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Building concerns raised

SALEM –The owner of a local hair salon on South Lincoln Avenue asked city council to look at two vacant buildings on either side of her business, expressing concern for the conditions of the structures and properties Tuesday night.

“I feel like an island in the middle of a swamp,” Patty Fritzman said.

Fritzman owns Patty & Company and referred to the CVS Windows & Siding building to the north and the building to the south which formerly housed the Bonfert Beauty Shoppe. She said CVS no longer runs the business out of that building and the parking lot is full of debris.

She was concerned about safety with the other building, noting a significant crack in the structure. She was also concerned the facade will fall into the driveway where all her clients walk. Fritzman presented council members with photographs and said she wanted to bring it to their attention, giving her opinion that if a structural engineer or the fire department checked it out,

they would probably have concerns, too. After the meeting, Fire Chief Scott Mason introduced himself to her.

In utility matters, city Utilities Superintendent Don Weingart updated council on the preliminary estimates for the water line replacement projects planned for this summer, noting a $1.3 million price tag for all. The estimate for Carole Drive, Fairview Court and Home Circle was $493,000, with an estimated $800,000 for North Ellsworth Avenue from 10th Street to Bricker Lane. He explained how the Utilities Commission wants to borrow funds from the wastewater reserves to cover the costs, explaining how they’ll need permission from council. The water line projects are slated to be finished early enough this year so the city can pave the streets as part of the 2017 paving project.

He also said the commission has voted to go forward with the Snyder Road sewer line project and will need authorization to borrow funds for that and proceed with engineering. The cost of that project is estimated between $2.7 million and $3 million.

Utilities Committee Chairman Councilman Geoff Goll said he has already provided council members with proposed ordinances to address both issues. He scheduled a Utilities Committee meeting for 6:30 p.m. March 7 before the next council meeting.

Council voted unanimously 7-0 to expand the Community Reinvestment Area to make more residents and businesses eligible for a tax abatement on any improvements to their properties. The CRA now covers most of the city with a few exceptions in a handful of housing developments. According to the CRA revision, the boundaries now include the entire city and any future lands annexed into the city zoned commercial or industrial. Exempt from the program would be any new construction on undeveloped lots in RS-1 and RS-2 and part of RS-3.

In other business, council authorized city Service/Safety Director Ken Kenst to participate in the Ohio Department of Transportation cooperative purchasing program for buying machines, materials and supplies, including road salt and in a separate ordinance, gave him authorization to seek bids for the purchase of gasoline and diesel fuel for the city. A resolution designating various banks as depositories for city of Salem funds also passed.

Council also approved resolutions expressing appreciation and commending former councilmen Dave Nestic and Jeff Cushman for their dedicated service to the city. Both Nestic and Cushman resigned last year. Nestic served from Jan. 1, 2008 to Dec. 31, 2016 and Cushman served from Dec. 28, 2011 to June 5, 2016. Salem Republicans selected Andrew Null to replace Cushman while council itself selected Christine Mancuso to replace Nestic.

During comments at the end of the meeting, Councilman Clyde Brown reminded residents about the city ordinance against parking vehicles in the front yard or side yard. Goll said 90 former or current Salem residents celebrated Salem in Southwest Florida Day in Fort Myers and Council President K. Bret Apple welcomed a group of boy scouts in attendance who were working on their communications badges.

mgreier@salemnews.net

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