The Salem City Council has named outgoing city council member Royce Bringwald to fill the unexpired two-year term left vacant by the resignation of Tracy Crouch. Bringwald would have been leaving the council after losing a three-way election for two open seats without the appointment. Bringwald was appointed to serve until after the April 2027 election.
The City of Salem will be seeking a $1.875 million grant from Congressman Mike Bost’s Community Project Funding to replace the water line on West Main from College to Jefferson that has been the subject of numerous breaks. The city council passed a resolution Monday night to provide 20-percent of the funding, or $375,000, as the local share of the project if the grant is approved. City Manager Annette Sola says they may want to complete the project even without the grant funding next year so the line replacement is completed before IDOT approves resurfacing of the roadway.
The council approved two recommendations from the Planning Commission. A Class B manufactured home will be allowed to be placed on two adjoining lots on South Marshall Street. A duplex will be allowed as a special use on the remaining lot at the corner of Winner’s Circle and Mills Cart Road. A few neighbors were in opposition at the planning commission meeting because they thought it would make drainage in the neighborhood worse.
The council approved a development incentive for the new 618 Plastics manufacturing facility on North Selmaville Road. The TIF 2 District will reimburse half the property tax increment for the first five years and 30 percent the next three additional years.
The council also amended the Scott Conant/Hilda Gardens Apartment TIF agreement to allow the city to provide money under the development agreement prior to having TIF-4 in place. If for some reason, the new TIF 4 is never finalized Conant will have to pay back the amount with a small amount of interest.
The council gave final approval to the fiscal year 2026 budget that begins May 1st. Sola says it is balance with a small cushion.
The Daffy Dill Garden Club received permission to hold its annual Spring Garden festival at the Bryan Statue Gardens on Saturday, June 21st.
