Local News – Wednesday, October 26th, 2022

The Salem Board of Aldermen met Tuesday evening for their regular meeting. The board approved listing for sale the old 1932 City Firetruck that no longer runs. They also approved the contract from the Dent County Collector for the printing and mailing of the city real estate and personal property tax bills and the collection of those taxes for a total of $17,500. The board approved the Planning and Zoning Commission recommendation for the conditional use permit for a childcare facility at 1111 South Hickory Street as well as the recommendation for a conditional use permit for the installation of a new AT&T Cell Tower on property at 1702 Doss Road. The board approved the bid from Schulte Supply, Inc. for 12 4” Hymax Couplings for $3,105.60 for the water department. The board approved Bill #3524 that allowed the mayor to sign Task Order #14 from the C.M. Archer Group for an engineering report to determine the magnitude of the inflow and infiltration in the waste-water collection system. The original cost of the report was to be $62,500, but the price increased to $72,850 and the city’s share will be $22,850. The DNR grant will pay for the rest. The board approved Bill #3525 that set the procedures for purchases by the city, and approved Bill #3526 for services and contractual services as well as for the sale of city property that has become obsolete. If it is over $12,000, it must be in the form of written bid contracts. They approved Bill #3527 about the soliciting of sealed bids of purchases for the city or for the sale of city property, and Bill #3528 that address the soliciting of non-sealed bids. The board approved Resolution #36-2022 that changed dollar thresholds in the purchasing policies of the city. Purchase orders will be now required for purchases over $500 instead of $300; changed departmental purchases that require city administrator approval to go from $300 to $3,000 and from $500 to $5,000; changed the threshold from $3,000 to $5,000 for board approval on written bids; and added the category for purchases exceeding $12,000 to make it the same as state statutes. Temporary City Administrator Sally Burbridge said there was a conference call on the airport hangar project and that the plans for the project will be resubmitted to the city and MoDOT since there has been a delay in the work and a cost increase. Burbridge said the Bi-Partisan Infrastructure Bill will make up the difference in funding and the project should begin in May. A project oversight agreement should be coming to the city by next month. Burbridge said she met with the MPUA and state legislators last Friday concerning utility needs and signed a letter of support for them to apply for a Workforce Development Grant for the training of people from the area. She stated she also sent a letter to the MRPC to apply for an additional extension of the CDBG grant for the work to be done on the R-80 Construction Trades Building Project as the current extension will expire December 31st. Mayor Greg Parker wanted to invite everyone to the 1st Annual Salem Community Trunk or Treat that will be held downtown on 4th Street between MacArthur and Highway 19 on Monday, October 31st. Public Works Director Mark Nash said the city’s property was sold Monday on the Purple Wave auction site and brought in $42,650 as they sold eight items. He said he talked with two local electrical contractors about the lighting at the Al Brown Field to get that project moving forward. He indicated he will talk with two companies who do “pipe bursting” with material that replaces the pipe that is bad. He will try get some pricing that may be able to be used for budgeting. He also said Akins Technology who was supposed to clean out the old fuel tank at the airport has been unable to do the work due to their company employees having COVID-19 as they have been off work for about three weeks. He said they are back and will get here as quickly as possible. Alderman Shawn Bolerjack said from his Missouri Municipal League information that 56% of the 283 cities served by them have a water loss of 20% or more with 51 of those cities having over a 40% water loss. Aldermen Kyle Williams wanted to remind the public the Disc Golf “Welcome and Ribbon Cutting” will be today at 5:30 at the Salem City Park with open play beginning at 6:00. Alderwoman Kala Sisco thanked the Salem Area Community Betterment Association for the Family Feud night and congratulated the Salem Lady Volleyball Tigers on a great year. Alderwoman Amanda Duncan wanted to remind everyone about the Healthy Dent County Casino Night with a Kentucky Derby theme to be held November 5th at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. Temporary City Administrator Burbridge wanted to remind everyone the next alderman meeting would be held at the Salem Community Center @The Armory on November 8th due to it being election day. The board then went into closed session.

“Halloween in the Holler” will be held this Friday evening from 6:00 until 8:00 at the Bonebrake Center of Nature and History, and people will be “going batty”. Mill around with some crafts and a photo booth until our guest speaker (Count Batula) officially kicks things off. They’ll be making “Bat-crows” (You’ve gotta come to see what that is), hear some bat jokes, sing a batty song, walk the Bat-Trail to the bat cave (Bring a flashlight) and more! “Halloween in the Holler” is designed to NOT be scary, so all ages are welcome and is a great full-family event! The program and activities are free. Donations of $2 per person or $5 per family to the Bonebrake Center would be appreciated. All activities will be held outside, so please dress for the weather. The Bonebrake Center of Nature and History is located at 601 N. Hickory. For more information about “Halloween in the Holler”, e-mail moonshadowmomentsllc@gmail.com.