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The City of Salem Board of Alderman will be meeting tonight 7:00 pm. Bids will be discussed for a 2011 Ford F-350 4x4 by the board. After the consent agenda, Director of Public Works Gary Brown will give the Public Works Report and the Board will hear from each alderman. The Board will then hear Bill #3212, which is an ordinance to authorize the mayor to execute a contract between the City of Salem and the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission for providing an additional sum that will not exceed $220,400 for funding the Lighting Rehabilitation Project at the Salem Municipal Airport. The board will then hear the first readings of a number of bills. They include Bill #3213, which concerns the appointment of the Director of Economic Development; Bill #3214 concerning the appointment of a City Clerk; Bill #3215 concerning the appointment of a Police Chief; Bill #3216 that concerns the appointment of a City Attorney; and Bill #3217 concerning the appointment of a Director of Public Works. In new business, the Board will discuss appointments to the housing authority. The terms of Mrs. Clare Dent Underwood and Mr. Joe Brand expire February 15, 2011, and they have agreed to serve another term if appointed. After the approval of bills, the meeting will adjourn. The City of Salem Board of Aldermen meeting tonight is open to the public.

The Dent County Commissioners held budget workshops Tuesday and Wednesday in preparing the proposed 2011 budget. In the proposed budget, anticipated revenues in the General Revenue Fund for 2011 are $1,468,460 while there are $1,645,394 in expected expenses meaning that the county expects to spend $176,934 more than it collects in the upcoming year. This will leave an ending cash balance in General Revenue at the end of 2011 of $992,713.21. One of the largest new expenses will be the increase in the Prosecuting Attorney’s salary from part-time to full-time which added over $66,000 to her budget. Another major anticipated expense was DNA analysis expenses requested by the Coroner of $15,550. Also budgeted in 2011 was the payment of the federal audit for 2007 at $15,000 and an increase in insurance costs for employees of $23,560 from 2010. Capital expenditures of  $150,000 were approved again for the 2011 budget as it was in 2010, but last year only $22,461.52 was needed. The Road and Bridge Fund proposed budget for 2011 shows expected revenues of $1,203,300 with expected expenditures of $1,414,858 which is $211,000 more expenditures than revenues. This will leave an expected fund balance at the end of the 2011 of $241,942. In the budget, the commission has appropriated $60,000 for chip and seal roads with another $12,500 for 50/50 chip and seal projects. They also expect about $160,000 in equipment purchases, and another $3,500 in uniforms. The Dent County Assessment Fund budget shows anticipated revenues of $189,763 in 2011 with anticipated expenses of $252,790 leaving an ending balance at the end of 2011 of $96,671.24. In the budget, there was $40,000 set aside for a much needed new computer system, an additional $5,000 for map maintenance and another $18,720 for other expenses. The Sheriff’s Department budget also shows more anticipated expenses in 2011 than revenues leaving an estimated cash balance at the end of 2011 of $110,365, down from the beginning balance of $143,638. The major increases seen in expenses in the Sheriff’s Department budget and for the jail are mostly in the form of salaries for the jailers, new mattresses and blankets for the jail, and in fuel costs. Revenues from sales taxes for the Sheriff’s Department are budgeted to remain flat. The budget hearing for all the funds will be held January 24^th at 7:00 at the Judicial Building and copies of the budget are available at the Dent County Clerk’s Office.

An accident occurred at 6:40 Saturday evening in Crawford County on Route YY about two miles west of Route M. According to the highway patrol report, a 1995 Toyota Corolla driven by 55-year old Danny Brooks of Cook Station traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck two trees. Brooks suffered minor injuries, but sought his own treatment. He was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Toyota Corolla sustained moderate damage and was left at the scene.

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