Salem's generator is up and running

By BROOKS TAYLOR

Mt. Pleasant News

SALEM ? Salem?s new generator is up and running, Dick Myers, city public works director, reported to the Salem City Council Wednesday night.

?We had it running (on Wednesday),? Myers told the council. ?Everything ran okay.?

However, there is a problem with the electronic governor on the generator which is easily fixed, he said.

Salem purchased the $22,000 generator from Ace Electric of Washington and North Liberty and the firm installed the unit Wednesday. A United States Department of Agriculture grant funded some of the cost as did a contribution from the fire association.

The diesel-powered generator will provide power to the entire community in the event of a power outage. ?During a major power outage, the generator will kick on and run for 30 minutes after the power has been restored,? Myers said.

In another capital expenditure, the council approved purchasing a new part for the water softener at the water plant. Jim Tomson of Hillsboro, who oversees the plant, said that the softener has not been functioning properly for some time.

?You need to have the softener working because without it, the water samples taken and sent for testing would not pass DNR (Department of Natural Resources) standards,? Tomson noted.

Currently, the plant is set so that the softener is being bypassed. The part costs approximately $3,500, Tomson said, and will take about 7-10 days to arrive. Tomson added that it will only take a day or two to install it.

City Attorney Patrick Brau told the council that he has reviewed the city?s zoning ordinance and the city must now come up with a zoning map to match the ordinance.

?We have to get one (map) that everybody agrees on before it is adopted,? City Clerk Brenda Carver added.

Carver said she has discussed the matter (creating a map) with the Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission (SEIRPC) and was told the agency would compile a map at a rate of $53.00 per hour not to exceed $1,500. She also said that Joe Buffington, Henry County Planning and Zoning administrator, has offered help, ?but I don?t know if he will charge or not.?

Action was tabled on the zoning map.

In other business, the council:

? Approved waxing of the Community City and fire department floors at a cost of $250;

? Donated $300 to the Salem Crew Public Library for Christmas candy and Santa?s visit Saturday, Dec. 9, from 10-11 a.m.;

? Approved hosting a holiday exterior lighting contest. Displays will be judged Dec. 13-15 and prizes awarded for first, second and third place.

Council members meet again in regular session Tuesday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m. in the Community Center.