South Central Reporter

City of Salem City Council met April 7.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

I. Call to Order

The regular April 7, 2025 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:

Council members absent:

Councilman Royce Bringwald

Councilman Craig Morton

Councilman Jim Koehler

Mayor Nicolas Farley

Others present:

City Manager Annette Sola

City Attorney Matt Wilzbach

City Clerk Tabitha Meador

Acting Chief of Police Tyler Rose

Public Works Director Travis Sanders

Finance Director Keli Barrow

Recreation Director Jed Casburn

Building & Zoning Coordinator Jacob Washburn

DOEM Director Andrew Strong

Assistant DOEM Director Shane Mansker

Councilman-elect Frank Addison

Councilman-elect Gerald Molenhour

Members of the King Family

Members of the Salem Police Department

Dr. Brad Detering, SCHS Superintendent

Dr. Leslie Foppe, Salem 111 Superintendent

David Coryell, Salem Township Supervisor

Emil Nattier, Disaster Relief Illinois

Bruce Kropp, WJBD-WSIQ Radio

Dennis Rosenberger, Salem Times-Commoner

Members of the 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

• Dennis Grubaugh, property owner of the former Selmaville School, indicated he had turned over the demolition of the building to a company, and was apologetic for not having it done sooner. He indicated he is working to get the property cleaned up.

IV. Mayor’s Report and Presentations

• indicated his appreciation for the Police Department, Emergency Management, Public Works, and Fire Department in regards to the response Friday night during the flash flooding. He further indicated Channels 2 and 5 were at City Hall, conducting interviews earlier in the afternoon today. The Red Cross has set up a shelter at the First Baptist Church and clean-up kits and food kits are available;

• congratulated the two new elected Councilmen, Frank Addison and Geral Molenhour;

• indicated Keep Salem Beautiful will have a vendor faire in June;

• complimented the Officer Grant Green and the recruitment committee at the Salem Police Department for their videos for patrol. The videos are available on the Police Department’s Facebook page.

V. City Council Action

1. Consent Agenda

(a) Approval of Minutes from the March 17, 2025 Regular Council Meeting

(b) Approval to open new health insurance checking account

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

2. Promotion of Officer Ian King to Sergeant for Salem Police Department

Mayor Farley administered the oath of office for the promotion of Officer Ian King to Sergeant for the Salem Police Department.

3. Request approval of utility easement agreement with Scott Conant

Mayor Farley indicated City of Salem has installed gas, water, and sewer service lines to the Hilda Garden Apartments on Airport Road. He further indicated a utility easement is required for maintenance in the area, if needed. Milano and Grunloh Engineers have provided documentation to allow a twenty-foot easement in the areas where City utility lines have been installed.

Motion made by Councilman Koehler and seconded by Councilman Bringwald to approve the Hilda Gardens Apartments utility easement document as presented. Roll call vote: AYES: Councilman Koehler, Councilman Bringwald, Mayor Farley. NAYS: None. Motion carried.

4. Request approval of Special Use Permit at 207 E. Main Street

Mayor Farley indicated the Planning Commission has made recommendations to approve a Special Use Permit to allow Crea Rose to open and run a medical clinic downtown in the B-2 Business District, located at 207 East Main Street.

Motion made by Councilman Bringwald and seconded by Councilman Koehler to approve the Special Use Permit at 207 E. Main Street to allow the operation of a medical clinic. Roll call vote: AYES: Councilman Koehler, Councilman Bringwald, Mayor Farley. NAYS: None. Motion carried.

5. Request approval of a property rezoning at 1701 & 1703 E. Main Street

Mayor Farley indicated the Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval to rezone the parcels at 1701 and 1703 East Main Street (the former Merle McKinney Auto Sales) from B-3 Business District to RS-2 Single Family Residential. He further indicated the rezoning aligns with the City’s strategic plan and will allow for the development of more residential housing units in the area.

Motion made by Councilman Koehler and seconded by Councilman Bringwald to approve the rezoning of property located at 1701 and 1703 East Main Street from B-3 Business District to RS-2 Single-Family Residence. Roll call vote: AYES: Councilman Bringwald, Councilman Koehler, Mayor Farley. NAYS: None. Motion carried.

6. Request approval of amendment to TIF Agreement

Mayor Farley indicated Economic Development Director Dellicarpini is asking for an amendment to the Scott Conant/Hilda Gardens Apartments TIF Agreement to define reimbursement of infrastructure as phases of the project are completed. In the original agreement, a minimum and maximum of what could be reimbursed on the overall project were defined, but there was no definition of reimbursement of infrastructure. He further indicated the proposed amendment would allow reimbursement on infrastructure as it is completed and outlined in Phase 1 of the project; the reimbursement would be calculated and accounted for in the overall project reimbursement maximum. Mayor Farley recommended tabling approval.

Motion made by Councilman Koehler and seconded by Councilman Bringwald to table the amendment to the Scott Conant/Hilda Gardens Apartments TIF agreement. Roll call vote: AYES: Councilman Koehler, Councilman Bringwald, Mayor Farley. NAYS: None. Motion carried.

7. Request approval of Ordinance change in Chapter 23, Sec. 23-139 & 23-140

Mayor Farley indicated in the City of Salem Code of Ordinances, Chapter 23, Sec. 23-139, Permitted Uses allow for Commercial/large scale solar to be constructed in the NU (non-urban) areas that are 1.5 miles outside of the city limits but within the area that the City maintains zoning jurisdiction, without notification. Mayor Farley indicated this amendment would require solar projects in the NU area, within the 1.5-mile zoning jurisdiction, to apply for a special use permit, be heard by Planning Commission, and be open for comment from the public and neighboring property owners.

Motion made by Councilman Koehler and seconded by Councilman Bringwald to approve amending Chapter 23, Sec. 23-139 and 23-140 by changing solar construction from a permitted use to allowable by special use permit. Roll call vote: AYES: Councilman Koehler, Councilman Bringwald, Mayor Farley. NAYS: None. Motion carried.

8. Request approval of contract for house demolitions

Mayor Farley indicated bids were requested to demolish the remaining nine homes on the City’s demolition list. He further indicated the request asked for individual pricing for each home, including backfill; Chuck McLean submitted the only bid and has outlined the request and the cost for each home. City Manager Sola indicated the demolition of these homes will be paid for through grant funds.

Motion made by Councilman Koehler and seconded by Councilman Bringwald to approve the contract with Chuck McLean for the demolition of nine homes, as presented. Roll call vote: AYES: Councilman Bringwald, Councilman Koehler, Mayor Farley. NAYS: None. Motion carried.

9. Request approval of Ordinance 2025-09 Public Hearing date and time for establishment of the TIF4 District

Mayor Farley indicated Ordinance 2025-09 will set the date and time for a Public Hearing regarding the creation of the City of Salem proposed TIF District 4.

Motion made by Councilman Bringwald and seconded by Councilman Koehler to approve Ordinance 2025-09, establishing the date and time for the Public Hearing for the proposed TIF4 District. Roll call vote: AYES: Councilman Koehler, Councilman Bringwald, Mayor Farley. NAYS: None. Motion carried.

10. Review of the Non-General Fund Budgets for FY2026

City Manager Sola presented the review of the Non-General Fund Budgets for FY2026:

She indicated that in the Wastewater Treatment Plant budget, the sludge removal contract was increased to $50,000, and not by $50,000. City Manager Sola further indicated the following additions have been made to the FY2026 Budget after the first presentation:

VI. City Manager and Department Head Reports

City Manager Sola:

• echoed the Mayor’s statements about the community and City employees in regards to the response to the flooding. She indicated she is impressed every single time at the attentiveness;

• indicated City Hall staff is working on gathering data of flood damage and reporting it to different agencies. She encouraged residents to report any damage;

• indicated there is no intention of condemning homes or neighborhoods, dispelling rumors that are out there;

• recognized Emil Nattier of the Baptist Disaster Relief, and appreciated his service.

Finance Director Barrow: No report.

Recreation Director Casburn:

• indicated all programs are going well, despite fighting the weather.

Public Works Director Sanders:

• indicated a lift station was lost during the flooding;

• indicated the contractor is working on Jefferson Street.

Building and Zoning Coordinator Washburn: No report.

Acting Chief Rose:

• indicated his appreciation for the food that was donated to the Police Department;

• advised that if there is water across the roadway – do not enter;

• indicated there were 191 calls during the twelve hours of the flood and after. Sixty-two of these were 911 calls.

DOEM Director Strong:

• indicated there was a lot happening in a short amount of time, and there are no reported injuries or fatalities;

• indicated assessment forms are key for a State Declaration of Emergency;

• thanked Department Heads for their time over the weekend.

City Clerk Meador: No report.

VII. Executive Session

1. 5 ILCS 120/2(C)(3) – Vacancy in Public Office

Motion made by Councilman Koehler and seconded by Councilman Bringwald to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing the appointment to a vacancy in public office after a five-minute break at 6:45 PM. Roll call vote: AYES: Councilman Koehler, Councilman Bringwald, Mayor Farley. NAYS: None. Motion carried.

VIII. Return to Open Session

Return to Open Session at 7:01 PM

IX. City Council Members Reports

Mayor Farley:

• indicated there are open seats on the Airport Authority, Planning Commission, Tourism Board, and the Zoning Board of Appeals; interested persons may contact him.

Councilman Koehler:

• expressed appreciation to those that stepped up during the flood.

X. Motion to Adjourn

Motion was made by Councilman Bringwald and seconded by Councilman Koehler to adjourn the meeting at 7:02 PM. Roll call vote: AYES: Councilman Koehler, Councilman Bringwald, Mayor Farley. NAYS: None. Motion carried.

https://www.salemil.us/sites/g/files/vyhlif1161/f/minutes/cc_-_2025_04-07.pdf