The Salem City Council has voted to move forward on replacement of sewer lines under portions of Illinois and Spruce Streets.
The council approved the only bid from Haier Plumbing and Heating in Okawville for $353,216. That was well under the $580,000 budgeted for the project.
City Manager Annette Sola says there will be some inconvenience to residents who live in the area of the sewer replacement which extends from Cedar to Spruce on Illinois Street and Spruce Street west to the end of the line. She is hoping work will begin in late summer starting on Illinois Street.
“Section between Cedar and Spruce Streets during construction, that area will be closed during the day. We obviously will be mindful of the people that live in that area and allow them access in and out of their houses, but they will have to use side streets to travel that area while construction is in progress. Once we turn off of Illinois Street and onto Spruce, that will impact Reel & Tulsa coming out on the south ends of those roads that will be closed as well during construction.”
Sola says the sewer lines are underneath the streets and once installation is complete the impacted section of roadways will remain gravel over winter.
“That’s honestly in an effort to help settle the construction site and also cost cutting measure to allow the back fill with dirt and let it settle, it will have a base of rock over the top for several months. Travis our Public Works Director will monitor that daily and will try to keep up on that. And in the Spring when everything settles down we will get a regular road back in place.”
Sola feels the project will be worth the temporary issues for long term improvement in the neighborhood. She notes there have been several issues in the past with the sewer main.
In other action, the city council approved an update of the animal and fowl ordinance. Sola says the changes will bring the ordinance up to date with current practices and will not result in any changes.
The council opened bids on three no longer needed pieces of equipment in the public works department. DG Farms in Dix was high bidder on purchase of a back hoe for $24,301. There were only one bid on the other two items. Martins Service Center bid $100 on an air compressor and Bart Colclasure $50 for a zero-turn mower that does not have a functioning motor.
Public Works Director Travis Sanders announced the overlay on Kell Street from Broadway to College will begin later this month.
