The city announced Monday that the Salem City Council selected Keith Stahley to serve as Salem’s next city manager (Submitted photo) A longtime city government administrator in Olympia, Washington will be Salem’s next city manager. City councilors selected Keith Stahley to be the city’s next top administrator, announcing the selection[Read More…]
Tag: CITY GOVERNMENT
Salem can cover costs for now, but gaps are coming
Salem is nearing a “budget cliff” where the cost of providing residents with basic services like firefighting and building inspections is outpacing the city’s ability to collect taxes and other revenue. That’s according to Josh Eggleston, the city’s chief financial officer, and Kristin Retherford, interim city manager, who are presenting[Read More…]
Salem says drinking water is safe after fuel spill Sunday
A portion of Highway 22 has to be excavated and rebuilt following a fuel truck spill Sunday. (Courtesy/Oregon Department of Transportation) Salem’s water is safe to drink following a fuel tanker spill Sunday morning on Highway 22, the city said in a news release Monday. A Space Age fuel truck[Read More…]
City swats down rumors, says water safe to drink
Salem city officials on Friday afternoon declared as “false” social media reports circulating through the community that water supplies were tainted and unsafe, but the assurances weren’t persuasive to some. The city confirmed testing showed small amounts of cyanotoxins – – commonly known as blue-green algae – were detected in[Read More…]
After summer of algal blooms, Salem enters spring with a plan, investments
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…]
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…]
