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The Dent County Commission met Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse for their regular meeting. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell indicated that work crews would be out checking roads for downed limbs and trees from the high winds Sunday night into Monday morning. He said brush would be cut on Dent County Roads 5530 and 5580 and a man would be servicing the transmission on county truck #117. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported materials would be added to Dent County Roads 2155 and 2240, and workers would be checking roads for downed limbs and trees. He said there was a report of a downed tree on county road 3250 called in last night to the sheriff’s department. Larson went on to say a man would be changing tires on county truck #118 and service would be done on grader #31. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles wanted to remind the commission that SACBA will have their Annual Volunteer Banquet and Awards Dinner on February 19^th at the Grace Community Church. He also reported SACBA would hold their annual trivia night on March 21^st at the Salem City Hall Auditorium. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported that a representative from Claire McCaskill’s office would be at the Dent County Courthouse on February 10^th for their Mobile Office. Matt Williams from McCaskill’s office will be at the courthouse from 11:00 until 1:00. Senator Roy Blunt’s Mobile Office will be at the courthouse today from 3:00 to 4:00. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Thursday morning at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Board of Aldermen met Monday night at the city hall council chambers. The board approved the bid from Knapheide Truck Equipment Center of Jefferson City for a truck mounted front broom for $12,965 with an optional oil cooler temperature gauge for $1,155. This will allow for the broom to be used during the hot summer months. City Administrator Ray Walden said that the DNR permit for water line replacement work between Holman and Nelson Streets has been received and the work will begin soon. Walden reported that the city recently was approved as a Work Ready Community and there will be a committee meeting soon. Along with this designation the city was also included in a grant from the Delta Regional Authority that was awarded to the Meramec Regional Planning Commission. This grant will be used to offset the cost of residents to be tested for the program. Walden said there would be a Park Board meeting on February 5^th at 7 pm. He said the Missouri Rural Water Association has nearly completed the rate study and a Utility Committee meeting will be held on February 19^th. Due to the President’s Day on February 16th, the next meeting of the Board of Alderman will be Tuesday, February 17^th. Mayor Tune wants the Finance Committee to meet soon after the utility committee meets to discuss the results of the rate study. He also thought it was important that the city invest in additional recycling bins. A thank you letter was received from the Houston Adult Education and Literacy Program for the city’s donation of office space for the program. A letter was received from Fidelity Communications announcing a rate increase for cable TV was likely. City Attorney William Camm Seay read Bill Number 3286 establishing a recoupment of costs for non-residential utility customers for new construction or upgrade of current services. This will give the city the authority to recoup costs of large expense items associated with the upgrades to service for the electric or water and sewer departments. This ordinance was approved.  The board approved an invoice from Archer-Elgin for $3,976 for engineering fees for the sewer line replacement project. The board also approved the reappointment of Clare Dent Underwood and Joe Brand to the Housing Authority Board of Commissioners. The board went into closed session to discuss litigation, personnel and contracts.

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