Local News – Wednesday, June 5th, 2019
The Salem Board of Aldermen regular meeting was held Monday evening at the City Hall Council Chambers. The Board discussed a number of health insurance bids for coverage from Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and United Health Care. After some deliberation, the board decided to postpone making a decision on the policies until a special meeting could be held. The board then discussed property and liability insurance coverage and workman’s compensation coverage. The board approved going with their current insurance carrier, MPR’s renewal quote on property insurance for $33,804.04 and liability coverage at $118,923.92. The board decided to change their workman’s compensation coverage to that offered by Memic that reduced the work experience claim factor to 1.00 from the current 1.8 with MPR that provided a reduced cost of $158,796, a savings of over $160,000. After approval of the consent agenda, City Administrator Ray Walden stated that he has followed up with Harold Tubbs on the issues brought up at a previous meeting with explanations to all his questions and concerns. Walden stated that no board is treated differently than any other board as Tubbs had insinuated with his comments as Walden said all the information that he gave Tubbs is available for all to see. Walden set the Capital Improvement Committee meeting for Thursday at 7:00 at a location to be determined, and the Capital Improvement Committee or Budget Committee meeting will be meeting on Tuesday, June 11th at 7:00 at a location to be determined. Walden and City Attorney William Camm Seay discussed a workshop to address the nuisance ordinance. Seay said copies of the new ordinance information need to be available to the public before the workshop. There may be a charge for paper copies from city hall or they could be e-mailed at no cost. Seay will let the city know when the information is ready. Once the information is available, a workshop will be set. The board approved Resolution #13-2019 to allow the city to use the Commons for the annual 4th of July Fireworks display to be held on Independence Day. The maintenance costs went up from $800 to $1,200 for the event and no personal fireworks will be allowed by those attending. The board also approved Bill #3418 which created an ordinance to rezone the property owned by Joshua and Lorie Greenwood at 600 South McArthur to be changed from residential to commercial. The board approved all the standing committees appointed by Mayor Brad Nash before going into closed session to discuss real estate, contracts and personnel.
The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released a number of reports from May. On Tuesday, May 21st, deputies traveled to the 6000 block of Highway 32 East to attempt to serve an arrest warrant. During the course of the service, a 34-year-old Salem man was arrested for a warrant through Dent County, possession of a controlled substance and unlawful use of drug paraphernalia. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office and he was incarcerated. Later that day, deputies traveled to a residence on John Street in an attempt to serve an arrest warrant. During the course of the incident, a 26-year-old Salem man was arrested for an active warrant through Probation and Parole. He was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office and was incarcerated in the Dent County Jail. On Wednesday, May 22nd, deputies conducted a traffic stop at the Route H and DD intersection. During the course of the traffic stop, a 29-year-old Salem man was arrested for driving while having his license revoked or suspended, a 2nd offense. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. If anyone has information regarding an ongoing investigation, please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 729-3241.
The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will hold a special meeting Thursday evening at 7:00 at the Salem Community Center@The Armory to discuss employee health insurance. The City of Salem Capital Improvement Committee will then hold a special meeting Thursday evening immediately following the special board meeting at the Salem Community Center@The Armory after 7:00 to review Capital Projects and Purchases as well as requested 2019-2020 projects and purchases. The special board meeting and the Capital Improvements Committee meeting are both open to the public.