The Salem City Council has passed an ordinance allowing the police department to begin the process of surplussing about 40 unclaimed bicycles.
Chief Sean Reynolds says the first step will be to select a date for the giveaway in the fall which will also give those missing a bicycle one last chance to see if the police department has recovered it.
“They can come in if they don’t have a serial number then try to give us a physical description of the bike and maybe an estimate of the date in which they noticed it missing or stolen. We will check our inventory to see if that bike exist. And then we will give it back to the owners, otherwise we will have the event scheduled and individuals will come and they will be on a first come first serve. They will get a number, and then in order they will be allowed to pick a bicycle.”
Reynolds is encouraging everyone to register their bicycle.
“If individuals come to pick up bikes at this giveaway, they will be required to register their bikes with us so if they are missing or stolen we will know who the owners are. So those who still have their bikes in their position we encourage you to register with the police department so if its missing or stolen we can trace it back to you if it is located.”
Reynolds says the bikes to be surplused are of all sizes and conditions.
The council Monday night approved the closure of a half block of East McMackin Street and Centennial Park for a Christmas market program being planned by city officials on Saturday, December 3rd. Economic Development Director Tabitha Meador says now that the street and park closure has been approved, the specifics of the program will be finalized.
Public Works Director Annette Solo says they are still waiting to see if the contractor who submitted the lone bid for the West Whitaker Street resurfacing project from College to near Broadway will accept the award by the Illinois Department of Transportation. If they don’t, the project will have to be rebid delaying its completion.
Councilman Jim Koehler notes with the growth and popularity of the new Historic Museum, he’d like to see if it could be expanded to a vacant storefront next door. City Manager Rex Barbee said he would approach the owner on if they would be interested in selling. Mayor Nic Farley says the other question would be how to pay for it.
Koehler also asked if the city could work with merchants in the immediate downtown area for sprucing up and painting of buildings. Staff was asked to explore if some type of program could be established through the downtown Tax Increment Financing district.
