The Salem City Council Monday night will be asked to give final approval to a change in the natural gas rate structure for residential and commercial users to cover the city’s increased costs to maintain gas meters. For residential customers, the base rate for monthly service will increase $11 per month. Actual bills aren’t expected to go up that much this winter due to the lower cost of natural gas.
The council will consider a resolution to accept a $190,000 grant that will help the city pay the cost to demolish abandoned housing.
The council will consider the purchase of additional pipe for the raw water line due to needed repairs. The estimated cost of the needed pipe is about $15,000.
Wabash Communications is asking until the end of 2024 to construct a new building they promised to construct as part of its purchase of the former Brown Shoe Company project. They currently had until the end of 2023, but were delayed in part by the relocation of West Whitaker Street. A recommendation to change the zoning of the entire block to Industrial will also come before the city council.
There will be discussion on changes to the procedures to obtain a special event liquor license. Mayor Nic Farley would like to require the application at least ten days prior to the event and accompanied with a local licensed liquor establishment.
A closed session is on the agenda to discuss potential sale of real estate. Action could be taken after the council returns to open session.
The meeting begins at six Monday night at Salem City Hall.
