Treatment ponds at Geren Island which ultimately becomes drinking water for Salem residents. Water reaching this point will have already been treated with powdered-activated carbon. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) Following Salem’s brush with cyanotoxins, Devin Doring said everyone at the city of Salem faced the question: How can they stop this[Read More…]
City News
Salem library review paused following outcry from residents
Shelves at Salem Public Library in late November. The library’s new, more rigorous review policy is on pause until a public meeting Jan. 9. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter files) A rigorous review of items in the Salem Public Library’s collections is on hold after residents worried that books would be needlessly[Read More…]
City of Salem moves toward tax and fee increases to address budget woes
Salem City Hall (Salem Reporter files) Updated: This story was updated at 4 p.m. with additional details about the fees and charges. City of Salem officials will consider new taxes and fees as a solution to a potential $6 million budget shortfall. The new revenue streams are being proposed by[Read More…]
City commission derailed over potential conflicts of interest
Potential conflicts of interest have destabilized a city commission tasked with earmarking millions of federal dollars for local projects. The Community Services and Housing Commission has for years been a keeper of grant dollars from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, also known as HUD, and where affordable[Read More…]
Salem secures financing for new ozone-based water treatment, plans underway
The city of Salem pictured in the summer. Salem City Council recently voted to increase utility rates, which will help finance a new $56 million overhaul of its water treatment facilities. (Salem Reporter files) When toxins seeped into taps of Salem homes over the summer, bottled water served as a[Read More…]
For 600 city workers, pay raise will have to wait a couple more weeks
A new contract between the city of Salem and 600 employees will have to wait another day due to a last-minute cancellation. The Salem City Council was scheduled to ratify on Monday night the new labor agreement with Local 2067 of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees.[Read More…]
Bennett biding his time, but plans to seek investigation into city’s water crisis
Salem Mayor Chuck Bennett (Special to Salem Reporter/Moriah Ratner) Mayor Chuck Bennett’s lasting memory of his long trip to England earlier this year is a lot of confusion. Bennett, 70, and his wife had carefully planned to celebrate his retirement from the private sector that May. They landed in London,[Read More…]
