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A Primary Election was held Tuesday statewide to determine who will be the final opponents in the General Election to be held in November. In Dent County, 2,610 ballots were cast which is 30.25% of the registered voters. Voters had to select a party to vote on in the primary or elect to vote non-partisan. Here are the unofficial results for the contested race and constitutional amendments.

*Indicates winner

State Senator District 16 – Republican

Dan Brown*                                 17,773 votes
Bernard Mowinski                           2,803 votes

Constitutional Amendment 1 (Agriculture)                     

Yes*                                          498,751 votes
No                                             496,223 votes

Constitutional Amendment 5 (Right to Bear Arms)

Yes*                                          602,076 votes
No                                             385,422 votes

Constitutional Amendment 7 (MoDOT Sales Tax)

Yes                                            407,532 votes
No*                                           590,963 votes

Constitutional Amendment 8 (Veteran’s Lottery Ticket)                    

Yes                                            440,369 votes
No*                                           538,575 votes

Constitutional Amendment 9 (Electronic Security)

Yes*                                          728,549 votes
No                                             246,020 votes

The Salem Board of Aldermen held their regular meeting Monday night at the city hall council chambers. In bids, the board approved renewing a three-year contract with Waste Corporation of Missouri even though their residential rates were slightly higher than Swinger Sanitation. The board was swayed by citizen input in that they are happy with their current service. The board approved the purchase of a 2005 one-ton flatbed pickup for the sidewalk construction crew for $13,500. The city had budgeted $20,000 for the purchase. They also approved the purchase of a Street Sweeper with a broom attachment from Key Equipment and Supply Company for $175,320.00 with a down payment of $50,000 from the current budget with the remaining balance to be financed. The city will put out for bid to get the lowest financing rates. The board has still not heard from Tom Mickus from the Salem R-80 School in reference to the FFA using the Salem Police Shooting Range. The school has until September 1^st to complete the contract. The issue was postponed until the next meeting. City Administrator Ray Walden set Monday, August 11^th at 7:00 to discuss the building code adoption, and said MoDOT would hold a pre-construction meeting today with more information on the work to be done on McArthur and the timetable on its completion. Walden also stated he has been working with the county assessor regarding the mapping of planning and zoning in the city and where the actual city limits are. Walden said the house on the Cedar Grove Cemetery property is now vacant and the city will get bids on the demolition of the home to extend the cemetery, and he reported that Rural Missouri Water will be here Thursday to begin work on the water and sewer rate study. Mayor J.J. Tune said he had a staff meeting with all the department heads Monday to address work that has been neglected. Tune then said the time to start thinking about how to deal with the $600,000 budget shortfall is now. This will have to come about by cutting expenses but also in raising rates on sewer and water. Tune said the sewer department had a deficit of $135,000 and that has to be corrected. State law states the city services must pay for themselves. Tune also looked at sales tax rates in cities around Salem and Salem is the lowest at 6.725%. The next lowest is Rolla at 7.35% while Steelville’s rate is 8.975%. Tune said the city cannot rule out looking at increasing the sales tax rate, especially to cover the parks and recreation department. Alderman Powell said he would like to see a citizen task force organized on that and Tune asked him to supply him with names at the next meeting. The board approved changing the meeting dates next month to September 8^th and 22^nd. The board also approved updating the agreement for engineering services with Archer-Elgin that would lock in place rates and fees that would be contingent upon the approval of a 90-day cancellation clause by either party over the current 30-day cancellation clause. The agreement is not an exclusive agreement for services. After a long discussion, the board approved a 90-day trial period to allow Salem police officers to take their police cars to their residence. The 90-day trial will allow a cost analysis to be prepared to see what additional costs this would cause for the city. The board then went into closed session.

U.S. Senator Roy Blunt’s staff will host a Mobile Office on Thursday, August 7^th from 10:30 am to 11:30 am at the Dent County Courthouse.  Mobile Offices are opportunities for Missourians to discuss their questions or concerns with the federal government one-on-one with members of Blunt’s staff. To reach the Senator’s Office of Constituent Services, call at (573) 442-8151.

Registration for all middle school and high school students will be held this week. Today , August 6^th, registration will be for juniors and seventh graders. On Thursday, August 7^th, sophomores and sixth graders can register. Then on Friday, August 8^th, freshman and anyone who has failed to register may come in and register. Students will need to register at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory, located at 1201 West Rolla Road, from 8:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. There will be no registration held at the Highs School or the Middle School.

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