The Salem City Council agreed to ask the city attorney to draft ordinance changes that govern nuisances and building code. The nuisances ordinance would be amended to prohibit more than one camper, recreation vehicle and boat on residential property and requiring that they be parked in a driveway and not on the street or front yard. The business code change would result in some fees going up to reflect increased costs since they were last reviewed in the 1980s. Demolition permits would now be required to tear down any building, with a $40 fee set for a demolition permit. Another change could put more requirements on temporary signs at businesses.
The council approved a renewal of its property and casualty insurance as well as workers compensation with a five percent increase in premium. The council questioned if raising deductibles could bring the cost down, but because they were on a deadline to renew coverage, they agreed to save that discussion until a future year if there is a larger increase in rates.
A representative of Good Energy told the council it appears electric rates will rise again next summer due to an energy shortage in the region that includes Southern Illinois. No bids have yet been approved that would set the cost of electricity for those in the aggregation program. The council gave the city manager permission to approve the new contract rate when available.
Final approval was given to the city’s 3.51 percent increase for property tax collections next year. The change will produce just over $50,000 in additional revenue for the city. Some yearly tax abatements were approved where bonds are being paid off by sales tax instead of property taxes.
The council approved the appointment of Brad Crow to the Historical Commission and heard from Emergency Management Agency Coordinator Andrew Strong that the new tornado warning siren behind Taco Bell would be installed December 1st and 2nd.
