News – Friday, January 2nd 2026

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen held its regular meeting Tuesday, December 23rd in the auditorium at 202 North Washington Street. Prior to calling the meeting to order, Mayor Greg Parker opened a public hearing regarding a request from Terry and Shirley Perkins for annexation into the city limits. As no individuals were present to speak on the matter, the public hearing was closed and the regular meeting was called to order. Following prayer and roll call, the Board approved the agenda and consent agenda and appointed Richard LaBrash to an additional four-year term on the Salem Housing Authority. The Aldermen also approved a bid in the amount of $11,000 from Capital Quarries of Salem for the purchase of limestone rock for the Street Department. Although this was not the lowest bid received, department officials noted that supporting a local vendor would result in faster turnaround times and reduced fuel and labor costs. Funds for this purchase will be paid from the Street Maintenance line item in the Street Department budget, which has $35,000 allocated. Under New and Miscellaneous Business, the Board approved Resolutions No. 29-2025 and 30-2025. These resolutions authorize the mayor to execute a memorandum of understanding between the City of Salem and the Salem R-80 School District for the provision of a school resource officer (SRO), as well as a memorandum of understanding regarding the dual commission of an SRO between the Salem Police Department, the Dent County Sheriff’s Office, and the Salem R-80 School District. The cost is estimated at approximately $14,000 in compensation, which will be included in a future budget. Additional costs will be incurred for SRO-specific training required by the state; however, the Salem Police Department has a general ledger category that will cover these training expenses, and no budget adjustment is necessary at this time. Funding for the position will be split 75/25, with the school district covering 75 percent of the compensation. The Board then heard the first and second readings of Bill No. 3694, authorizing approval of Change Order No. 6 to the Downtown Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) Project contract with Maggi Construction Company. The change order calls for the complete removal of the existing sidewalk from the front of the Bank of Salem building to the curb, including heat pads, and replacement with new sidewalks and heat pads consistent with the remainder of the project. The work will also include installation of a metal grid system to serve as the ceiling over the exposed basement structure. The total cost of the change order is $36,600. The Bank of Salem has agreed to contribute $5,000, and $7,200 will be paid from city funds previously reserved for such corrections. The remaining $24,400 will be split evenly between the City of Salem and Archer-Elgin, with each contributing $12,200. No matching funds will be provided by MoDOT. The change order will require a budget adjustment using prior-year funds and a timeline extension of 183 days, moving the project completion date from August 1, 2025, to February 1, 2026. The Aldermen voted to approve this change order. Finance Director Stacy Houston was absent from the meeting; however, her report was submitted in writing. Following reports from city officials, the Board adjourned into executive session for discussion of legal and personnel matters.