South Central Reporter

City of Salem City Council met Sept. 3.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

I. Call to Order

The regular September 3, 2024 meeting of the Salem City Council was convened in the Council Chambers of Salem City Hall. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Nicolas Farley at 6:00 PM.

Council members present:

Councilman Royce Bringwald

Councilwoman Tracy Crouch

Councilman Jim Koehler

Councilman Craig Morton (arrived 6:04 PM)

Mayor Nicolas Farley

Council members absent:

None

Others present:

Interim City Manager Annette Sola

Chief of Police Kyle Ambuehl

City Clerk Tabitha Meador

Deputy Chief of Police Susan Miller

City Attorney Mike Jones

Economic Development Director Leah Dellicarpini

Finance Director Keli Barrow

Public Works Director Travis Sanders

Code Enforcement Officer Dave Lusch

Assistant Public Works Director Courtney Mitchell

Brent Taylor, Gonzalez Companies

Keith Sheeler, Sheeler Rental Properties

Members of the Public and Media

II. Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance

Councilman Jim Koehler offered the opening prayer, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

III. Presentation of Petitions/Public Comments – None.

IV. Mayor’s Report and Presentations

• wished all a Happy Labor Day;

• indicated that he competed against the mayor of Centralia for Shriners Week at Raccoon Grade School. He raised $1,000, as opposed to the mayor of Centralia who raised $6,000; he took two pies to the face as a result. Mayor Farley thanked Raccoon Grade School for the fundraiser and area businesses for allowing the donation jars. One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to the Shriners.

V. City Council Action

1. Consent Agenda

(a) Approval of Minutes of the August 19, 2024 Salem City Council meeting.

Motion made by Councilman Koehler and seconded by Councilman Bringwald to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Roll call vote: AYES: Councilwoman Crouch, Councilman Koehler, Councilman Bringwald, Mayor Farley. NAYS: None. ABSENT: Councilman Morton. Motion carried.

2. Request approval of contract with Cady Aquastore, Inc.

Mayor Farley indicated the Wastewater Treatment Plant has a large sludge storage tank that needs to be repaired. The tank is scheduled to be emptied in coming weeks and the repairs will need to be done as quickly as possibly following the tank being emptied. City Manager Sola indicated this is the large blue storage tank by Lake Street. The estimated cost to replace the tank is over $1,000,000; this repair should gain 30-35 years of usage. This is a budgeted expense and comes in under budget; further repairs will be in next year’s budget.

Motion made by Councilwoman Crouch and seconded by Councilman Koehler to approve the estimate presented by Cady Aquastore, Inc in the amount of $43,950.00 for the repair of the sludge tank at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Roll call vote: AYES: Councilman Bringwald, Councilman Morton, Councilwoman Crouch, Councilman Koehler, Mayor Farley. NAYS: None. Motion carried.

3. Request approval to surplus City property.

Mayor Farley indicated several items from Public Works, the Police Department, and City Hall are no longer being used and are requested to be listed as surplus. The list includes: from Public Works: welder, portable welder, generator, pneumatic floor jack, battery powered grease gun, and two weed-eaters; from the Police Department: 5 vehicle cages from squad cars, welder and miscellaneous small tools, and old tires and rims; and from City Hall: the large conference table from the foyer. City Manager Sola indicated Antique Power Days has a consignment auction this weekend, and it is the intent to take the items there; the vehicle cages will be sold as scrap.

Motion made by Councilman Koehler and seconded by Councilman Bringwald to approve the listed items to be sold as surplus. Roll call vote: AYES: Councilman Morton, Councilman Bringwald, Councilwoman Crouch, Councilman Koehler, Mayor Farley. NAYS: None. Motion carried.

4. Request approval for engine repair to Public Works Dump Truck.

Mayor Farley indicated Public Works has a 2017 Ford F-750 that was being used to haul at the landfill. The vehicle is currently having issues and it was determined that the engine will need to be replaced in the truck. This is a non-budgeted item but will have to happen to keep the truck in service. City Manager Sola indicated this is a good truck that was used extensively last year with the landfill work, and needs the engine replaced. The expenditure of funds will come from the Streets budget.

Motion made by Councilman Bringwald and seconded by Councilwoman Crouch to approve the estimate from Scheid Diesel Service in Effingham for $22,506.01 to replace the engine in the 2017 Ford F-750. Roll call vote: AYES: Councilman Koehler, Councilwoman Crouch, Councilman Bringwald, Councilman Morton, Mayor Farley. NAYS: None. Motion carried.

5. Request approval of Public Works Resolution 2024-07 for MFT roadwork projects.

Mayor Farley indicated this Resolution is for Roadway Improvements that is required to proceed with Motor Fuel Tax roadwork projects prior to IDOT awarding the project. Resolution 2024-07 in the amount of $466,850.00 from MFT includes overlay on North Jefferson Street from East Schwartz to East Seneff; North College Street from 160 feet north of West Main Street to West Boone Street; and West Boone Street from 200 feet east of North College to North Broadway Avenue. Additional funding for this project is provided by the Rebuild Illinois Funds that were received in the amount of $493,290.96. The project also includes a new 6-foot-wide sidewalk along West Boone Street from North Broadway to College Street. Engineer’s estimate for the project is $1,028,898.90.

Motion made by Councilwoman Crouch and seconded by Councilman Bringwald to approve Resolution 2024-07, appropriating $466,850.00 from Motor Fuel Tax funds for the proposed roadway and sidewalk improvements. Roll call vote: AYES: Councilman Bringwald, Councilman Morton, Councilwoman Crouch, Councilman Koehler, Mayor Farley. NAYS: None. Motion carried.

6. Request approval of ordinance change to Sec. 23-374 Mobile Homes on Private Lots.

Mayor Farley indicated proposed changes to the Zoning Code of Ordinance Sec. 23-374 – Mobile Homes on private lots has not been updated for many years and allows for mobile home from the 1970’s to be pulled into lots. Many of these older mobile homes no longer meet the Manufactured Home Improvement Act (MHIA) and are not habitable when they are brought in. The proposed changes will require the home to be 20 years or newer, must comply with MHIA, and be habitable at the time the home is installed. Mayor Farley indicated he would like the verbiage amended to state that if a mobile home is older than 20 years, it must comply with MHIA and be habitable at time of installation. City Manager Sola indicated this change would apply to the new installation of mobile homes and would not affect current mobile homes.

Mayor Farley recognized Keith Sheeler of Sheeler Rentals, who addressed the Council. Mr. Sheeler indicated he currently has a mobile home older than 20 years, that is in pristine condition and is in the process of moving it to a lot that is zoned for mobile homes. City Manager Sola indicated that inspections would need to include the interior of the mobile home to deem it habitable, which is subjective to the inspector. Inspections would be conducted by the Public Works Director. Mayor Farley indicated further information needs to be presented before a decision can be made to properly amend the Mobile Home Code. Motion made by Councilman Bringwald and seconded by Councilman Koehler to table action on changed to Section 23-374: Mobile Homes on Private Lots of the City’s Code of Ordinances. Roll call vote: AYES: Councilwoman Crouch, Councilman Koehler, Councilman Morton, Councilman Bringwald, Mayor Farley. NAYS: None. Motion carried.

VI. City Manager and Department Head Reports

Economic Development Director Dellicarpini:

• indicated nothing to share at this time.

Finance Director Barrow:

• indicated the auditors are finalizing the audit report and should be in attendance at the next Council meeting;

• indicated she will be out of the office three days next week at a conference.

Public Works Director Sanders:

• indicated Haier Plumbing has started the sewer line replacement project on Illinois Street;

• indicated the Kell Street concrete test is complete and should be open by the end of the week.

Assistant Public Works Director Mitchell:

• indicated one more house has been demolished through the grant process.

Police Chief Ambuehl:

• indicated the police department has a number of trainings scheduled, including range training and supervisor training;

• indicated the Police Commission will hold testing for Patrolman on September 21. Two officers will be hired immediately.

Deputy Chief Miller: No report.

Code Enforcement Officer Lusch: No report.

City Clerk Meador: No report.

City Manager Sola: No report.

VII. City Attorney Report – No report.

VIII. City Council Member Reports

Councilman Koehler:

• indicated the Historical Commission hosted the Genealogical Society for a night visit to the Bryan Home last week.

IX. Executive Session

1. 5 ILCS 120/2(C)(1) – Personnel

2. 5 ILCS 120/2(C)(6) – Sale of Real Estate

Motion made at 6:35 PM by Councilman Morton and seconded by Councilwoman Crouch to enter into Executive Session to discuss Personnel and the Sale of Real Estate after a five minute break. Roll call vote: Councilman Morton, Councilman Bringwald, Councilman Koehler, Councilwoman Crouch, Mayor Farley. NAYS: None. Motion carried.

X. Return to Open Session

Return to Open Session at 7:12 PM

XI. Motion to Adjourn

Motion was made by Councilwoman Crouch and seconded by Councilman Morton to adjourn the meeting at 7:13 PM. Roll call vote: AYES: Councilwoman Crouch, Councilman Bringwald, Councilman Morton, Mayor Farley. NAYS: None. ABSTENTIONS: Councilman Koehler. Motion carried.

https://www.salemil.us/sites/g/files/vyhlif1161/f/minutes/cc_-_2024_09-03.pdf