News – Tuesday, December 9th 2025

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 approval of the agenda, the board will hear a U.S. Small Business Administration presentation. Following that presentation and approval of the consent agenda, the board will hear any public comments. The board will hear about the asphalt bid from Public Works Director Steve Payne and Brent Young from the Street Department before hearing new and miscellaneous business which includes discussion of an amendment to the employee manual for the annual service hour pay and a new mobile devise policy for the city. City Administrator Sally Burbridge will discuss with the board Resolution #28-205 that would allow the city to apply for an emerging contaminant grant with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources for $792,326.94 with no local match to afford to dispose of biosolids from the wastewater treatment plant in a landfill of incinerator. The board will also hear the first and second readings of Bill #3693 which would create an ordinance that would annex certain adjacent property into the city limits of the City of Salem. After reports of city officials which includes the request for the board to approve the re-appointment of Dr. Nathan Wills and Dr. Jeff Dodson to the Enhanced Enterprise Zone Board, the meeting will then be adjourned. The meeting tonight of the City of Salem Board of Aldermen is open to the public.

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning at the courthouse. Stan Podorski from KSMO Media thanked all the businesses and organizations for participating in the Christmas “Parade of Lights” in Salem held Friday night. Podorski said he was impressed with the amount of beautiful floats prepared this year. Podorski’s comments about the parade were echoed by Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Keith Green said work will be done on Dent County Road 2440 as much of the road is going to be rebuilt. He also stated that rock will be added to some roads in the Bunker area where needed. District 2 Commissioner Jimmy Williams reported some of his crew will also be working on Dent County Road 2440 with the District 1 crews, and two men will be going to Springfield to pick up County Truck 122 which has now been repaired. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson said he would be attending the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District Awards Banquet tonight where four awards will be presented. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said today is the first day for candidates to file for offices for the April 7th Municipal Election for school boards, hospital boards, City of Salem alderman positions, etc. She said those who want to file will do so at the entities office, NOT at the courthouse, and if they have any questions about the qualifications to run for the position they choose, potential candidates need to contact those individual entities themselves, not her office. She also mentioned that her offices continues working on the budget for 2026. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams had Commissioner Larson give the sales tax receipts report for December as she had a meeting to attend. The General Revenue and Law Enforcement Sales Tax Funds each received $83,675.14, which was down $26,253.29 from December of 2024. Year-to-date each fund is up $11,375.49 or about 1%. The Road and Bridge Fund received $41,837.05, and that’s down $9,993.41 from last December. Year-to-date, the Road and Bridge Fund is up $41,576.15 and that’s about 7.9% increase. Larson reported both Jail Funds received $84,095.34, which was down from December of 2024. Year-to-date each fund is up $83,248.71, an increase of 7.9%. Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk gave the November turnover report and said she collected and deposited $1,980,784.02. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Thursday morning at the courthouse at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public. 

The Salem Public Library will close at 5:00 PM on Thursdays during the month of December.  Hours of operation will be Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM and Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.