The Salem City Council will vote Monday night on a Planning Commission recommendation on where to allow placement of cargo storage containers.
Under the proposal, the containers could be placed in the B3, B4, and B6 Zoning Districts and the Industrial District provided they meet zoning setback requirements. Placement of the containers in the B2 Downtown Business and B5 residential transitional business districts would require a special use permit. There is no provision for residential use of the containers.
The city council is expected to discuss raising the city license fee on video gaming machines. The state is expected to increase the maximum fee allowed for non home rule cities to $250 per machine. If Salem follows the lead of Centralia and charges the full $250 fee for for-profit businesses and $150 for non-profit businesses they could raise an additional $19,620 in revenue for the city. City Manager Rex Barbee is recommending no action until the increase is finalized by the state.
The council will be asked to allow planning to begin on the 4th of July celebration next summer. $10,000 was expended last year on hiring Bill Poss of Effingham to provide entertainment and $15,000 for the fireworks display that followed.
The council will be asked to purchase water meters and fire hydrants budgeted for next year prior to the end of the year to beat a price increase. A request is being made for a special parking spot on East Schwartz Street for prisoner transport vehicles bringing prisoners to court to park.
The meeting gets underway at six Monday night at Salem City Hall.
