The Salem City Council Tuesday night voted to celebrate Independence Day on Thursday, July 4th. They also decided to keep the fireworks display and the afternoon music program at the Bryan Park Band Stage together on the same day.
Mayor Nic Farley initially asked for the fireworks on the fourth and the music festival on Saturday, July 6th, but found no support from the city council or city department heads.
Police Chief Kyle Ambuehl feels the events work well together.
“If you are going to do it, have it all on the same day whatever day that is. I think the Bicentennial actually was hurt a little bit by the fact that they didn’t have the fireworks following the concert.”
Both Ambuehl and Public Works Director Annette Sola added there would be less overtime if the events were together.
City Clerk Tabatha Meador who coordinates the yearly program then receive permission to use a different promoter to provide the musical entertainment.
“I have been frustrated with our previous music coordinator for the services and honestly the expense that we are having to pay him for the services that we receive. So I am interested and have talked to a local coordinator, Doug Drenkpohl, who is a musician himself who can plan and organize with local bands that can draw a crowd. I think he has a better pulse on what’s going on in the community as well.”
Meador said the music event in its four years has never drawn a crowd from outside the Salem area as originally planned under the old promoter.
After the meeting, Meador said no decisions had yet been made on bands or types of music. She does plan to once again have food trucks available for those in attendance.
In public comment, one resident, Neal Canon, asked for a gospel music festival to be planned for the July 4th holiday.
In other action, the city council approved a contract with Gonzalez Companies, LLC to oversee the city’s summer oil and chip street improvement program.
