It was a busy meeting for the City of Salem Board of Aldermen on the evening of June 13. Mayor Greg Parker was absent, and the meeting was therefore led by Alderman Shawn Bolerjack, who called the meeting to order, before moving on to a roll call. Present were Alderwomen Kala Sisco and Amanda Duncan, along with Aldermen Kyle Williams and Shawn Bolerjack. City Administrator Sally Burbridge, Police Chief Joe Chase, Public Works Director Mark Nash, City Attorney James Weber, and Code Officer Jarred Brown were also present.
The agenda and consent agenda were approved by a 4-0 vote.
The meeting then moved onto the hearing of a Salem couple seeking a permit to keep mini-pigs on their property. The City of Salem has an ordinance (205-710) preventing residents from keeping swine without special dispensation from the Board. The couple seeking the permit said they have kept mini-pigs for years, and consider them to be indoor pets and emotional support animals. They said the pigs are clean, don’t stink, and are kept either inside or in a small pen outside. Alderman Williams said he had driven by the property and didn’t notice anything that would cause concern to the surrounding neighbors and said there was no smell. After discussion of the ordinance, it was decided that the matter ultimately fell to the discretion of the Board. The property in question is surrounded by farmland, and the board noted the presence of livestock nearby. In light of these facts, Williams moved to approve a permit so that the couple can keep their mini-pigs. The measure passed 4-0.
The Board then discussed new tools for the electrical department. Public Works Director Nash rose to speak. He said the current set of tools are worn out and are in need of replacement. Three bids for tools were received, one from Hall’s Safety Equipment for $5,210, one from J. Harlen Co. Safety Equipment for $5,015.73, and a bid from Far West Line Specialties for $4,738.02. During discussion, Nash requested a budget adjustment of $2,738.02, transferred out of an Electric Equipment Maintenance line item to one for Electric Tools. According to the staff summary, there is $2,000 in the Electric Tools line item, and $13,000 in Equipment Maintenance. Alderwoman Sisco moved to accept the bid from Far West, and the Board voted 4-0 in favor, passing the motion.
Nash remained standing to discuss the next item; the purchase of five fire hydrants. According to Nash, parts are no longer available for certain models of hydrant that the city currently uses in some locations. He said the hydrants due to be replaced are experiencing leaking from a seal on the bottom, that cannot be replaced due to lack of parts. He said leaky hydrants are a major cause of water loss within the system, which costs the city money. Out of the three bids received, the aldermen settled on the low bid, received from Core & Main for $15,633.25. The board voted 4-0 to accept. The funding for the purchase comes from a Water Equipment Maintenance line item.
The board then discussed approval for the mayor to sign and submit an application for reimbursement of airport operation and maintenance funds. The city is eligible for $51,000 in ARPA funding as reimbursement for expenses related to the airport. The funding comes through three programs: The CARES grant, the CRRSSA grant, and the ARPA grant. Applications were submitted in 2020 and 2021 for the first two programs, and the grants were executed. The ARPA grant has not yet been executed, according to the staff summary. The board voted 4-0 to approve the submission of the appropriate applications for reimbursement.
The Board discussed a conditional use permit for a vacation rental on 2nd Street. Code Officer Brown reported to the Board that he had inspected the property and that the Planning and Zoning Committee recommended approval of the permit. The board voted 4-0 to approve the permit.
The Board then discussed the rezoning of 502 W. Dillon from residential to commercial. The action was requested by the Four Rivers Community Health Center. According to Brown, as the health center has grown, it has purchased surrounding properties to allow for parking and other expansion. The portion in question is the only part of the center that is still zoned residential. Brown said that the Planning and Zoning committee recommended rezoning. Alderwoman Sisco motioned to accept the recommendation, and the board voted 4-0 to approve the rezoning.
A second conditional use permit was discussed, this time for an auto detailing shop at 906 W. Center. According to Brown, the Planning and Zoning Committee felt that though many of the houses surrounding the property in question are abandoned, that the area is likely to remain residential. The Planning and Zoning Committee recommended a conditional use permit for the property, with certain stipulations. After discussion, the board voted 4-0 to approve the permit, with the stipulations that only three customer cars could be parked at the property at a time for a period of no longer than 24 hours, and that from the hours of midnight to 6 a.m., no commercial activity may be conducted.
The aldermen also discussed a conditional use permit for equipment sales at 1002 E. Scenic Rivers Blvd. During discussion, Brown said Salem’s commercial zoning was a bit odd, and that the area in question was intended more for retail and service businesses rather than equipment sales. A conditional use permit was recommended, with the stipulation that a six-foot privacy fence be erected to shield nearby residential properties. Alderwoman Sisco moved to approve the permit, and the board voted 4-0, passing the motion.
A subdivision plat was also approved at 1000 S. Main, the property currently occupied by the abandoned Walnut Motel, near Aranda’s Mexican Restaurant. After some discussion and a motion from Alderwoman Sisco, the plat was approved by a 4-0 vote.
The board moved on to discuss the ongoing lighting project at the Al Brown ballfields. The proposal requested approval for the purchase of wiring material and a load center needed to complete the project. The bid received was from Fletcher-Reinhardt; $4,556 for the load center and $17,315.57 for the wiring package. The funding for the purchase comes from money in escrow that has already been allotted for the purpose of the Al Brown project.
“This is a financing package we’re already making payments on,” said Burbridge.
The board voted 4-0 to approve the purchase.
The board then discussed a financial assistance agreement for the ARPA Drinking Water Grant Award. The city received a $3,730,000 grant towards the project to install a new well and well house, as well as the construction of a new water tower. The Department of Natural Resources has already approved the engineering portion of the contract, granting the city funds for the engineering contract. The city requires Parker’s signature to submit the expense reimbursement requests. The city’s 1% match for the partial award of $6,342.80 is $6,342.80 which will be budgeted in the 2023-24 fiscal year, according to the staff summary. Alderman Williams moved to approve, and the Board voted 4-0.
The board heard the first reading of Bill No. 3540, which authorizes the mayor to execute a water tower lease agreement between the City of Salem and Wave Internet Technologies for the installation of a wireless broadband access point on the water tower located at Tower and Condray streets. No action was taken, and the second reading and vote will occur during the next meeting of the Board of Aldermen.
The Board also approved a bill authorizing the mayor to execute a contract for contact tank painting services to city wells #2 and #4. On April 11, the board voted to approve a bid from Hogan, Inc. for $29,454 for tank at well #4, and a bid of $31,475 for the tank at well #2. The Board voted 4-0, passing the bill, which also included insulation for pipes at the facilities.
After brief reports from the Board and city staff, the meeting moved into a closed session.
