With no grant money in sight, the Salem City Council has decided to move forward with work on two West Kell Street projects with city funds.
City Manager Rex Barbee says the first step will be to get update prices on replacement of the waterline on West Kell from Broadway to College and for pavement improvements on West Kell at the Route 37 interchange.
Both projects are in the city budget, but cost estimates are two years old. The water line project has $246,000 included in the budget. The new line will loop the water system on the south side and improve water pressure. The pavement improvements had an estimated cost of $168,000.
Once new cost estimates are available, bids will be sought for the work. Barbee hopes both projects can be completed this summer.
Finance Director Keli Barrow told the council that the water rate increase that went into effect in August generated an additional $200,000 in revenue during the first four months. However, she cautioned that number couldn’t be used to project a yearly increase in revenue because water usage is different at different times of the year. The council agreed to revisit the water rate issue again at the second meeting in September once there are figures for the entire year. When the water rate was increased, the city was looking at a yearly deficit of over $300,000 a year.
In other action, the Girl Scouts were given permission to use the parking lot of the Save-a-Lot building for a cookie sale event on February 19th.
