ALDERMEN: Tune calls for consideration of city-owned Internet utility

Tune said he attended The Salem Initiative meeting Saturday and agreed with its technology interest group organizers that quality Internet is essential to the future prosperity of the greater Salem community. Tune cited more telecommuters and company’s dependent on fast Internet speeds moving to the area as the potential dividend of the investment. The cost of such a project would be steep, but Tune said the city should begin considering the investment.

“I don’t know if we can entice a company to come in,” Tune said. He pointed to statistics which indicated it would not be economical for a company to reap enough profits in our area to justify the front end cost of installing the equipment.

Other News

• City Administrator Ray Walden reported that he, Alderman Haydn Powell Jr. and Chief of Police Keith Steelman met with the county commission Jan. 14 to discuss moving the police station into the proposed new justice center. Walden also said the capital improvement committee met Jan. 25 and the finance committee will meet 6 p.m. tonight (Tuesday) at Salem Community Center @ the Armory. The management students from Missouri S&T have met with city officials and they will give presentations on their recommendations later this year, Walden said.

• Alderwoman Molly Zettel reported the city’s utility committee met immediately prior to the aldermen meeting Monday evening and discussed many items. However, the group did not agree to any specific recommendations. Among the items Zettel said were discussed were electronic billing, cutting costs through using different mailing envelopes and whether Heartland Metals should be getting a special water use rate which is lower than the rate for city residents. The next utility committee meeting will be 6 p.m. March 7 at Salem Community Center @ the Armory. Zettel said anyone with recommendations or concerns can contact her at 247-4307 or at mollyzettel@gmail.com.

• Tune reported the layoffs at Doe Run Friday may affect Salem since 240 Dent County residents are employed with the company. Tune also called for a sales tax for internet sales to be put into effect.

• The aldermen voted unanimously to close Fourth Street from Jackson Street to Highway 19 for Moonlight Madness 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. June 11. The aldermen also voted unanimously to allow Relay for Life use of the City Park Aug. 20.

• Becky Heathman of the Salem Area Community Betterment Association informed the aldermen that SACBA is forming a group to develop rehabilitation ideas for the old City Hall building. She will bring recommendations to a future meeting.

• The aldermen voted unanimously to approve Bill 3310, which puts municipal ordinances in compliance with new revisions to state election laws. Among the reforms are that felons cannot hold elective office and those with delinquent taxes are now disqualified from filing for office.

• The aldermen voted unanimously to appoint Rose Kinerk to the Housing Authority Board.

• The aldermen voted unanimously to approve a $3,205 bill paid to Capital Quarries as part of an ongoing water line replacement project.