The City of Salem Board of Aldermen met for its regular meeting Tuesday, March 25, during which the board discussed bid approval for the replacement of the city playground tiles.
In attendance included mayor Greg Parker, board members Rick Letchworth, Catherine Dent, and John Whelan. Not in attendance was board member Shawn Bolerjack. Other present city staff included city administrator Sally Burbridge, city clerk Tammy Koller, city attorney James Weber, finance director Stacey Houston, parks and recreation director Melissa DuBois, and public works director Steve Paine.
Playground tile
During the historic flooding event Nov. 8, 2024 significant damage occurred to the Salem City Park playground, including Billy's Playground, an all-inclusive play area. The extreme floodwaters displaced all the rubber mulch, pushing it under and between the rubber safety tiles. This caused the tiles to buckle and pull away from their secure surface, rendering the playground unsafe for public use. Following the event, the park was inspected and deemed unsafe by the original installer. As a result, the park will remain closed until the necessary repairs can be completed to restore the area to a safe condition.
At the most recent Parks Board meeting Feb. 27, board members voted to recommend the All Inclusive Rec bid, which includes the total cost of $305,488.22 that puts on a rubber cap onto the entirety of the rubber chipped area and fixes all the tiled area, informed DuBois.
City staff have been working with FEMA in hopes of qualifying for a 75/25 reimbursement for the playground tile; additionally, city staff will work with FEMA Mitigation to secure reimbursement for the difference between restoring the park to its previous condition and the necessary improvements to prevent future flood-related damage. The Park Board is aware of the potential funding gap and is willing to cover any remaining costs from the Parks and Recreation Reserves, which currently holds a balance of $591,143.00 from prior year’s funds.
“We have to work toward fixing the playground how we want it to be fixed,” said DuBois. “We hope that [FEMA] will contribute, but in the meantime, we have to get it fixed—because it’s not a safe situation.”
The board approved the playground tile bid, 3-0.
Furthermore, DuBois shared that a fence has been enacted surrounding the park due to citizens not adhering to warnings that the playground is unsafe. An emergency purchase was completed for the temporary chain link fencing panels to prevent access to the playground equipment. Staff had tried caution tape and snow fencing with signage and members of the public repeatedly were taking the material down and accessing the playground.
Also approved were the following bids:
• WWTP aerator power panel from Aesthetik Electric at $53,655, needed due to the Nov. 8 flood damages. FEMA reimbursement will be pursued.
• Salem Municipal Airport Aircraft fuel bid in the amount of 2,900 gallons from Naegler Oil totaling $11,583.47
New and miscellaneous business
The board approved a resolution authorizing a service agreement between the city and Hometown Grid, an electrical outage reporting program, as recommended by the Utility Committee. It can be utilized by the public to report electrical outages, which then show up on a map of the city. The public can then see where the outages are occurring through its website at https://hometowngrid.com/salem. When a member of the public calls or texts about an outage, a call is automatically made to the Police Department so it can dispatch the electric crew.
Burbridge spoke highly of the program, reflecting that the City of Rolla greatly utilized and benefited from the service due to the recent tornado. Citizens were able to report outages and receive updates and feedback from RMU. Parker echoed this sentiment.
Also discussed and approved:
• a resolution approving the bid from All Inclusive Rec, LLC. for tile removal, installation services, and playground equipment repair
• a resolution approving the bid from Aesthetix electric for two Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Aerator Power Panel replacements.
• request for a road closure on Fourth Street between Iron and 9th Street on Saturday, Aug. 23, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. from Tim Dotson, of the Sonlight Riders local chapter
• the second readings of three amendments including Bill 3649, 3650, and 3651 to the city’s non-smoking ordinances. To strike a balance between protections of the public and rights of employees, the three amendments allow for the creation of smoking areas on city properties, which will include signage designating areas as such
• a change order for the Downtown Project. Due to the light poles and fixtures for the Downtown Project not shipping until the first week in April, it is necessary to extend the time of the contract with Maggi Construction to accommodate the installation of the light poles and fixtures, as well as the final wrap-up of the project. Burbridge notified that another change order for the project is on the way due to drainage issues on parts of the sidewalk.
CERCLA Letter
From the letter shared with the aldermen, to be sent to Representative Jason Smith:
“The City of Salem strongly supports H.R. 1267 as it ensures that polluters—specifically PFAS manufacturers and direct dischargers—are held accountable, rather than public service providers passively receiving these contaminants. We urge your support for this bill to protect Missouri’s hometown communities from unnecessary financial hardship while upholding the true intent of CERCLA”
The letter can be viewed in full in the meeting packet, located at https://www.salemmo.com/city/government/reports/agendas___minutes.php.
Burbridge explained that city staff have heard in the past and present regarding federal delegation on PFAS. This letter recommends Representative Jason Smith to advocate for H.R. 1267, legislation for PFAS. The legislation is specifically for cleanup and liability to fall onto the “actual producer”, explained Burbridge, “and not the secondary distributors, which would be us—the Wastewater Treatment Plant.”
Burbridge further encouraged the board to message Smith and other representatives to take action on H.R. 1267.
“I think it’s pretty important that we make sure that they hear us—that we’re not the ones who created this problem, we shouldn’t be held liable for it,” encouraged Burbridge. “I mean, that’s going to put it on the backs of all small communities everywhere.”
Reports of City Officials
Mayor Greg Parker
Parker thanked all city staff for donating and volunteering to assist the City of Rolla with its clean-up after the recent tornado event.
City Administrator Sally Burbridge
An emergency purchase has been completed for 8th Street, in which a sewer line had completely collapsed between North Henderson and North Jackson Streets Friday, March 14. Despite multiple attempts to clear the blockage using a Vac Truck and backhoe, the 12-foot-deep line required a shoring box to ensure the safety of personnel in the ditch and to prevent cave-ins. This is outside the scope of work city staff is accustomed to performing or trained for. Over the weekend, staff managed sewage flow to prevent health hazards. Emergency contractor quotes were obtained, and Thomas Excavation was selected with a $47,950 bid. They will replace the 300-foot clay tile line with PVC, with the city supplying the pipe and the contractor handling labor and additional materials. The project will be funded using the city's $100,000 budget for sewer rehabilitation, which remains unused this fiscal year.
Burbridge echoed the sentiments of Paine and DuBois in thanking the board, along with city staff who volunteered, for assisting Rolla in its recovery after the tornado.
“I think it’s very important that we show that assistance and help to neighboring communities when they’re in need,” said Burbridge. “In hopes that, if we’re in a need of that in the future, that we get some reciprocal help.”
Whelan further stated that he was very proud of the City of Salem for how it responded in Rolla.
“It just shows the character of the city,” said Whelan.
Finance Director Stacey Houston
Total Sales Tax Revenues collected through March 2025 was $3,616,780, including the General Fund, Parks and Recreation Fund, and Capital Improvement fund. This is an increase of approximately 10% from last year.
Electric kWh’s sold is 34,740,034 million kWh’s, a decrease of approximately 3% compared to last year. Revenues billed are $4,705,019, also down from last year. Purchase of Power was $3,098,428, a decrease of approximately 2% compared to last year. Water consumption billed is 85,343,791 gallons, a slight increase from last year. Revenues billed are $566,770. Sewer consumption sold is 77,069,996 million gallons, a slight decrease from last year. Revenues billed are $890,497.
The total of all funds is $13,738,994, with 55% of revenues budgeted and 48% of expenditures budgeted. Revenues and expenditures are tracking behind, informed Houston, due to grant projects that have started later than anticipated.
Parks Director Melissa DuBois
DuBois thanked the city and its staff for being willing to lend a hand to the City of Rolla. Five trucks, along with equipment, from the City of Salem worked to assist the City of Rolla after the tornado hit.
“I felt like we didn’t even make a dent,” said DuBois, reporting the damage to Rolla was at a large, unprecedented scale.
• Testing of the city park ballfield lights has been completed with a few fuses and capacitors found to need replacement.
• DuBois thanked the Heithold’s for their assistance cleaning up the vandalism at the skate park. She also thanked Salem PD for being there first thing in the morning to pull the video of suspected perpetrators. Progress has been made in identifying the perpetrators, with DuBois stating intentions to press charges. Parker shared he hopes next fiscal year there will be funds delegated for increased cameras at park facilities.
• Softball fields and soccer fields have been prepped for the season.
• DuBois has been hard at work getting information gathered for FEMA. She gave kudos to Houston for her assistance in organizing the information.
• Summer ball registration is underway until April 16 for any kids wanting to participate in t-ball, softball, or baseball. DuBois is reviewing applications and preparing soccer referees.
• Red clay material was delivered to repair the red and green fields. Plenty of rocks will need to be removed prior to the top layer of dirt being added.
• Construction ordered metal for the concession stand roof
Public Works Director Steve Paine
Submit work orders by calling 573-729-4811.
Paine gave DuBois kudos for her hard work in the department—he reminded the public that the hail damage to the pool was not the city’s fault, and that it will be open this year. He encourages patience as city staff deal with unpredictable weather events and its effect on city buildings, equipment.
WWTP
• Crew members are continuing to work on FEMA reimbursement needs and daily testing and minor repairs on equipment
Water
• Crew members repaired water service lines and a water main
• a fire hydrant was prepped with a valve for replacement on Fourth Street. A new fire hydrant is planned for rebuilding or replacement once a month, at a minimum, in order to make gains on the issue, said Paine
• the new water well has an estimated 1,000 feet that will be drilled with crew members now at 830 feet, reported Paine. They are continuing to make gains but had to pull equipment due to a fire in the area.
• Thomas Excavation is currently done with relaying 295 feet of the pipe on 8th Street, with hopes to have residents back online again soon
Electric
• the line trimming crew were contacted regarding a large tree branch hanging on a Comm line between City Hall and William Lynch Elementary. Crew members were able to remove the branch quickly with no incident.
• Streetlight repairs were continued with the replacement of 30 lights completed. Paine reminds the public to continue calling to let public works know about needed streetlight replacements. Burbridge and Paine let the board know that funds for more lights will be needed soon, as the stock is low.
• Two old poles were removed from downtown, including a concrete pole and metal pole
Construction
• The dirt shed roof at the cemetery has been removed, as it was almost blown off by the recent storm event with strong winds
• A 12x40 foot lean-to was built onto their shop to store concrete forms
Street
• The courthouse square and downtown area was cleaned prior to the arrival of the 100 Acre Wood rally
• Hauling rock was completed from the quarry for various projects, and several downed trees were removed after the wind event
• Assisted the cemetery with digging graves
• Painted new curbs on Fourth Street to ensure visibility
• The citywide clean-up began Monday, March 24
Mechanic
• Maintenance was completed on multiple pieces of equipment
• Worked several facility maintenance projects and continued updating fleet vehicle decals
Cemetery
• Three grave sites were dug and crew members continued cleaning up after wind events
• High school students will be visiting to assist with cleanup on April 8
