John Kennedy, consultant project manager, explains the process of combining aquifer water with surface water at the Geren Island water treatment facility on Monday, May 10, 2021. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Salem is constructing $46 million in upgrades at the Geren Island water treatment facility to make the city’s water more[Read More…]
City News
To increase diversity in the city’s workforce, Salem will create new position, committee
The city of Salem wants its workforce to look more like the city’s population. Salem is taking a two-pronged approach to accomplishing this task. Internally, a staff committee is looking at diversity, equity and inclusion in its hiring and contracting practices. Last week, the Salem Budget Committee recommended the city[Read More…]
Budget committee recommends body-worn cameras for Salem police
A Salem police car. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) The Salem Police Department is one step closer to having body-worn cameras for its officers. On Wednesday night, the Salem Budget Committee unanimously voted to include a body-worn and dash camera program in the city budget with the amount to be determined by[Read More…]
Salem Budget Committee recommends funding for mobile unit to respond to crisis calls
Brenton Gicker, left, prepares to pull CAHOOTS van toward a 911 call at Eugene Public Library. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) The Salem Budget Committee Wednesday evening unanimously voted to set aside $135,000 for a mobile response unit that would send a crisis worker and EMT to calls of people in mental[Read More…]
Marion County surveys residents on priorities for housing, development
Marion County building in downtown Salem (Caleb Wolf/Special to Salem Reporter) Marion County wants public input on how to spend millions in federal money as it develops a five-year plan for housing, community development, and infrastructure. The county has two surveys open until July 14 to help outline priorities for[Read More…]
Salem City Council approves tax exemption for Broadway apartment complex
Construction is underway at 990 Broadway N.E., which will produce 23 residential units. Developers worked with historic preservationists to make sure artifacts from Salem’s pioneer era were preserved. (Jake Thomas/Salem Reporter) The Salem City Council on Monday approved for an apartment complex a ten-year property tax exemption under a decades-old[Read More…]
Union Street would become pedestrian walkway under Salem city councilor’s proposal
Cyclists cross the Union Street Railroad Bridge on Thursday, July 30. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Salem City Councilor Virginia Stapleton wants Salem to imagine having a dedicated bicycle and pedestrian lane on Union Street that people could use to travel from west Salem or downtown to the farmer’s market without having[Read More…]
Salem area officials worry bill to decriminalize homelessness will just lead to more litigation
Dogs stand outside of a camp at Cascades Gateway City Park on March 2, 2021. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Marion County officials say a bill making its way through the Legislature aimed at decriminalizing homelessness would create more legal headaches for local governments. House Bill 3115, sponsored by House Speaker Tina[Read More…]
As Salem begins budget process, strategic plan will help guide priorities
For Courtney Knox Busch, the mark of a good strategic plan is that Salem residents can see their input and feel they have an impact on city operations. The city of Salem strategic initiatives manager was tasked with funneling hundreds of pieces of input on what the community and Salem[Read More…]
Salem climate survey finds differing priorities between task force, survey takers
Salem’s Climate Action Plan task force held its first workshop Wednesday, Nov. 17. Salem residents recently surveyed preferred community improvement strategies like repairing sidewalks and planting more trees over more aggressive measures to combat climate change. Their responses stand in contrast to priorities from a task force charged with creating[Read More…]
