SALEM- The city could be getting a hotel in the near future.
Rodney Herron, an investment partner with Holiday Inn Express, informed City Council Tuesday night that the group has purchased property in the Bentley Road-Cunningham Road area to build a 70-room facility.
He asked that council be willing to build a cooperative relationship with the group considering the incentives the business will bring to the city.
According to Herron, the hotel will generate 25 new jobs, and the group is ready to begin the project immediately.
Mayor John Berlin noted that he has been in discussion with Herron for about a week, with the project being mentioned at a Zoning Committee meeting May 9.
Council invited Herron to a future Economic Development Committee to discuss the project.
In other business, council granted permission to Safety/Service Director Ken Kenst to sell for $10 per ton the asphalt grindings that have accumulated on city property for over 30 years. He estimated the city has several hundred tons of the material which has generated interest due to the gas and oil companies purchasing all the limestone in the area. He said the idea, suggested to him by Road Foreman Jim Phillis, will help raise money for road repairs as well as help clean up areas around the city.
Council also approved a contract with Howells & Baird civil engineers to draw up the specifications for the city's 2012 street program, which calls for the resurfacing of 18 streets.
Council approved the renaming of East Alley between East Pershing Street and Columbia Street to Dale Shaffer Way in memory of the late local historian; and heard the first reading of an amendment to the city's codified ordinances that addresses the wording for application procedures for vendors and solicitors.
Also at the meeting, Berlin reported that Columbiana County will receive $575,000 for demolition of blighted homes, the first $500,000 of which will not require matching funds by the local governments receiving portions of the funding. He said he was informed of the funding during a conference call with a representative from the state Attorney General's Office who said the state will receive $75 million from mortgage service companies for improper practices. Since the city already has a program in place to raze blighted homes, council will only have to approve a list and approximate costs to submit to the county commissioners who will be administering the funds, he said.
Berlin also reported that Kenst has been named as a representative to the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT)'s District 14 Integrating Committee which reviews project applications in the district for Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) funding. HPZ Officer Pat Morrissey will serve as alternate.
Kenst reported that the Salem Super Cruise program guides are completed and available at City Hall.
Parks Director Steve Faber reported that the department is in need of life guards for the swimming pool at Centennial Park this summer. Anyone interested should call Faber at 330-332-5512.
Faber also expressed appreciation to Dolores Rogucki, who will retire from the Parks Commission after 30 years service.
A Rules and Ordinances Committee meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. May 22 and a Traffic and Safety Committee meeting for 6 p.m. May 29, both in Council Chambers.
