The Salem City Council Monday night will hear a proposal from an Artisan Craft Grower for Cannabis who wants to know if the city would allow such an operation in the Westside Industrial Park.
Matt Lowery has applied for a state license under the name of Hometown Heroes Consulting Firm. City Manager Rex Barbee says the council is being asked to discuss and possibly determine if a grow operation is an allowable use for certain zones such as industrial, non-urban, or commercial, or require a special use permit that would have to go before the planning commission.
The City Council will give first reading to the General Fund portion of the budget for the fiscal year beginning May first. The proposed general fund totals just over $6.2-million dollars and is up $331,000 from the current year budget. The council will review the remaining portions of the budget at the April 4th meeting. The total proposed budget is $19.1-million dollars, up $711,000 from this year’s budget.
The council will be asked to approve a proposed new service agreement with the YMCA for another two years beginning May 1st. The city’s portion of the contract will increase $2,269 for fiscal year 2022.
The renewal of the city’s health care plan from Mutual Medical will also be considered. The premium would increase $11,109 with a raise in the individual stop loss from $50,00 to $55,000 with no cost increase.
The council will be asked to approve a home occupation permit for Theresa Russell of 17 Monroe Drive to operate a home to market business that produces baked goods in a home kitchen as a cottage food operation. The planning commission has already approved the request.
The city council will also have to decide if they want to make any adjustments to the 4th of July Fireworks Display as a result of the cost of the pyrotechnics increasing about 35-percent over last year. The city currently spends $15,000 a year on fireworks.
The council meeting begins at six Monday night at Salem City Hall.
