Brad Nash
Provide information about yourself, including background and biographical data:
Salem is my home! I have been a member of this community for almost all of my 42 years. I am the current Mayor of the City of Salem and have held this position for two years. I became a member of the Dent County Fire Protection District in 1994. I have been Chief of the District for 16 years. In addition, I am the Dent County Emergency Management Director and have held that position for nine years. From 2009 – 2011, I was an alderman for the west side of the City of Salem. In my spare time I enjoy fishing, camping, and spending time with my family. I am married to my beautiful wife, Deanna, and we have five children. Emily is 17 and in her senior year at Salem High School. Savannah is 11 and is in fifth grade. Erin is 6 and is in first grade. Aubrey is 5 and attends preschool and also attends daycare at I Can Too Learning Center. Eli is 2 and also attends daycare at I Can Too Learning Center. My wife Deanna works for the State of Missouri. We are members of Oak Grove Baptist Church.
Why should you be elected? Be specific.
I love my community. Deanna and I believe Salem is a great place in which to raise our family, but I am committed to helping it become an increasingly more compelling place in which to work and play. I believe I provide leadership that encourages the community to flourish. I will focus on supporting city employees, supporting our schools, churches, and other organizations and individuals who provide activities that help us become all we can be. Businesses will be given a voice in determining the future of Salem. Not-for-profits who provide essential services to all in Salem will be supported. In fact, all voices will be heard. Over the past two years, I’ve worked diligently to respond to all who have sought answers and been as transparent as possible in answering their questions. Further, we will provide new city events to entertain our citizens while bringing others in to participate.
What should be done to attract new businesses and expand existing business in Dent County and Salem, creating more and better jobs?
Attracting and expanding businesses is a community-wide problem demanding community-wide solutions. Existing businesses need to partner with city government in determining how to create the best environment for growth. The entire community needs to partner in creating an environment that is appealing to new businesses and families as well as support local businesses. We need to focus on creating new parks, trails and improving opportunities to live healthy lives. Community support must continue for our excellent schools, churches, and medical services. Additional outlets for family recreation are needed. We all need to be proud of Salem and demand an environment that is good for our citizens and compelling to those looking to relocate.
Economic development is critical for the future of Salem and Dent County and a top priority. I will work with and support the efforts of existing resources such as the Certified Work Ready Program, Chamber of Commerce, etc. Salem and Dent County must share what we have to offer with those businesses seeking to relocate.
While it is not a quick process, in the past two years I’ve been part of a team that has started many negotiations in this area for upcoming new businesses. One new business is in the process of being built with the possibility of 4-5 businesses in the near future.
There are many vacant and dilapidated buildings and homes in Salem. What would you do to help correct this problem? Please give specific recommendations.
During my two-year tenure as Mayor, I have worked hard to fulfill a promise I made in my last election to do my best to help clean up properties in Salem. It has taken a lot of hard work and due diligence but because of this, there have been over 30 dilapidated and unsightly buildings that have been demolished in the city. We have also worked hard to get properties cleaned up. Although we have been very successful in our efforts there is still more that needs to be done. Salem has more properties that are unsafe, unsightly, and need to be addressed. With this being said, I think we need to be clear which properties we are targeting. Clearly we need to stay on task and set strict deadlines to get properties cleaned up or demolished in a timely manner. The aldermen need to reexamine and update ordinances which deal with derelict properties to help expedite the current lengthy process. However, the community can provide critical and independent solutions. Properties can be purchased, repaired or if need be demolished, and resold improving appearances and increasing surrounding property values while making Salem more compelling for relocation. If re-elected, I will make sure this issue remains a priority to continue cleaning up properties to make Salem a community we can be proud of.
Discuss an area of the city of Salem budget you would attempt to change if elected? Be specific on why the change is needed.
The past two years the current administration has worked hard to streamline city spending. During this process it’s been made clear the city needs to be adding more money into reserves and adding funds for an automatic meter reading system. The system would allow prepay and online billing, and site login to see real-time usage to monitor for problems. Benefits for the city include quick location of outages, decreased labor cost of reading meters, electric disconnections done remotely, and consistent meter reading at the same time each month. Implementing this system will eliminate many issues for the City and its customers. I do believe the City of Salem has a quality budget. The city goes through annual independent audits by an outside company and no major deficiencies have been identified. Our budget has allowed us take great steps to update and add programs to our community. Doing all of this we have still been able to maintain a balanced, cost-effective personnel package for employees, continue services to our citizens and have funds to place into reserves. If re-elected, Salem will continue to have a solid well-balanced budget. We will still continue to update our community, continue current programs, and continue to build our reserves.
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Daniel Joe Peterek
Provide information about yourself, including background and biographical data:
I have lived in Salem for the majority of my life. My parents, Joe and Helena Peterek owned and operated Huzzah’s Fish Hatcheries in Howes Mills where I worked until I graduated from Salem High School. Upon graduation, I joined the Marine Corps and then returned to Salem to help with the family business. After my father’s death, my mother and I continued management of the hatcheries until my mother’s health began to fail. I currently own Peterek Security and Joe’s Lawn Care in Salem. I am an avid bowler, love fishing and traveling.
Why should you be elected? Be specific.
I have witnessed Salem go from a peaceful, thriving, and caring community to drug infested and poverty stricken. I was raised with traditional family values where you care for each other; take care of your family and friends. The Marines instilled in me a stricter moral character and a take charge attitude. I have the knowledge and business sense to attract business to the area, ensuring jobs for the community but keeping the small town attitude. Growing up in Salem, I know there are limited activities for children of the area which can lead to destructive behaviors. As mayor, I would collaborate with teachers of schools, daycares and church leaders to try and implement programs and activities which would benefit our children. I would also become active with the law enforcement agencies to set goals on how to handle our current drug issue.
What should be done to attract new businesses and expand existing business in Dent County and Salem, creating more and better jobs?
An outstanding strength of Salem which could bring business and attract visitors to the area is its convenient location near several recreational areas (i.e. the Current River, Montauk State Park and Hatcheries, Ziske Lake, etc.). A powerful component of attracting business to Salem is the willingness of local and state representatives to communicate with potential business partners. As mayor, I would personally maintain contact with representatives in Jefferson City to ensure Salem is presented to economic advisors and entrepreneurs as a home for potential new businesses. I would also establish an Economic Development Authority Team consisting of elected officials and community members. They would be responsible for presenting bids to new businesses and providing vision for future progress. The community needs to come together to form a vision and goal to improve economics allowing each community member to be heard, ensure an elected official is available to discuss concerns and/or ideas, and offer incentives to new businesses to locate to the community such as property tax breaks, discounted fees and permits, discounted ad rated and good press. A negative aspect to Salem is being located 30 miles from the Interstate, but the internet has alleviated this hindrance, and in turn has offered other job options such as telecommunicators and call centers which need to be explored.
There are many vacant and dilapidated buildings and homes in Salem. What would you do to help correct this problem? Please give specific with recommendations.
An audit of all vacant and dilapidated buildings and homes in Salem would need to be provided to the mayor and aldermen. The audit would need to provide the owner’s name, current residency, the legal description of said property and taxes due if appropriate. The owners would need to be contacted following due process regarding said property with outlined procedures following the state and federal regulations regarding vacant property would need to be inhabited (i.e. rented, leased, or sold). Currently, Salem has a lengthy process (nine to 12 months); the ordinance needs to be revisited. If the property is dilapidated, the owner would be responsible for the restoration or destruction of said property. The elected officials will provide to all owners of said property information regarding federal and state funding which may help with out of date infrastructure and vacant or possibly contaminated properties. Communications with non-profit organizations may be another option to help the community.
Discuss an area of the city of Salem budget you would attempt to change if elected? Be specific on why the change is needed.
Without being an elected official with current budgetary information, this is a question that would be hard for me to answer. I am aware of the electrical issue of Salem, but without specific information, a hypothetical would be inappropriate.
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J.J. Tune
Provide information about yourself, including background and biographical data:
My great-great grandfather moved here from Illinois in 1835 and settled east of Salem before Salem was a town on Hutchens Creek. He married Sara Huitt and had four children. Three moved away, but John Henry stayed and settled on the farm Bobby Simpson now owns. They had six children, four moving to California, but my grandfather stayed in Salem, as well as his sister Jesse who married Dorse Stephens. My father, Clark (Bucky), remained in Salem and owned and operated several businesses. I was born here and have lived here all my life. I started working for Dr. Weaver in 1965 in the field of Veterinary Medicine, and still practice. I have had other occupations including County Commissioner for 10 years, Mayor for two years, have owned and operated farms and cattle and continue to do so since I was 12 years old. I was part owner of Dent County Memorial Chapel for several years and have been involved in other enterprises. I have served on commissions and committees too numerous to mention.
Why should you be elected? Be specific.
I should be elected because I am the most qualified for the job. Salem faces huge financial obligations (nine million dollars), and really has no anticipated increase in revenue to service this amount of debt. I have heard the City intends to service and retire the debt with the Capital Improvement Sales Tax. First, this does not generate enough income to service the debt and historically has been used to maintain the infrastructure of the City. The City only barely gets by on the skin of their teeth as it is now to keep a balanced budget. To service such a debt will require an increase in revenue which would have to come from increases in utility costs, or to manage the current budget and makes cuts in various areas to save between $700 and $800 thousand in spending. I have the intellect to make the adjustments needed and the backbone to propose them. The city needs a Mayor that has the know how and courage to make these adjustments.
What should be done to attract new businesses and expand existing business in Dent County and Salem, creating more and better jobs?
This is a hard question; one that plagues many small communities. I can tell you this much, that increases in utility costs will deter new business. I think working with the younger folks involved in the Salem Initiative is a step in the right direction. We need to have Internet service that is compatible and has the speed to allow homebound computer users to be able to locate here and be enabled to conduct their business in home. Many people do that now. In fact, many large companies contract with people to do work at home to service various needs. At the present time I do not think we have the capabilities to make this an option for folks that would like to live in a more remote area and continue their various jobs via the Internet. In this day and age you need not live in New York to conduct your necessary tasks online, you just need the satellites and speed to accomplish certain services. In short, I think we need to call upon and seek the advice and aggressiveness of our younger business people. I have always thought a call center would be something that Salem could service with no problems. New business is looking for cheap utilities and tax abatements, something the City and County needs to address and be willing to service.
Salem is a retirement community as well. We need affordable utilities, and we need to look at better ways to service those who are retired. There is much work needed to be done to attract new business, retirees and home bound computer workers.
There are many vacant and dilapidated buildings and homes in Salem. What would you do to help correct this problem? Please give specific with recommendations.
Buildings (business) and homes in disrepair are the signs of the times of economic change. All poor towns and counties such as Salem, which is the 35th poorest county in Missouri, have similar problems. Our annual household income is only $2 thousand more than the poorest county in Missouri. The annual household income in Salem is about $1 thousand more that the national poverty level. When big box stores came to Salem (Wal-Mart), and grocery stores (Country Mart), the small businesses struggled to hang on, but eventually all had to close their doors because they could not compete. Forty to fifty years ago Salem had a wonderful and beautiful downtown area, and most homes were in good repair. Small business struggled to hang on and let their buildings fall into disrepair. Many folks employed at these places lost their jobs, and their homes became shabby. At the present time we have many elderly people on very small, fixed incomes that cannot afford to keep their homes in good condition. The answer is not an easy one. Some small cities have purchased the downtown building areas and have renovated them and rented or sold to unique small shops. Of course, Salem with its present debt load cannot afford to do anything. I was involved with an alliance a few years ago to buy falling down buildings and homes with the intent of tearing them down, cleaning up the lots and selling the lots for new homes. We did not address business buildings. Business buildings have, however, been renovated to a large degree, such are Dent Brothers, the old Department Store, Roberts-Judson Lumber yard buildings, and several others. There are however many that remain unattended, which I fear will plague us for years to come. Homes may be sighted by the city to be improved or torn down by statue. This is however a long process and many times nothing ever happens. As a political question, I can assure you the city in not financially able to address these issues in any helpful way other than citations which may or may not be followed through. Economic change comes about every 50 years. The big box stores are now struggling due to competition from Internet retail sales. The outcome of this change already is showing due to the closing of hundreds of big retail stores across the country.
Discuss an area of the city of Salem budget you would attempt to change if elected? Be specific on why the change is needed.
In order to service the $9 million debt load the city has assumed, it is obvious this money will have to come through increased revenues. Sales tax will not increase due to Internet sales, and the other source of revenue can only come from increase in the cost of utilities. However, there is another way to service this debt, which is through budget cuts and in small house adjustments on employee benefits. The budget cut that is obvious to all, or should be, is in the police department. The Salem police budget is nearly $1.2 million, St. James with about the same population is $561 thousand. Rolla police budget is $3.5 million. Considering population proportions, every 5,000 people served the budget would be $600 thousand. I do not advocate cutting the police by 50% but there is definitely room for adjustments. Employee benefits exceed any city/town I have talked to. Most cities pay two thirds of the insurance per employee and two thirds the deductible after employee has paid the first third. Salem pays 100 percent of insurance costs and 100 percent of the deductible. Salem retirement benefit is four times the national average. No city I have talked to buys back sick days or gives year-end bonuses for years of service. I am not against benefits but feel there is room for adjustments for the better good. We have too many employees. I recommend reducing the labor force through attrition. At any rate, I can retrieve ample resources through some minor adjustments that will retire and service the city’s $9 million dollar liability without raising costs of utilities.
