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The City of Salem Board of Alderman held their meeting Tuesday evening at the City Hall Council Chambers. During the hearing of persons, Terris Cates and Jared Wheaton of Integrity Engineering, Inc. talked with the board about the City of Salem applying for a CDBG grant through the MRPC. The City has done some great work in the area of Third Street and Highway J, but with the drainage ditch and pond being too small to handle the situation, a block grant for the drainage area means it could be concrete lined and the pond area widened out to better help with the water problems. A motion was made to proceed on with Engineering Services and have the MRPC start work on the block grant with the deadline of applying for the block grant being April 15^th. Mayor Gary Brown then reported that the sales tax revenue was $99,733.05 and that is $8,658 more than January of 2009, and that means that the capital improvement sales tax was also more than January of 2009. Brown wanted to thank everyone that helped with the Sesquicentennial Costume Ball with 190 in attendance per ticket sales. Brown reported that next event will be at the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center on the History of Salem where an old wagon made by Key & Pace and the old fire engine are expected to be on display. The Mayor also reported that the Administrative Building was paid off in December. Brown reported that last Thursday and Friday, there were 50 kids that signed up the City of Salem Winter Youth Basketball Program. A total of 756 people used the Salem TCRC and another 1,193 used the fitness center in December, and with dance classes now being offered on Friday nights, the count is expected to go higher. Mayor Brown then give his comments on the audit report and stated his disappointment with the fact that the report did not list any of the answers in the report that the City of Salem had previously presented when asked. He also wanted to emphasize that the auditor made some recommendations and they are just that, recommendations or suggestions and not the law. The Mayor reported that some of the recommendations have been on-going for over a year now and that the report showed no wrong doing by any person or persons within the City. City Clerk Mary Happel did ask that the Board appoint someone other than herself for the signing of checks. During the utility committee meeting held January 12^th, a policy change was made whereby if two people have names are on the account, a request in writing must be submitted, a consent form letter, which is at the utility office for the account to be placed in just one person’s name. The account must be current for changes to occur and in the event of death, a notice from the paper is now sufficient. Alderman Jim McDaniels was requesting information regarding the minimum utility bill amount, Alderman Kenneth Nash asked about a boarded up house and wants the city to follow through to the end to get rid of the site. Alderman Brad Nash wanted to know the Board thoughts on sledding on the east side of Salem. Nash had talked with the insurance company and the Board agreed to talk with business owners and residents in the area and have further discussion down the road. The Board approved Bill #3186, an ordinance required to annex property owned by Phil and Ruth Krueger into the City limits; and Bill #3187, an ordinance to authorize the Mayor to execute an agreement between the City of Salem and the Salem High School 2010 Project Graduation Committee for services provided to the City. The board also approved the re-appointment of Bill Dobbs to the Dent County Housing Authority. After approval of budget line items and bills presented by City Clerk Mary Happel, the Board voted to go into closed session.

A Red Cross Blood Drive will be held today at the Hew Harmony Church on Highway 32 East from 3:30 to 7:30 today. For more information, call the church office at 729-5991.

The Salem Police Department released their reports involving shoplifting and a warrant. On Friday, January 15^th at 2:00 p.m. an officer was detailed to Wal-Mart in reference to a shoplifting incident. Investigation of the report led to the arrest of a 20-year-old Salem man for stealing $120.00 of merchandise. He was issued a summons to appear in court and released. On Saturday, January 16^th at 2:00 p.m. an officer was detailed to Dent County Sheriff Department in reference to a 24-year-old Salem man being held on a City of Salem warrant. He was placed under arrest on the warrant, posted bond and was released to appear in court. Call the Salem Police Department at 729-4242 if you have any information regarding the ongoing investigation.

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