The City of Salem Board of Aldermen again discussed a bid from WCA for trash services for the city during their Aug. 22 meeting. The topic had been tabled to give the utility committee an opportunity to review the new agreement, which includes a slightly higher rate, and lacks curbside recycling pickup. After discussion during the last utility committee meeting, the committee voted to recommend the aldermen approve the bid from WCA, the only respondent to the city’s request for bids.
Mayor Greg Parker stepped out of the meeting during the WCA discussion, citing a conflict of interest.
After discussion, Alderman Kyle Williams made a motion to approve the bid, and Alderwoman Amanda Duncan seconded. The vote was 4-0 in favor, accepting the bid. The bill containing the contract for the services had a first reading and will likely be approved at the next aldermanic meeting.
Preceding the sanitation discussion, the aldermen opened the floor for a tax levy hearing. Nobody was present who wished to speak about the tax levy, and so the meeting moved on. The bill levying a tax of 67.50 cents upon each $100 of assessed valuation of real estate and personal property was given a first reading, but not voted on.
The board again heard a request from the Public Works Department to enter into a three-year service agreement with Vandevanter Engineering for the city’s lift stations and water pumps. The topic had been brought up to the board in the previous meeting, when aldermen had requested that Public Works Director Mark Nash provide them on some more information on the pumps, which was presented to the board at the Aug. 22 meeting. After the board discussed the brand and condition of pumps as well as the terms of the agreement, and consulted with the city attorney, Alderman Williams made a motion to approve the preventative maintenance agreement with Vandevanter Engineering. Alderman Shawn Bolerjack seconded, and the vote was 4-0 in favor.
The board also approved two street closures. One, for a community “trunk or treat” event on Oct. 31, during normal Halloween trick-or-treating hours. Fourth Street will be blocked between MacArthur and Highway 19, allowing only foot traffic beginning at 5 p.m. on Halloween. The other, a street closure for the annual Salem High School football parade, which will occur before the first football game on August 25. Though not present at the meeting, Dottie Steelman, who requested the closure, said in her written request that participants would line up on Fourth Street at 6:15 p.m. with a 6:30 p.m. start time. The parade will travel down Fourth Street to MacArthur, then moving to West Third and ending at the high school.
After the meeting’s public business had concluded, the aldermen voted 4-0 to enter a closed session at 6:45 p.m.
Also during the meeting, the board:
• Appointed Dean Jones to the Enhanced Enterprise Zone Board. The vote was 4-0 in favor. Jones was also approved earlier in the week by the Dent County Commission, as required by the board position, according to City Administrator Sally Burbridge.
• Approved Bill No. 3556, an annual conflict of interest disclosure ordinance. The vote was 4-0 in favor.
• Approved Bill No. 3558, which subdivides 1506 S. MacArthur, by a 4-0 vote.
• Approved Bill No. 3559, which subdivides 501 N. Washington, by a 4-0 vote.
• Approved Bill No. 3560, which rezones 903 W. Scenic Rivers Blvd. from Residential R-1 to Commercial C-1. The vote was 4-0 in favor.
• Heard the first readings of 14 other bills. No action was taken or discussion had for any of those items, which will be read again at the next meeting for discussion and voting.
