News – Friday, August 15th 2025

It has been just over a year that Brooke Bollman was named the Salem Memorial Hospital Chief Executive Officer. This Wednesday, Bollman sat down for an interview with Stan Stevens to discuss her first year at the helm and what has happened over the last 12 months from the negotiations with Phelps Health, to the paying down of accounts payable, to creating a “Culture of Caring” prioritizing patient care and workforce retention, plus much more. She also discusses possible future impacts of the “Big Beautiful Bill” for rural hospitals. Listen on AM 1340 or 95.7 FM starting at 8:30 this morning, or you can listen to the interview anytime online on ksmoradio.com on the KSMO YouTube Page or KSMO Stream Facebook page.

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning at the courthouse. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green said materials would be added where needed and grading done on Dent County Roads 4080, 5440 and 5500. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams said workers will be adding rock and grading Dent County Road 5260 in Boss which received extensive damage from the last heavy rain. His crew will also be grading 2140 and 2155, while brush will be cut on county road 2070. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson stated he participated in an interview with MRPC’s Jill Hollowell on KSMO Radio Tuesday morning about the electronic and tire waste recycling collection that will be held September 13th at the City of Salem Water and Sewer Construction Building at 3rd and Grand Streets. That interview will be rebroadcast in September and can be heard on the KSMO YouTube Page. You can find it by clicking on the “home” button. Larson then attended the TAC meeting at the MRPC in St. James Thursday followed by the External Relations Committee and the regular Meramec Regional Planning Commission meeting. Deputy Clerk Melissa Piatt said bills would be paid. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Monday morning at the courthouse at 9:00 with the tax rate hearing for the General Revenue Fund, the Road and Bridge Fund, the Senate Bill 40 Fund and the Senior Citizens Service Fund to follow at 10:00. The meeting and hearing are open to the public.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board of Directors met Tuesday evening at the Fire station at #2 South Main. After the call to order and roll call, the Board amended the agenda new business to include Friends of Dent County Fire. The Board approved the consent agenda, reviewed and approved the minutes from the previous meeting, reviewed the financial report which showed an ending balance of $340,821.90, reviewed and approved the bills, payments and statements, plus the budget was reviewed and approved. In the tax rate hearing it was pointed out that the current tax rate was at 0.2377 and that the maximum legal rate in compliance with Missouri laws is 0.2382. The Board decided to take a voluntary reduction in the bond percentage from the state allowed 0.2959 to 0.2300 since that was the number given to the voters. The Board voted to set the new tax rate at 0.2382 and bond at 0.2300. The Monthly Reimbursement Report showed a total of 14 calls for July and a total of 171 year-to-date. John Knight will look into different options for the Fidelity (CTI) Tower Lease and report back. In new business Resolution 0812-2025 for MEC filing was read followed by a roll call vote for President Mike Godi to sign and Treasurer Dave Wells to file the registration with the State of Missouri MEC Commission. Three trucks were declared surplus, which included the 2002 Sterling Tanker with 2,000 gallon tank, 1995 Freightliner Firemaster Pumper with 1500 GPM pump and 1,000 gallon tank, and the 1993 International Tanker with a 2,500 gallon tank. Bids for equipment were opened and the Board voted to accept the bid from Kinder Farm Supply in Licking for bed and bumper, THL Fire Equipment for 2 Skid Units, and Scenic Rivers Vehicle Outfitters for light-bar, antenna wiring including labor and connection to repeater system, and siren setup. Previous Conoco fuel cards no longer work so the department will be going to new cards. The bid from A&W Communications was approved for the radio for Truck #8010. The closing of Friends of Dent County Fire was discussed and the Bond Steering Committee will be meeting to close final minutes and finances in the near future. Chief Dennis Floyd reported that the Dent County Health Center will be having a vaccination clinic at the station on October 2nd. The next meeting date was set for September 9th, at 6:00 at the DCFPD Boardroom. The Board went into closed session to discuss personnel, but no votes were reported. The meeting and tax rate hearing were adjourned at 9:38.

Salem Memorial Hospital will hold a public hearing on Tuesday evening, August 25, 2025, at 7:00 in the hospital library to discuss the proposed property tax rate for the fiscal year starting July 1, 2026. The hospital is proposing to keep the rate the same as last year of $0.2400 for every $100, which is expected to bring in about $668,204 in revenue.