The City of Salem Board of Aldermen met for its regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday, June 25, with plenty of discussion surrounding the budget for Fiscal Year 2024-25. Present were aldermen Shawn Bolerjack, Catherine Dent, John Whelan, Kala Sisco, and Mayor Greg Parker.
Both Bolerjack and Parker thanked all the committees that had worked hard to prepare the budget.
“I appreciate the staff’s time for developing this budget,” said Bolerjack. “And all the committees and boards involved for their input and recommendations to us.”
The aldermen approved the Fiscal Year 2025 proposed budget, with a vote of yay from Aldermen Bolerjack, Sisco, and Whelan. Alderwoman Dent voted nay. The motion passed, 3-1.
According to the staff summary as provided by finance director Stacey Houston, the presented proposed annual budget for the city for the fiscal year beginning July 1, is a balanced budget with a surplus of $2,119,807. The city anticipates grant revenues of $6,179,122 and grant expenditures of $6,527,662 in FY2025.
The budget presented has proposed revenues of $23,163,056; anticipated expenditures of $21,043,249; and Intergovernmental Transfers of $3,939,066. Including the intergovernmental transfers, total revenues amount to $27,102,122 and total expenditures amount to $24,982,315.
Included in the proposed revenues are the use of prior year fund balances:
• General Fund $580,844 (moving to General Fund Emergency Fund)
• Parks & Recreation Fund $44,712
• Water Reserve Fund $505,277, which will be moved to Water Operating Fund and Water D&R
• Sewer D&R Fund $289,500
• Airport $87,097
The aldermen discussed the leak protection program policy. The leak protection program will be going into effect July 1. While the Utility Committee separately reviewed the leak protection program policy, it has not yet been adopted by the alderman. It was previously recommended by the Utility Committee to adopt the policy, but it has since been under discussion. The policy is what identifies an eligible leak for the program, explained Burbridge.
“I think this is a good program available for the citizens that want to participate,” said Bolerjack. “If they don’t want to, they can always opt-out.”
Burbridge further clarified that if the customer doesn’t have a claim against the program and chooses to opt-out during the first year, the company will refund the customer the amount they had paid.
The alderman voted to approve the leak protection program policy, with a vote of yay from Aldermen Bolerjack, Sisco, and Whelan. Alderwoman Dent voted nay. The motion passed, 3-1.
David Lytle attended the meeting to request a street closure for Salem’s Summerfest. The date of the original, which was supposed to take place June 8, had to change due to weather concerns of vendors. June 29 was to be the new day for Summerfest. The aldermen approved the street closure unanimously.
A public comment was heard from citizens Eddie Fleetwood and Steve Evrard, who both cited concerns regarding the FY2025 budget. Fleetwood expressed concern regarding the proposed merit raises for city staff, costing $38,926, and the proposed capital improvement of a pilot lounge, costing $25,000. He stated the money could be put toward infrastructure or other improvements in the city.
In new and miscellaneous business, two applications for trailer court licenses for the period of July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 were received and approved unanimously by the aldermen.
• Caleb Gidcumb of Central MO Investments, LLC, with 25 platted spaces.
• Glen E. Sapaugh Sr. of Park St. Trailer Park, with 10 platted spaces.
The board also heard several first readings of bills, including the following:
• Bill No. 3612, which will repeal Chapter 710, Article III, Section 710.350, which lists sewer rates enacted in 2018. The sewer rates of 710.350 have since been voided with the more recent Section 700.230, which went into effect September 2022. Repealing Section 710.350 keeps all utility rates in the same chapter, instead of scattered through different sections of the City Code.
• Bill No. 3613 will eliminate service availability fees for residential and commercial accounts.
• Bill No. 3614 will eliminate service availability fees for Demand, Salem Housing Authority, and Salem R-80 School accounts.
• Bill No. 3615 will eliminate the service availability fees for the Employment Incentive Rate.
The aldermen approved several first and second readings of bills relating to the subdivision of properties as recommended by the planning and zoning commission during its public hearing of June 18.
• Bill No. 3610 will allow owners James and Cheridal Nicholson to subdivide their property located at 705 North Henderson into two separate parcels. All four aldermen voted yay.
• Bill No. 3611 will allow owner Ridge Properties I LLC. to subdivide Lot 3 of Scenic Rivers Plaza Subdivision into two separate parcels. Aldermen Bolerjack and Sisco abstained from voting. Whelan and Dent voted yay. Mayor Parker voted yay, breaking the tie and allowing the motion to pass.
Reports of City Officials
City administrator Sally Burbridge
• Burbridge thanked the board for passing the budget, as it sets the plan of work for the coming year. She expressed excitement at getting projects started and wrap-up the projects that have already been underway.
Mayor Greg Parker
• Fourth of July parade is coming up, starting at 6 p.m. The title is “Let Freedom Ring.”
• Salem Senior Center is going to have free summer meals for kids and teens younger than 18. It will last until Aug. 20, from 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m. No cost or sign up is required. It is dine-in only, located at 604 North McGrath. For more information, call 573-729-2373.
• Parker reminded the public that there is no smoking or vaping on city property, including the ballfields and parks. He thanks everyone for their cooperation and understanding.
Public Works Director Steve Paine
• Wastewater treatment plant rehired Josh Hunt. Paine stated Hunt is already putting in effort to put a work plan together to start smoke testing exterior sewage lines to aid in I&I.
• Daily testing continues, as does preparation for Phase 2B modifications.
• Water department has a batch of water repair leaks to fix—crews have conducted five in the past two weeks. Vacc-truck training and locates continue, along with meter repair replacements.
• Electric department finalized the street lamps on Fourth Street. Crews also worked on the lift station at Westwood, assisted the water department with leak repairs, and conducted locates.
• Construction prepped and poured two approach aprons. Crews worked on recessed cleanout near Country Mart.
• Street department assisted with traffic control for the paving of two streets. Crews continued large scale mowing efforts and upkeep of yard waste area. Sidewalk brush was cleared and weedkiller applied.
• Crews cleaned out flower beds on Fourth Street. Unfortunately, due to things out of public works’ control, the downtown project has not progressed. Flowers will not be put in the flower beds. One shop downtown does have flowers in their flowerbeds, but the owners will be maintaining them.
• The mechanic worked on platform repair at the sewer plant.
• Cemetery crews continue to take care of graves, mowing, and vault set-up.
Alderwoman Kala Sisco
• Sisco thanked Emily Cook, chamber director, for her efforts over the weekend in putting on a great music festival at Dent County Commons. She thanked everyone for attending and making the event successful.
• Fourth of July is going to have fireworks. She said it has been quite a journey, and a lot of hard work. Sisco expressed her respect toward Dent for how much work goes into organizing the Fourth of July events. There will be a concession stand. The fair board will be serving barbeque chicken, burgers, hot dogs, and sides. The fireworks committee will also have a bake sale, along with water.
• The fireworks committee is looking for baskets for a silent auction at the fair. She requested all those that wish to donate a basket to reach out to her at email ksisco@salemmo.com, or message her on Facebook.
• A 50/50 raffle will be done at the entrance to the fireworks at the Commons. It’s not a requirement to enter the gate, but it is something fun for the community to participate in.
• The committee is also looking for water to be donated.
• Sisco thanked all the people on the fireworks committee. She also thanked Fleetwood Pyro Technicians, LLC. for being such a huge help to organizers of the event.
