News – Tuesday, December 10th 2024

The Dent County Commission held their regular meeting Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. At the meeting, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray was not in attendance due to a prior commitment. District 2 Commissioner Gary Polk gave the road report for both districts. For District 1, grading was being done on Dent County Roads 5220, 6520 and 6580; and sand will be delivered to the road and bridge department shed. For District 2, Commissioner Polk stated that rock would be added, and grading done on Dent County Roads 2050, while only grading would be done on county roads 2060, 5330 and 5333. He also said crews would be hauling sand to the road and bridge department shed. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams reported on the sales tax received in December. The General Revenue Fund and Law Enforcement Sales Tax Fund each received $109,841.05 which is $21,226.57 more than for December of 2023. Year-to-date, the General Revenue Fund and the LEST funds are up $81,758.32 which is about a 7.8% increase. The Road and Bridge Fund received $51,830.46 this month, and that is up $10,118.30 from the  money received in December of 2023. Year-to-date, that fund is up $35,549.34 which is close to a 7.3% increase. The Dent County Jail Operating and Trust funds each received $104,083.12 in December and that is up $20,237.05 from the December 2023 receipts. Year-to-date, those funds are up $72,261.72 which is about a 7.4% increase.  Williams also gave the CART Tax report from November which showed the county received $82,142.17 and that is down $2,627.21 from November of 2023. Year to date, the CART Tax fund is up $38,645.04. Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk gave the November turnover report which showed the collector received $1,805,788.50 in rea estate and personal property tax payments and that money has already been distributed appropriately to the proper taxing entities. She said the increase over 2023 is about 1.2%. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson said he will be attending the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management meeting and banquet tonight in St. James. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley continues to work on the 2025 county budget. The county commission then approved the one bid received for new voting election equipment, software, licenses, etc. from Adkins Election Services for $84,468.00. This includes an $8,700 customer discount. The annual maintenance fee is $6,790. This new equipment should last between eight and ten years. The machines Dent County used in the 2024 elections were already ten years old when the year started and were the second oldest in the state. The commissioners heard from Jeff Banderet from Great Rivers Engineering. He said the TAP grant for the new sidewalks around the courthouse should be bid out in the late spring of 2025 and construction should begin the summer of 2025. Banderet said MoDOT is requiring a Cultural Resource Survey on the entire corridor of the FLAP project 077 which is the road leading in the back side of Montauk. The survey will cost $11,602.17 and will be done by Missouri State archeologists. Once that is finished, permits for the work can be obtained and negotiations for right-of-way can continue. The commission then approved Supplement #3 for FLAP077 for the survey which the county will have to pay before being reimbursed by MoDOT. That expenditure will be added to the proposed 2025 county budget. The next meeting of the Dent County Commission will be Thursday morning at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

The City of Salem Board of Aldermen will meet this evening at 6:00 at 202 N. Washington in the Old City Hall Auditorium. After the Call to Order will be the approval of the agenda and the consent agenda. Public Comments will then be heard followed by new and miscellaneous business including Resolution No. 2-2024 a resolution by the City of Salem seeking funding with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Division of Energy for the Missouri Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Funding. The Board will address the acceptance of a WWTF Grant Award, plus reschedule the December 26th Aldermen Meeting, followed by Re-appointments to the EEZ Board. A bill to be considered is Bill No. 3635, an ordinance amending Section 110.170 addressing meeting times of the Board of Aldermen. Reports from City Officials will be heard before adjournment. The meeting Tuesday night of the City of Salem Board of Aldermen is open to the public.

The Dent County Fire Protection district board of directors will be meeting Tuesday evening at 6:00 at the fire station at #2 South Main Street. After the roll call and approval of the consent agenda which includes the budget review and financial reports, the monthly reimbursement report will be heard. In old business, the board will discuss Bond/Tax issues followed by new business. Chief Floyd will then give his report to the board. The date will be set for the January meeting and Closed Session may be held to discuss personnel, if necessary, before the board adjourns. The meeting Tuesday evening will be open to the public.