City council heard complaints from two different residents Tuesday, one regarding overall littering in the city and another regarding a North Lincoln Avenue rental property where police and housing inspectors have visited multiple times over garbage, drugs and noise.

“We hope these people get out but the properties themselves need something done with them,” one resident said, asking what the rules are for rental properties.

“There are definitely codes they have to follow,” Council President Tom Baker said.

The resident relayed issues with ongoing drug activity in the area that police and the Columbiana County Drug Task Force have responded to multiple times, a lot of traffic in and out at all hours of the night, people urinating out an upstairs window and dumping food and trash out of the upstairs, a drive-by shooting in January that left no one injured, and issues with the landlord.

“How many warnings do these people get?” the resident asked.

Due to the garbage, there have been problems with animals, too, such as raccoons, skunks and rats.

The other resident talked about Salem having a huge litter problem in general and noted there used to be signs posted against littering. She wondered if those signs could be put back up or new signs purchased.

“We’re trying to get our town built back up again,” she said, but the first thing people will notice is the litter.

Council had first reading on an ordinance amending permitted uses and conditional uses in the C-2 General Commercial District, which will now have to go to the City Planning Commission. Council had already passed the ordinance previously, but then Mayor John Berlin vetoed it amid questions regarding crematoriums as a permitted use. The Rules & Ordinances Committee reviewed the ordinance again and added language requiring

that a crematorium had to be part of a funeral home, forwarding the amended ordinance to council.

Council also approved a resolution authorizing the mayor to accept the Ohio memorandum of understanding regarding the pursuit and use of potential opioid litigation settlement funds. Law Director Brooke Zellers explained that the Ohio Municipal League sent the information to the mayor regarding legislation. This could help the city get a piece of the settlement funds to use in the fight against opioids, to ensure all local communities benefit from the potential settlement. He said the city would not be bound by anything with the resolution and it won’t cost anything.

“Is there any downside to it?” Councilman Andrew Null asked.

Zellers said he didn’t see any. He said it would be good to get some funding for the fight against the opioid problem.

In other business, city Service/Safety Director Ken Kenst explained how Townsend Tree Service is under contract with First Energy for trimming and cutting down trees that may be interfering with power lines. He said they only take what they can put through the chipper and the big pieces are left on the curb.

“That’s free wood,” he said, noting that people can take it.

The city doesn’t want the wood to just sit there too long.

He also reminded residents to watch Salem Police K-9 Simon and his handler, Patrolman Mike Garber, on the A&E television program “America’s Top Dog” when their episode airs at 9 p.m. March 11.

Parks Director Shane Franks reminded residents that there’s a recreation levy renewal on the March 17 ballot for the Salem parks. He said the community has been extremely supportive of the parks department over the years and he asked for the support to continue.

Councilmen Dennis Plegge, Sal Salvino and Roy Paparodis all offered congratulations to the Salem High School cheerleaders for placing second in the recent state competition.

Council agreed to move the next meeting to 7 p.m. March 18, which is a Wednesday, due to election day falling on March 17. Council normally meets the first and third Tuesday of the month, but routinely changes the date when a meeting falls on election day since the council chamber serves as a polling place.

mgreier@salemnews.net