Local News – Wednesday, March 1, 2023

The Salem Board of Aldermen held their regular meeting Tuesday evening at the City Hall Council Chambers. At the meeting, the board heard from Rob Benowitz requesting the closing of 4th Street from Highway 19 east to just north of Iron Street on Thursday evening, March 16th from 8:30 to 9:00 for a tribute to honor Ken Block who recently passed away. He also asked the board to close 4th Street from Highway 19 west to Jackson Street for the Parc Expose on Saturday, March 18th. The board approved both requests. The board was to hear a request from “The Local” about a request for the closing of 4th Street, but they withdrew their request for this meeting. City Finance Director Stacey Houston reported on the sales tax revenues and said she is confident all the sales tax receipts will exceed budgeted amounts and are up between 8 and 12%. She did say elecric department revenues are up 35% over last year, but that was to be expected with the rate increase while the cost of purchasing electric is up 19% over last year. She said the water and sewer revenues are also up over last year with water up about 5.6% and sewer revenues up 12%. The board approved the bid from Core & Main for setters and saddles for water meter installation for $11,185.93, and approved Resolution #7-2023 to continue the engagement of Gilmore & Bell, P.C. for $1,750.00 per year for a total of $8,750 over the five-year term to provide disclosure compliance services for the two Certificates of Participation the city has. City Administrator Sally Burbridge said two of the four houses on the demolition program are down with the homes on Dillon and Coffmann still standing. She said a draft Planning and Zoning Use Map is being reviewed for accuracy, and that a walk through was held with ESP to see if all the work is complete so that the project can be closed and the funds allocated to the program can be released for work not done by ESP. Public Works Director Mark Nash said there were 73 disconnects this week with 37 of them already reconnected. He said pot holes are beginning to form on city streets and work crews are still removing meters that are idle. Alderman Kala Sisco wanted to remind citizens the city no longer picks up limbs and twigs for free. Citizens must go to city hall and fill out a work order to have the twigs removed. There is a $40 charge and the amount of twigs you place curbside will be unlimited. Alderman Bolerjack wanted to thank everyone who attended the townhall meeting on the 1% sales tax, sewer bond and the 4th Street downtown renovation. Another townhall gathering will be held on March 30th at 6:30 at the City Hall Auditorium. Alderman Williams wanted to remind the public the next Utility Committee meeting will be at 6:15 on March 8th before the meeting was adjourned.

State Representative Ron Copeland of Salem has filed two pieces of legislation that would ensure proper oversight and accountability for state agencies that attempt to sell Missouri’s natural resources. Copeland filed both House Joint Resolution 61 and House Bill 1104 to ensure when an agency sells the state’s natural resources that a significant portion of the proceeds benefit the county where those resources were located. Copeland said he was shocked when he arrived in Jefferson City to learn that state agencies were selling natural resources and keeping the proceeds from the sale with no money going to the county or local entities. Copeland noted that one state agency sold approximately $2 million worth of resources in one county that was near the bottom of all counties in the state economically over a period of three years and kept all of the money. He said the same agency was prepared to sell another $6 million worth of Missouri’s resources in 2022. Copeland said he filed HJR 61 to give the voters of Missouri an opportunity to decide if state agencies should be allowed to profit from the sale of the state’s resources. He also filed HB 1104 as a companion bill that would allocate the funds received from the sale of Missouri’s natural resources. Under Copeland’s bill, 25 percent of the proceeds would go to the state agency for administrative costs, but 50 percent would go directly to the county in which the resources were taken, and 25 percent would go to the school district in that county. Copeland said that without question the communities where these resources exist should benefit from their sale. He feels this is an issue of common sense and fairness, and will continue to fight for these communities to ensure they get what they deserve.