No street repair in Salem this year

By BROOKS TAYLOR

Mt. Pleasant News

No money, no street repair.

That?s what the Salem City Council decided during its regular monthly meeting Tuesday night.

In the past, L.L. Pelling has handled the summer street work, which largely consisted of patching and resurfacing.

This year, however, Councilman Chuck Kramer advised waiting a year before doing any more repair.

?I think the best thing we can do is wait until next year,? Kramer said. ?We don?t have enough money to do anything.?

In another expenditure, the council learned of financing options for a new city rescue truck. Steve Nichting, fire chief, told the council several months ago that the current rescue vehicle was deteriorating rapidly.

At that time, the council said it could not replace the truck until late summer because they wanted to pay off the loan for the fire truck before purchasing another vehicle. The last loan payment for the fire truck will be made this month.

City Clerk Laci Shull reported on her conversation with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials regarding possible grants and or loans for the rescue truck purchase.

?If we qualify, they (USDA) will give us up to 55 percent of the purchase price of the truck and fund the remainder with a loan,? she said.

The 10-year loan would be at 3.5-percent interest and payments would be tailored to the city?s best option for repayment (i.e. monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual payments).

Salem Fire Chief Steve Nichting said he has a quote on a 2016 model for $132,600.

Shull said the USDA requires three quotes on trucks.

Nichting said the city could do fund-raisers to get the capital needed for the truck and added that some organizations have matching-fund programs on fund-raisers.

?We should get the other two estimates soon,? Shull stressed. ?We need to get the ball rolling because we have to start the qualification process with USDA to know if we can even get a grant.?

Dick Myers reported on maintenance work in the city park. He said the painting of the restrooms is nearly completed and then he will begin painting the picnic tables. He said the picnic tables will have to be moved outside to be pained.

Matt McAndrew from the Midwest Assistance Program gave the council a report on the free study he is doing on the city?s water and sewer systems. ?We try to make sure the council has enough information to work with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and rural water,? McAndrew explained.

Finally, the council received a $2,264 check from benefits hosted with proceeds going to city park improvements.

Salem council members meet again in regular session Tuesday, Aug. 4, at 5:30 p.m. in the Community Center.