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The Salem Board of Aldermen held a meeting Friday morning at the city hall council chambers. At the meeting after the consent agenda was approved, Mayor Gary Brown said that the suggested capital improvements for each department has been submitted totaling $1,208,706. This included the replacement of nine water lines and four sewer lines, the purchase of a new sewer video camera, a new sewer machine and roof for the sewer sludge drying area. It also included four Explorers for the Police Department as well as a copy machine and base radio; a new tree trimming truck for the Electric Department as well as portable light stands and four new chainsaws, and the paving of four streets. Also submitted was the development of the soccer fields, work on the blue field dugout at the City Park Fields, batting cages and new fencing at the Al Brown Fields for the Park and Recreation Department. Brown said that the paving of the streets would come to $122,400 and would be paid for by the CART taxes that are collected and that would reduce the capital improvements to $1,086,306. He said that budget meetings would begin the week of June 21^st. He also said that the current health coverage from United Health Care Plan 0308 for the city employees would rise from $523.13/ per month per employee to $601.60 per month per employee. Instead of using that plan, Brown said that he is going to use the UHC plan B3S for the budget and that would come to $575.01 per month per employee. He said that next year the city would look at starting a health savings account for the employees. Brown further reported that health benefits may be taxable next year to the employee or employer with the new federal health insurance law, but no one is absolutely sure. The mayor said he asked that department heads reduce the budgets 5% from last year’s figures. In the Mayor’s Moments, Brown reported the water Quality Report for the year 2009 came back and the there were no violations from the water tests and the wells all tested fine. He said that the city worked on the Hunt Street sidewalk and culvert project and put in three new culverts at Henderson, Washington and McArthur Streets. He said that a water line still needs to be replaced and they will video the sanitation sewer line under the road before it is all paved over. The mayor reported that he and Alderman Brad Nash met with Interop Solutions about interoperable communications between the city, fire department and county and there are a lot of things he likes about the program they have available. Brown said that nine people have submitted their name to be considered when the board decides to fill the vacant chair left by the passing of Alderman Jim Jackson. City Attorney Nanci Wisdom said that the city would be responding to the lawsuit filed that alleges the city is violating the Hancock Amendment by using excessive utility rates to fund non-utility related city expenses. She said the answers will be submitted in the appropriate manner. The board approved Bill #3198 that allows the mayor to sign an agreement with the Dent County Museum for the city to provide $300 a year to help cover operating expenses. The board approved a budget adjustment of $17,398 from the Capital Improvement Fund – Soccer Fields to the Street Department – Backhoe that became necessary after the board purchased a backhoe for the Street Department on March 15^th. After the bills were approved, the meeting was adjourned.

An accident occurred at 10:50 Saturday night in Dent County on Dent County Road 5450 about five miles south of Salem. According to the highway patrol report, a 2009 Polaris ATV driven by 15-year old Vito Mangogna of Salem, failed to negotiate a curve, overturned, and ejected a passenger, 15-year old Wesley Rushing of Salem. Rushing suffered minor injuries and was taken by Salem EMS to the Salem Memorial District Hospital. The Polaris ATV sustained minor damage and was driven from the scene.

Contractor crews recently completed a surface-leveling project on Route 32 in Dent County, from Route 72 to Route P. The project included the replacement of curb ramps for sidewalks, which meets Americans with Disability Act (ADA) standards. The completed project provides area residents with a smoother driving surface, and new walkways. For additional information regarding this or other transportation-related topics, call the MoDOT Customer Service Center toll free, at 1-888-ASK MoDOT (275-6636). 

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