Local News – Wednesday, May 6th, 2020

The Salem Board of Aldermen held a meeting Monday at the City Hall Auditorium and followed social distancing guidelines. Alderman Kim Steelman was not at the meeting. After a description by Public Works Director Mark Nash, the board approved the purchase of a battery operated Wire Squeezing Tool from Fletcher Reinhardt for $4,510. After the consent agenda, the board heard from City Administrator Ray Walden. He said the Salem Community Center@The Armory had a total of 4,471 participants that included the fitness center, public access, meetings and more. Walden said he released a statement that updated the information on city operations and reminded the public to be vigilant in their efforts to follow the guidelines established due to the COVID 19 virus. Walden reminded everyone that Spring Cleanup Weeks are this week on your regular trash day as well as next week on your regular trash day. He said there would be an appliance, electronics and tire collection at the Salem sewer and water construction parking lot at 3rd and Grand Streets on Saturday, May 16th from 9:00 in the morning until 1:00 in the afternoon. Anything with a cord or battery operated can be brought in. Participants will have to stay in their vehicle as helpers will unload the items. There will be a charge for TV’s, monitor screens, tires and refrigerated appliances with freon. Questions can be answered by calling Jill Hollowell at 573-265-2993. The pickup is sponsored by the City of Salem, the MRPC, the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District and funded by the Department of Natural Resources. Walden then gave a detailed report on capital projects for the aldermen discussing which items have been completed, others projects that probably won’t get done this year and many that will come in under budget. City Clerk Mary Happel went over the health and life insurance options for the city. She said the city received renewal rates form United Health Care that went up 6% from last year, but if they moved their life insurance to United Heath Care from Anthem, the increase would only be 2%. The increase in cost for the life insurance change was one penny a month per employee with the change otherwise it would have been $5.20 per employee per month, while the cost for the base monthly health insurance plan was reduced to $402.90 per month. Last year, the benefits were capped at $550.00 per employee and this year the employees who use the HSA plan will receive $61.82 into their HSA account per month from the city, while those who want the better coverage will have to pay $69.27 more per month. The board approved going with United Health Care for the health and life insurance. The board approved Bill #3448 that adds the Municipal Records Management to Chapter 122 of the Municipal Code; approved Resolution 8-2020 that will offer a 5% rebate on the electric and water bill for those customers who are current and want to pay up to their April 30th billing; and approved Resolution 9-2020 that will change the city’s utility payment plan from three months to as many as 12 months. The board postponed their vote on replacing Doris Stempniak who resigned from the Salem Housing Authority with Richard LaBrash until they get more clarification if it is Richard LaBrash Sr or Richard LaBrash Jr who will be taking her place. The meeting was then adjourned.

A one vehicle accident happened shortly after 5:00 Monday afternoon in Phelps County on highway 63 about five miles south of Rolla. The report from the highway patrol states that a 2015 Nissan Versa driven by 20-year old Elijah Hamilton of Edgar Springs was traveling north when he ran off the right side of the road and struck an embankment. Hamilton, who was not wearing a safety device, was transported by ambulance to Phelps Health in Rolla for treatment of minor injuries. The Nissan was totaled in the accident and removed from the scene by C&C Towing.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released some reports for April. On Tuesday, April 28th, a deputy traveled to a residence in the 1300 block of South Main Street to serve an arrest warrant. During the course of the incident, a 36-year-old Salem man was arrested for having an active warrant through Dent County. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office Jail and incarcerated. The next day the Dent County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a suspicious vehicle that was parked in the 1700 block of Iron Mountain Road. Deputies responded to the area and checked on the vehicle. During the course of the incident, a 28-year-old Rolla man was arrested for possession of a controlled substance except 35 grams or less of marijuana. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. On Thursday, April 30th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 100 block of East Hunt Street. During the course of the incident, a 41-year-old Salem man was arrested for the possession of a controlled substance, driving while having his license revoked or suspended and delivering or possessing a controlled substance at a county jail. The man is currently incarcerated at the Dent County Sheriff’s Office Jail. Later that same day a deputy traveled to a residence in the 1000 block of Dent County Road 5070 to serve an arrest warrant. During the course of the incident, a 33-year-old Salem man was arrested for having an active arrest warrant through Dent County. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where he later posted bond and was released. If anyone has information regarding an ongoing investigation, please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 729-3241.