News – Wednesday, August 21st 2024

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning at the courthouse without Commissioner Wes Mobray who had previous commitments. In the road report, Jason Akins who was sitting in for Commissioner Mobray said grading would be done on Dent County Roads 5620, 6410, 6633 and 6670, while brush would be cut on county road 4220. District 2 Commissioner Gary Polk said rock would be added and grading on Dent County Roads 4050, 4380 and 5260, while only grading would be done on county roads 4055. Polk said man would be going to Springfield to get oil for the Durapatcher for chip and seal repair. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson said he will be attending the tourism tax committee meeting that will be held today at 5:00 at the Chamber of Commerce Office. He also said he had the results of the survey from the Salem News on the issue of senior citizens property tax credit associated with Senate Bill 190. Larson did not go into specifics except to say that it appears the people want the commission to move forward and adopt the provisions of Senate Bill 190. Larson said the new bill will not go into effect until August 28th and will wait to discuss how the commission will move forward when Commission Mobray is back in the office. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said from her MAC meeting she attended Thursday that 14 counties have adopted the Senate Bill 190 to date and Dent County had the only petition. She did mention that if the petitioners are going to submit another petition, they need to get it turned into the commissioners no later than this Thursday morning to give her office time to verify the signatures, an then she could get it back to the commissioners on Monday for their decision. The petition has to be submitted to the Secretary of State by Tuesday next week to be placed on the ballot. Collector Shannon VanKirk said the tax sale will be held Monday on the courthouse steps starting at 10:00. This year she said there are real estate properties and one mineral rights property to be auctioned off. VanKirk said those who want to bid at the tax sale auction should come into the Collector’s office at the courthouse and register ahead of time which will save time at the auction. When you come to her office to sign up, you must bring your driver’s license. The next commission meeting will be tomorrow 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 beginning at 10:00. The meeting and the hearing are open to the public.

On the evening of August 15, the Salem R-80 Board of Education held their annual tax rate hearing at 5:15. They approved a continuation of the district’s current tax rate of $3.20 per $100 of assessed valuation. This includes a $2.75 operating levy and a $0.45 debt service levy. The decision was unanimous. The board then moved into open session of their regular monthly meeting. Superintendent Nathan Wills provided several updates as the administration prepares for a new school year. He first addressed the FEMA project, reporting that almost all of the sub-contractors are approved and they’re waiting for the prefabricated walls to be completed, overall the project is moving along according to schedule. The City of Salem has been working with the school to get power to the Construction Trades Building, upon hook-up the school will get an electrician in so new equipment can be installed. Roof repairs across district buildings are scheduled to start at the end of the month. Wills also expressed gratitude for donations received from community members, including a contribution to teachers by Nikki Tiefenthaler and a donation from George and Liz Gruendel. After reports from school administrators, which mainly covered staff and facility preparations, the board approved several new motions. These motions all passed unanimously, the 2024-2025 School Calendar, Tax Rate Adoption, 2024-2025 Emergency Response Plan, Pest Control bid, Evaluate contract, and the declaration of surplus property, specifically old band uniforms. Additionally, the board accepted the resignation of Suzette Stephens. At 5:38 the board moved into closed session, and according to the minutes released by the school, the board discussed personnel, student issues and approved the hiring of Cody Woody as interim head softball coach and Judy Ragsdale as interim assistant softball coach. Other topics discussed regarded ancillary services, and real estate. The meeting concluded at 6:31.