Salem City Council passes resolution supporting school bond referendum

By BROOKS TAYLOR

Mt. Pleasant News

SALEM ? Members of the Salem City Council, during their regular meeting Tuesday evening, unanimously passed a resolution supporting the $16.9 million Mt. Pleasant Community School District school bond referendum.

Rural Salem resident Dave Helman, one of the organizers of the ?Our Kids-Our Future? political-action committee which is supporting the bond issue, presented the resolution to the council.

The resolution says that education has been a cornerstone of the Salem and Mt. Pleasant communities since before Iowa gained statehood; quality schools are central to economic development, growth and prosperity; all four elementary schools (in the MPCSD) have contributed greatly to the well-being of the community and this contribution must continue; and that the Mt. Pleasant School Board has established that the 50-year-old elementary schools are in need of repair, upgrading and improvement with an emphasis on safety, security and technology.

Helman said Iowa Code permits cities to express their opinion on the passage of ballot referendums. ?This (bond referendum) has great importance to Salem,? Helman said.

Council members passed another resolution approving a loan request of $198,604.28 from Pilot Grove Savings Bank to fund well repairs and the exterior and interior painting of the water tower.

Several maintenance/town improvement matters were tabled to gather more information and/or quotes.

One item was the replacement of the sidewalk in front of and on the side of the Community Building. Dick Myers, city employee, said the repair should have been done in the spring ?to allow plenty of cure time. In the winter, we put a lot of salt on it.?

Responding to a councilman?s question about bidding the project, Councilman Chuck Kramer said that in order to request bids, specifications would have to be written. ?It needs to match the other ones (the city did sidewalk repair along the city square the past several years?(Mike) Barton did the other ones and he hasn?t robbed us. This is not going to be a cheap date because this needs a lot of work.?

More information will be presented during the council?s October meeting.

A representative of the Salem Old Settlers organization said around $3,000 worth of work is needed at the park shelter house. The work includes remodeling the inside of the shelter house, a newer sink and wiring, updating and possible roof work. Work would be done by volunteers. The council will receive a more detailed plan at its October meeting.

Resident Linda Kramer asked the council to consider having lines painted for parking spots around the square. She said residents are confused on whether some spaces require diagonal or parallel parking. Council members said they would check into the matter.

In other business, the council:

? Approved sending City Clerk Lacey Shull to a basic training on local government and administrative issues. Cost of the training, which will be in Burlington, is $150.

? Approved the street finance resolution (an annual resolution that details the expenditures of state road use tax).

? Approved the expenditure of $139 for a new utility box in the front of the Community Center.

? Approved building permits for Jake and Karen Jacobsmeier, and Jody and Mindy McLeland.

? Will request bids on removal of a stump in Central Park.

Council members meet again in regular session Tuesday, Oct. 7, at 5:30 p.m. in the Community Building.