News – Tuesday, August 27th 2024

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning at the courthouse for their regular meeting. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray said rock would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 6490 while only grading would be done on county roads 5550 and 6380. Mobray said a crew member would be going to Springfield to get oil for chip and seal repair. District 2 Commissioner Gary Polk said rock would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 3253, while only grading would be done on county roads 3255, 3260, 3265 and 4380. Polk said rock would also be added to county road 3180. He said a crew member would be going to Taylor Chrysler to get a new key for Truck #69. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson reported Denver Ellis and Darrell Skiles brought in a signed petition they would like to see placed on the November 5th ballot. The petition reads “Shall the County of Dent exempt senior citizens aged 62 and older from increases in the property tax liability due on such senior citizens primary residence?” The signatures are currently being verified with voter registration records and the commission will have the prosecuting attorney review the petition before making any decision on it. According to Dent County Clerk Angie Curley, the last day for certification to place any issue on the ballot is Tuesday. She also wanted to remind all the political subdivisions that have not yet turned in their tax rate information to her office, to please do so before the end of the week. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Thursday morning at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

On August 26, 2024 the County Commissioners met to consider a referendum petition for a senior homestead property tax credit after receiving a recently circulated referendum petition. RSMo 137.1050 (Formerly Senate Bill 190) provides that: 2. Any county authorized to impose a property tax may grant a property tax credit to eligible taxpayers residing in such county in an amount equal to the taxpayer’s eligible credit amount, provided that: (1) Such county adopts an ordinance authorizing such credit; or (2) A petition in support of a referendum on such a credit is signed by at least five percent of the registered voters of such county voting in the last gubernatorial election and the petition is delivered to the governing body of the county, which shall subsequently hold a referendum on such credit. As a result, Dent County Officials commissioned a poll through the Salem Newspaper to determine whether to adopt an ordinance or accept the referendum petition. Pursuant to the statute, Commissioners were not allowed to place the issue on a ballot without a valid referendum petition with sufficient registered voter approval. After considering the close nature of the poll (246 total participants with 59% in Favor with 41% Against), the commissioners accepted the referendum petition to be placed on the November 2024 general election ballot. The fate of the senior homestead property tax credit will be decided by a majority of Dent County voters. 

The Salem Memorial Hospital Board of Directors will hold their regular meeting Tuesday evening at 7:00 in the hospital library. At the meeting, the Board will review and approve minutes for the July 30th, and August 5th, 14th, 21st, and 24th meetings. The Board will hear the Administrator’s report, plus the summary of operations and statistics for the month of July. The Board will be updated on the 340B program, receive the Chief Nursing Officer report, and be updated on Human Resources. The Board will address old business followed by new business including a resignation, election of officers and the FOA Reassessment. The board may then vote to go into closed session. The Salem Memorial Hospital Board of Directors meeting Tuesday night is open to the public. To attend the meeting electronically, contact the hospital administration office at 729-6626, extension 4005.

An accident occurred in Crawford County Saturday night at 9:24 at Highway 49 and Adams Road. According to the Highway Patrol report a northbound 2007 Chevrolet Impala, driven by an 18-year-old male, Dakota Sequichie of Steelville, traveled off the right side of the roadway, striking a road sign and several trees. Sequichie, along with a passenger 18-year-old Chloe Brooks of Viburnum, suffered moderate injuries. Brooks was transported by private vehicle to Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan. Sequichie was also taken to Missouri Baptist in Sullivan by the Iron County Ambulance District. An 18-year-old passenger, Abigail Wilkinson of Viburnum, suffered minor injuries and was transported by Iron County Ambulance to Missouri Baptist in Sullivan. A 17-year-old male juvenile also suffered minor injuries and was transported to Missouri Baptist Sullivan by Steelville Ambulance. The reported stated that all of the occupants except for Brooks were wearing safety restraints. The Chevrolet was totaled and removed from the scene y Abney’s Towing. 

The Enhanced Enterprise Zone of Salem and Dent County will hold their annual meeting at 5:30 on Wednesday, August 28th at the Salem Community Center@The Armory in the Walden Meeting Room. At the meeting after the call to order, the agenda items approval, and approval of the last meeting’s minutes, the board will elect a chairman before they review and approve the annual filing statement for the period ending June 30, 2024. The board will discuss any other business that comes before the board before the meeting is adjourned. The meeting of the Enhanced Enterprise Zone board is open to the public.