The Salem City Council Monday night will consider how to use $947,667 in COVID-19 relief money. Half of the ARPA funding has already been deposited with the city. City Manager Rex Barbee says the funding is earmarked for infrastructure projects.
Some projects being put up for consideration are the replacement of the water line on South Broadway with an estimated cost of $1-million. A Plan B would be investing in the replacement of sewer lines in the southeast quarter of downtown from Marion Street to Mitchell to Broadway to Main. A Plan C would utilize the money to replace a portion of the Carlyle Lake Raw Water Line. Barbee says there have been multiple breaks in all three areas.
The council will also be asked to give the first reading approval of the property tax levy for next year. The proposed request is 1.4-percent more than last year, which is the rise in the latest Consumer Price Index. Under the plan, the levy would increase about $26,000 to $1.3-million dollars.
The council will also consider a .02-percent increase in the tax levy for the Bryan Bennett Library. The state statute allows the tax rate for maintenance, repair, and alterations of library buildings and equipment.
A request is being made to increase the allotment to cover the $48,000 the summer road maintenance program went over budget due to higher oil costs.
The Salem City Council will meet in person at six Monday night at Salem City Hall.
