5:30. After approval of the agenda the Board will go in to closed session for the discussion of personnel and to approve the closed session minutes from May 20th, 2021. At 6:00 the regular meeting will open with the consent agenda, which will be followed by the Board hearing communications. Superintendent Dr. Lynne Reed will report on a variety of issues, followed by Administration Reports including Summer School. In new business the board will consider 2020-2021 Budget Revisions followed by the adoption of the 2021-2022 Budget, consider donating old IMAC to the Community Arts Center, and consider the Healthy Dent County Renewal. The Board will adjourn and move into Executive Session. The regular meeting of the Salem R-80 Board of Education Thursday evening at 6:00 in the High School Library is open to the public.
Mayor Brad Nash has called a special meeting of the Salem Board of Alderman at 5:45 tonight at the Salem Community Center@The Armory to discuss Bill #3482 which is an ordinance to resume assessing utility penalties and disconnects for the non-payment of utility bills as described in the City of Salem Code Chapter 700. Nash also called a meeting of the Finance Committee to review the 2021-2022 proposed fiscal year budget at 6:00 tonight at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. Both meetings are open to the public.
An accident happened Tuesday afternoon at 5:55 in Franklin County on Route O at Woods Road. According to the highway patrol report, a 2009 Kia Sedona driven westbound by 28-year- old John Skaggs of St. James, crossed the centerline on a curve and sideswiped a 2017 GMC Acadia driven eastbound by 46-year-old Libby Dominik of Augusta, Missouri. Skaggs suffered minor injuries and was transported by the Meramec EMS to the Mercy Hospital in Washington. Both drivers were wearing seat restraints at the time of the accident. Both vehicles sustained moderate damages. The Kia was removed from the scene by Sturms Towing and the GMC was removed by John’s Towing.