Water plant, meter upgrades needed soon in Salem

BY BROOKS TAYLOR

Mt. Pleasant News

SALEM ? Water plant and water meter upgrades are on the horizon for the City of Salem.

French-Reneker Engineering representatives met with council members during the council?s meeting Tuesday evening to present and discuss options and costs of the upgrades.

City Clerk Laci Shull said upgrades are needed because of the water plant and meters? age. ?It is an aging system and we are having difficulty finding needed parts,? she said.

The costs of the upgrades range from $600,000 to $1,000,000. The city has several funding possibilities ? a community development block grant (CDBG), state revolving loan fund and a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant/loan. The USDA grant/loan program could provide up to 60 percent of the cost through a grant with the remainder of the cost being in the form of a loan from the agency.

USDA funds are also being sought for a new rescue truck for the community. Fire Chief Steve Nichting presented the council with three bids on a new truck, which would also have pumping capabilities. The bids ranged from $130,775 to $166,106. Nichting had said at an earlier council meeting that the rescue truck was aging and needed replacing.

The USDA requires three bids. No council action was taken on the bids.

Nichting, who was re-appointed fire chief by the council during the meeting, also said he is applying for a grant for turnout gear for the department. The gear will cost between $45,000-$50,000. The required city match for the federal grant is 5 percent.

In another matter that has appeared on the council agenda for a number of months, progress is being made on acquiring a fire-damaged house at 206 S. Main St. in Salem. The city wants to demolish the home. One of the problems in the nuisance process is that the owner of the house died a number of years ago and there has been difficulty contacting the owner?s heirs.

Salem City Attorney Pat Brau said Seleta Bainter, of Mt. Pleasant, has been selected to represent the heirs and the matter is being processed as an abandoned house.

In final action, the council:

? Approved the addition of Philip West to the fire department.

? Set trick-or-treat date and time. Trick or treat night will be on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 5-7 p.m. The council also agreed to donate $300 to the Salem Crew Public Library for its annual Halloween parade.

? Approved handicap parking spots for the Underground and Prairie Cherie.