With COVID-19 still an issue and enhanced mitigation being ordered by the Governor, the Salem City Council Wednesday night extended the time restaurants and bars can utilize outside seating.
City Manager Rex Barbee made the recommendation.
“Temperatures are dropping so it’s probably going to be less successful but I would like us to extend the ordinance to December 31st to continue if they want to.”
New mitigation rules that include a ban on inside bar and restaurant seating due to positivity rates in the Southern Illinois Region topping eight-percent go into effect today. However, many impacted businesses say they have no intention of closing their inside dining and bar areas.
The city council approved its tax levy for next year’s tax bills. It is 2.5-percent higher than the amount collected this year. Two tax levies were abated because a sales tax is paying off the debt.
The council was reminded a groundbreaking will be held at 5:15 Thursday afternoon for the new soccer complex at West Main and Selmaville Road.
