The City of Salem Board of Aldermen met Sept. 10 for its regularly scheduled meeting, with many thanks expressed to both city staff and John Hambacker in building the new Frisco Trail Head sign. Present for the meeting were mayor Greg Parker, aldermen Kala Sisco, John Whelan, Shawn Bolerjack, and Catherine Dent. The agenda was unanimously approved with an amendment adding an emergency purchase of a UV control panel.
In public comments, Hambacker addressed the board regarding the new Frisco Trail sign. He thanked Police Chief Joe Chase for his work as the interim public works director, and his efforts in reinvigorating Hambacker’s excitement and enthusiasm in completing the sign. He thanked the city for its cooperation and public works director Steve Paine and his crew for helping put the sign itself up.
“It’s been a long project with a lot of challenges,” said Hambacker.
Meanwhile, Missouri’s “Good Neighbor” week encouraged communities to participate in events and activities to establish connections with their neighbors, said Parker. In 2023, MU Extension’s office had a goal of documenting 15,000 acts of neighboring activities in its community—it successfully documented 19,778 acts, which shows amazing progress, shared Parker. Parker presented Brandi Richardson, MU Extension’s Engagement Specialist, with the city’s proclamation recognizing MU Extension’s involvement in helping promote “Good Neighbor” week.
Richardson received the proclamation from Parker and stepped up to the mic to share an update on some of the things the office has done. She first thanked the city for its continued financial assistance over the past few years to the extension office, specifically for the 4-H program.
During the 2023-24 year, the office set a goal of reaching 183 members, an increase over the previous year. The office reached that goal with 185 members. Richardson shared that since 2021-22, the office is up an estimated 30-40 members in 4-H clubs.
Juli Thrasher, youth specialist at MU Extension in Phelps County, has been assisting and working in the Dent County office quite often, shared Richardson. Amy Glenn, the previous youth program associate, has retired and is now on the extension council. A position has been opened to replace Glenn, said Richardson. Richardson shared that the extension office has requested an increase in its funding request, stating that ads have been run to fill the youth program associate position earlier in the year. The hourly wages will need to be increased in order to fill the position, explained Richardson, from $14 to $17 per hour.
Richardson thanked the city for its proclamation, and Parker thanked the organization for everything the office has done.
Moving forward, Parker made the motion to appoint Kyle Williams to the Library Board, following the resignation of previous board member Brett Caps and the recommendation of Williams to the board by the Salem Public Library Board. There was unanimous approval for the appointment, 4-0.
Bids were heard for pool media changes for Alice Lou Craig Municipal Swimming Pool. The project involves upgrading the swimming pool’s filtration system by replacing traditional sand with high-performance glass media in order to enhance water clarity, improve filtration efficiency, and reduce maintenance needs.
Only one bid was received from Westport Pools. Westport Pools submitted a bid of $25,500 for labor and materials to remove and replace the pool media. Westport Pools will be disposing of the current pool media when it replaces it, reported city clerk Tammy Koller.
Sisco asked if there was a warranty for the pool media. After some discussion, whether or not there was a warranty was unknown. As the bid is valid for 30 days, Sisco moved to table the bid for further clarification on its warranty information. Sisco, Bolerjack, and Dent voted yes. Whelan voted no.
In new and miscellaneous business, the board heard the first reading of Resolution No. 22-2024, a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement between the city and the Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) for membership services.
The city has maintained an annual membership with MRPC at the basic membership level for several years, which includes receiving 15 hours of technical assistance. The MRPC board has amended the allocated hour process to include signing a technical assistance contract up front at membership renewal, so an agreement is in place should the city exceed allocated hours. The cost for an annual MRPC membership is $4,006.05. The board voted to approve the resolution unanimously, 4-0.
City Administrator Sally Burbridge explained the addition of the emergency UV control panel purchase. The UV system at the wastewater treatment plant is the final stage of disinfection before liquids go outfall to Spring Creek. The Department of Natural Revenue (DNR) requires the city to run disinfection on the system through the end of October each year. Previously, the touchscreen on the system had failed, but the system was still able to be used through the connection of a laptop; now, however, the UV system has completely lost its usability. With no way to control the system, it needs an emergency replacement. The cost would be $7,500, estimated Paine. The emergency purchase was unanimously approved, 4-0.
Reports of city officials
Mayor Greg Parker
There will be a fall citywide yard sale on Oct. 5. Fall cleanup, meanwhile, will be Oct. 21-25.
In addition, following Paine’s report, Parker informed citizens to contact the city rather than DNR when it comes to citizen’s sewer or water concerns.
Alderman Shawn Bolerjack
Missouri’s “Good Neighbor” week is coming up, reported Bolerjack, Sept. 28 through Oct. 4. For more information, Bolerjack recommended visiting the website https://missourigoodneighborweek.com. Bolerjack also thanked Hambacker and the city crews for putting up the new Frisco Trail sign.
Alderwoman Kala Sisco
Sisco reported that the fireworks committee met and discussed a few upcoming fundraisers to help raise money for the 2025 fireworks. Sisco also clarified that the City of Salem is not associated with the fireworks committee. For more information on the fireworks committee and on future fundraising events, visit its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560962177412.
Sisco shared a future event will take place in December at Healthy Dent County in its event room, with a theme of “pancakes and pajamas.”
Public Works Director Steve Paine
Wastewater treatment plant
• Wastewater treatment plant conducted miscellaneous equipment repairs, continued daily testing, and trained a new team member.
Water department
• Replaced a fire hydrant, added a shut-off valve in the Walnut Hill Drive area, and repaired multiple leaks. Locates are being completed in preparation for MoDOT doing ADA compliance work down Hwy. 32 and 72. Two new team members are continuing training; meanwhile, the department acquired a signed easement for the construction of a new water tower near Salem Memorial Hospital. There will also be a new well built close by.
• A request for bids was released for the fire hydrant maintenance project, which will include maintenance to all fire hydrants across the city. Paine shared that the department is wanting to add reflective markers on all fire hydrants to help aid the fire department in finding them late at night. Fire hydrants will also be repainted possibly in the spring, said Paine.
• There was another DNR complaint addressed with test results revealing good clarity and quality. Paine reported there was an issue in that area that crews will be working on to assist residents.
Electric department
• Along with the street crew, the electric crew helped install Hambacker’s new Frisco Trail sign. Paine expressed his appreciation for the crew’s cooperation in putting the sign up.
• A pole was replaced by the electric department, with assistance from water and street crews, at South Sligo West International Street after a truck snapped off a power pole. The electric crew has also been working on tree trimming around the city, replacing streetlights, and working on finishing the Al Brown project.
Construction department
• The replacement backhoe has been delivered to the construction department. Transformer pads have been poured over at the Salem High School to finish up the construction trades building. A curb project was finished off West Acuff. The Salem Animal Shelter is still being worked on, and an office space at the administrative building is close to being completed.
Streets department
• A load of asphalt was picked up by the streets department from a new vendor in Lebanon to patch potholes around the city. Mowing is being completed through the city.
• Street sweeping was conducted after the parade. Paine shared streets department will be completing street sweeping the morning after parades in the future. The street crew also cleaned out storm drains, yard waste, and mowed the entire airport area. Streets crew assisted water crew with water line repairs.
The mechanic worked on projects at the Old City Hall administrative building. He also worked on street and electric department vehicles, fleet vehicles, and inspected the backhoe upon its delivery.
Cemetery crew is continuing to mow and have a new crew member to train.
Sisco thanked the street crews for freshening up all of the crosswalks throughout town.
