City of Salem City Council met Oct. 17.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
I. CALL TO ORDER
The regular meeting of the Salem City Council was convened in the Council Chambers of Salem City Hall. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Nic Farley at 6:00 pm.
Council members present:
Councilman Jim Koehler
Councilman Royce Bringwald
Councilman Craig Morton
Mayor Nicolas Farley
Council members absent:
Councilwoman Amy Troutt
Others present:
City Manager Rex Barbee
Chief of Police Kyle Ambuehl
Finance Dir. Keli Roth
City Clerk Bev Quinn
City Attorney Mike Jones
Public Works Director Annette Sola
Deputy Chief of Police Susan Miller
Economic Development Dir Tabitha Meador
Asst. to the Public Works Dir. Courtney Mitchell
Members of the Media and Public
II. PRAYER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilman Koehler offered the opening prayer, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. III. PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS/PUBLIC COMMENTS – None.
IV. MAYOR’S REPORT AND PRESENTATIONS
Mayor Farley reported that the PKC event went over well, although there some issues with accidental land usage. This opened an opportunity for a great discussion with the IDNR and area game wardens. The wardens indicated they like working with the Salem Police Department, as they always go above and beyond.
V. CITY COUNCIL ACTION
1. Consent Agenda
a) Approval of Minutes – October 3, 2022
Motion was made by Councilman Bringwald and seconded by Councilman Morton to approve the minutes as presented. Roll call vote: AYES: Councilman Bringwald, Councilman Morton, Mayor Farley. NAYS: None. Councilman Koehler abstained, as he was not at the meeting. Motion carried.
2. Request to Close Out the IDNR OSLAD Grant Account
Mayor Farley noted the bank account for the IDNR OSLAD grant has been depleted, and the Finance Director is requesting City Council’s approval to close the bank account. Motion was made by Councilman Koehler and seconded by Councilman Bringwald to approve closing the OSLAD bank account. Roll call vote: AYES: Councilman Morton, Councilman Koehler, Councilman Bringwald, Mayor Farley. NAYS: None. Motion carried.
3. Ordinance – First Reading Property Tax Levy
Finance Director Roth indicated the City is limited in the amount we can levy. This year the City is levying a 2.8% increase over last year.
Director Roth added that the bonds will be abated, so the actual total levied will be $1,347,493.
City Manage Barbee indicated this is being presented for a First Reading, and no action is expected at this time.
4. Review of Extension for Residential Waste Collection Fuel Surcharge
City Manager Barbee indicated that earlier this year, City Council approved the request from our trash hauler, DBS Disposal, to add a $1.00 per household surcharge to cover the increased cost of diesel fuel and other associated costs. Barbee added that the cost of diesel fuel remains high, at close to $5.00/gal. DBS Disposal is requesting that the surcharge stay in effect at this time. Barbee added that the City has been absorbing this increase and not passing it on to our residential customers. Barbee added that he is recommending and extension of the $1.00 per household waste collection surcharge until the contract expires in December 2023, and that the additional cost be assessed to the residential customer. Finance Director Rother added that this is a cost of $2,723/mo. to the City, and as the Garbage Fund has a deficit balance of $82,000, the General Fund is having to subsidize this.
Councilman Koehler indicated he does not want to see us pass this surcharge on to the residential customers, yet. The overage is currently being subsidized by the General Fund, and he would like to see the General Fund continue to absorb this cost.
Mayor Farley indicated that if the fee is added to customer utility bills, he would like to see a definite time-limit put on the surcharge. Councilman Koehler responded that he does not want to see this charge passed on to the residents at this time, and he would like to see the City continue as it is, with another review in January.
Public Works Director Sola indicated that Public Works is receiving additional surcharges on chemicals, equipment and commodities, which are adding up to thousands of dollars. Sola added that the City will have to address these surcharges at some point.
Councilman Bringwald indicated if the City can continue to cover the additional surcharge, he would prefer not to pass that additional cost on to residential customers, yet. Mayor Farley indicated he does not want to see the City continue to “kick the can down the road” on these additional expenses. Motion was made by Councilman Koehler and seconded by Councilman Bringwald to approve and extension of the $1.00/customer monthly surcharge, and continue to absorb the cost, until the second meeting in January, 2023. Roll call vote: AYES: Councilman Morton, Councilman Koehler, Councilman Bringwald. NAYS: Mayor Farley. Motion carried.
5. Review of Accounts Payable from September 17, 2022 – October 14, 2022
Mayor Farley asked what the City Manager’s spending authority is, as the City Council agendas appear to have fewer large item approvals on them than in the past. City Attorney Jones responded that the City Council has already approved the majority of these items by approving the budget. Jones added that the City does not have to do RFPs or award bids on any purchases or projects that are not public property improvement projects, i.e., roads, water lines, etc. City Clerk Quinn added that this $10,000 is not a mandate, many other communities have adopted a higher spending threshold for their City Managers.
Following review, motion was made by Councilman Koehler and seconded by Councilman Bringwald to approve the Accounts Payable as presented. Roll call vote: AYES: Councilman Koehler, Councilman Bringwald, Councilman Morton, Mayor Farley. NAYS: None. Motion carried.
VI. CITY MANAGER AND DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS
Public Works Director Sola –
• indicated the leaf vac will begin on October 24th, and will be following the residential waste collection schedule;
• indicated the City columbarium has been installed at East Lawn Cemetery, directly across the path from the American Eagle. The columbarium came from Wilson and Wilson Monument Company and has 48 niche units in it, which will hold two cremains each. Sola added that they will be adding sidewalk up to the columbarium, and when the first columbarium is full, they will install a second one. There will be brass tags indicated whose cremains are in each niche. As part of the project, the First Responder Memorial will be moved to where the POW chair is;
• indicated Public Works crews have completed four house demolitions within the past two weeks. Sola added that Street Dept. employee Rodney Bryan is very talented, and was able to crunch the houses up so they took less room in the dumpsters, which saved the City money. Sola added that Code Enforcement Lusch has about 10 more houses he’d like torn down, if City Council wants to allocate the funds. Mayor Farley asked what the status of the house on Pine Street that was scheduled for demolition is. Dir. Sola responded that someone had approached Officer Lusch, and intended to bring it up to code. Six months have passed with no improvements, so it is back on the demolition list.
City Manager Barbee –
• displayed a photo of the Whittaker Street project progress, and indicated they should be done within 45 days of their start date, which was October 1st. Mayor Farley asked if Wabash was still going to build on the former Brown Shoe lot. City Manager Barbee indicated he would follow up with Wabash. PW Dir. Sola indicated she spoke with Wabash prior to starting the roadway project, and they showed her where they expect their entrance will be, as they are still planning on building on the site;
• indicted he attended an ICRMT Conference, and learned some interesting things regarding cyber security.
VII. CITY ATTORNEY REPORT – no report.
VIII. CITY COUNCIL REPORTS
Councilman Koehler --
• indicated the Bryan Home will not be painted this year, due to temperatures dropping below 50 degrees. Koehler also added that the Historical Commission is looking to expand the East Lawn Cemetery tour, as there are a lot of interesting people buried there, and many people who wanted to buy tickets were turned away. Koehler added that although William Jennings Bryan is not buried there, his mother is.
IX. MOTION TO ADJOURN
Motion was made by Councilman Bringwald and seconded by Councilman Morton to adjourn the meeting at 6:40 pm. Roll call vote: AYES: Councilman Bringwald, Councilman Koehler, Councilman Morton, Mayor Farley. NAYS: None. Motion carried.
https://www.salemil.us/sites/g/files/vyhlif1161/f/minutes/cc_-_2022_10-17.pdf
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