Local News – Wednesday, October 25th, 2023

Congratulations to the Salem Area Community Betterment Association as Monday night in Columbia, Salem was recognized as the Gene Speichinger Community of the Year Award winner at the annual Missouri Community Betterment Awards Banquet. Salem last won the award in 2013. Also being honored SACBA members Brett Capps for the Adult Leadership Award and Salem also won for the Best Use of Volunteers, Best Project on a Budget and the Most Heartfelt Project. Sarah Massengale and Jenna Deason along with Capps represented SACBA at the banquet accepting the awards.

The Salem Board of Aldermen held their regular meeting Tuesday evening at the City Hall Council Chambers. After the consent agenda was approved, the board approved the bid from Roberts Judson Lumber Company for materials in the amount of $9,604.09 to repair the salt storage building, and approved the purchase of rock from Capital Quarries in Salem for street maintenance projects in the amount of $10,000. The board denied a request by Nancy Major to provided sewer service to 1413 West Franklin as the property is not in the city limits but is contiguous to property in the city limits. Acceptance by the board would be allowed if the owner would voluntarily annex the property into the city. The board approved three state legislative priorities for the 2023-24 fiscal year that will be submitted to the Meramec Regional Planning Commission before hearing a financial update by Financial Director Stacey Houston who said sales tax receipts are down about 2.5% from last year. She said utility consumption is down for electric, water and sewer, but so are the costs of purchasing power which are down about 8%. The board approved to send a letter to the MRPC to support their application of a grant for cyber security through the Missouri Homeland Security State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program that would include an in-kind match from the city. The mayor appointed three people to serve on the Community Services Committee and one to the Utility Committee. In old business, the board discussed the request for city water services from the owners of 103 South Dilworth property and again denied the request since the property is not in the city, but are contiguous with city property. Again the board indicated their willingness to allow the services if the property owners would voluntarily annex into the city. The board did approve Bill #3564 to rezone the property at 1203 Babb Lane from commercial to industrial; and Bill #3566 to rezone property at 1209 East Scenic Rivers Blvd from commercial to industrial with both properties being owned by Sellers Investment Properties. They also approved Bill #3567 to rezone property at 1301 Babb Lane from commercial to industrial which is owned by David Gray, Jr. The board heard the first reading of Bill #3575 to authorize the mayor to sign the Administrative Procedures Guide for floodplain management and flood hazard reduction in the city. They heard the second reading of Bill #3574 amending the city administrator duties to reflect an updated ordinance and approved the bill. Sally Burbridge then reported on the downtown TAP project and was told by Archer-Elgin they would be submitting their bid plans to MoDOT for review which should take about two weeks. Burbridge said she expects to be able to advertise for bids on the project in the middle on November. Mayor Greg Parker issued a proclamation to Marilyn Schweitzer and Richard LaBrash for their work on the Heroes Marathon that benefits veterans in Dent, Phelps and Pulaski counties. This year’s marathon will be held on Saturday, November 18th. Public Works Director Mark Nash reported another squirrel incident at a substation caused the outage Monday. He said the electrical contractor is working on the underground electric and transformer for the Construction Trades Building at the high school. They are the same contractor that will be doing the work on the Al Brown Field lights and that work will begin November 1st. Nash said McDonalds would like to push up their opening date, but he said the city is still waiting on some supplies that have not yet arrived. He also said work is being done on the animal shelter at the Industrial Park, and that the residents with solar panels have had their meters reprogrammed so they can see their usage. He said he will be meeting with a hole boring company for the leak at 8th Street and Highway 19, and some airport runway lights are out or the transformer for those lights is not working. Nash said disconnects will be done on October 30th for those bills from the 8/15 to 9/15 period that are not paid. Nash said if anyone sees a water leak to please report it to the city administrative offices. Alderwoman Kala Sisco said she is calling a Finance Committee meeting for November 9th. She would also like to have a workshop on creating a mission statement for the city and also to create a non-smoking policy at the parks. Alderman Shawn Bolerjack wants to remind people of the trunk and treat on 4th Street Halloween night. The board then went into closed session.

Come out to Echo Bluff State Park for a fun-filled afternoon and evening of spooky and exciting activities. Grab-n-go craft bags will be available across from the Check Station starting at 2:00 in the afternoon, while supplies last. All campers participating in the camper decorating contest and everyone participating in the cabin door decorating contest must turn forms into the check station no later than 3:00. At 5:00, the trick-or-treating parade begins at the cemetery. The day’s final event will begin at 7:30 in the evening at the fire pit across from the check station, where contest winners will be announced. The night program will follow. Guests are invited to bring a chair, candy and a good campfire story to tell. If guests have musical instruments, they are encouraged to bring those to play. Echo Bluff State Park is located at 35244 Echo Bluff Drive in Eminence.