Local News – Wednesday, May 22nd, 2019

The Salem Board of Aldermen met Monday evening at the Council Chambers of City Hall. In the hearing of persons David Doyle has been cutting the lawn of the vacant property next to his to keep the mouse population down, and wanted to know if the city could pay him to keep the property from being cited for a nuisance violation. He was told he would have to be a licensed contractor which basically means he would need to have a business license from the city and have liability insurance. City attorney William Camm Seay said he would try to help him by contacting the property owner and letting them know it would be better for them to employ him to cut the grass than pay the new nuisance fees for a violation. William Parsons of 4th Street Mall requested street closures on Saturday for a Summer Fest to be held on the 4th Street east of the City Administration parking lots to the Roberts-Judson Lumber Company on Water Street between 3rd and 4th Street. He said there would be a talent show, bounce house, about 20 vendors and more. The event will begin at 10:00 in the morning and wrap up at 11:00 that night. The request was approved. Harold Tubbs felt that the Airport Board and the Park and Recreation Board were not being treated equally after the city determined a hanger price in closed session without conferring with the airport board. He also said the city is not maximizing the profit on their fuel charges as their credit card fees they pay are too high, and the Airport Board has requested a courtesy car at the airport for visitors and none has yet been provided. The board approved the state bid for a new copier for the police department from Corporate Business Systems. The new machine will be a Konica Minolta Bizhub C308. After the consent agenda was approved, Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission Gary Brown reported on the public hearing and meeting of the commission. He said they voted unanimously to recommend to the Board of Aldermen to rezone the property at 600 South McArthur from residential to commercial. Brown also said they will hold a workshop on a new Planning and Zoning Map and Amendment 2 that deals with the selling of medical marijuana and how that is to be zoned. City Clerk Mary Happel explained why Bill # 3416 was included in the meeting as she stated there were some errors that were made in the ordinance and some omissions had to be included to bring it up to date. City Administrator Ray Walden said the Opening Day Celebration for the City of Salem Summer Ball programs will be Thursday at the Salem City Park starting at 4:30 with free food for the players and parents of the ball programs, with the program beginning at 6:00. He said an Economic development Workshop would be held on May 30th at 5:30 at the Dent County Fire Station and everyone is welcome to attend. He said a “New Neighbor Night” will be held at the Main Street Café on June 4th from 4:00 until 6:00 PM and everyone is welcome to find out more about Salem. Walden reminded everyone that bags of grass or leaves as well as bundles of branches are picked up FREE by the city every First Monday of the month. Limbs and branches need to be no longer than four feet in length and all bags and bundles MUST be placed curbside and not on sidewalks or in the street. He also said the City Administrative Offices would be closed on Monday, May 27th for Memorial Day. City attorney Seay mentioned that the city needs to schedule public workshops to discuss the new nuisance violations and charges, and he requested that be done when all the alderman schedules allow. Walden stated the board is waiting on Archer-Elgin Engineering to provide setup fees for the dumping of waste from port-a-potties into the city waste water system. The board approved Bill #3414 that allows the mayor to execute an agreement with H.W. Lochner, Inc for the providing of professional services for the Salem Memorial Airport Project. The estimated project cost is $849,000 with the city’s portion coming to $84,900. They also approved Bill #3415 that allows the mayor to execute an agreement for the middle school demolition with Donald Maggi, Inc of Rolla for a cost of $292,002. Bill #3416 created a new ordinance that updates the laws on ATV’s and UTV’s within the City of Salem and the board approved its passing. The board approved Bill #3417 that approved the plat of the Scenic Rivers Plaza Subdivision while they postponed any decision on Resolution 12-2019 as a revised contract was submitted just before the meeting that had not been reviewed by the board. The board then went into closed session.

The Salem Police Department has released some reports. On Monday afternoon, April 29th, at about 4:50, an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 200 block of East First Street in reference to a female creating a disturbance and shouting profanities. The investigation led to the arrest of a 47-year old female of Salem for disorderly conduct. The suspect was issued a summons to appear in court and was released. On Tuesday night, April 30th, near 11:37, an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 500 block of East Center in reference to a theft. The investigation of the report revealed a person or persons unknown took a game system valued at $353.82. The report is under investigation. On Wednesday afternoon, May 1st, at about 4:15 an officer located a 30-year old male of Salem in the 100 block of Westwood Drive who had an active arrest warrant from Dent County. The suspect attempted to flee on foot but was taken into custody a short distance away for the active arrest warrant, possession of a controlled substance, and resisting arrest. The suspect was incarcerated on the warrant and pending additional charges. On Thursday morning, May 2nd, at about 9:47, an officer took a report of a lost or stolen license plate valued at $13.50. The report is under investigation. Please contact the Salem Police at 729-4242 if you have any information regarding any ongoing investigation.