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SALEM -- This year's Freed Fest will include a stage on South Broadway, with city council giving permission for the street's closure from State Street south to the alley on the west side.
That section of South Broadway will be closed from 10 a.m. Aug. 13 to 10 a.m. Aug. 14, for set-up and tear down of the stage.
Council members took the vote Tuesday night after Sara Baer, who chairs Salem Second Saturday, addressed them about the request, noting this will be the fifth year for Freed Fest but the first time a road closure has been requested.
Freed Fest, sponsored by Salem Second Saturday, is a music festival and celebration Aug. 13 which honors the contributions of Alan Freed, a Salem High School graduate and famous DJ credited with coining the phrase "rock and roll."
Mayor John Berlin said details will need to be worked out with the city electrician. He asked that council give approval for the street closure and use of the city electrician that may require overtime.
"I assume all the businesses are on board?" Councilman Andrew Null asked.
Baer said most are in support, but she still has to make contact with a new business that's coming. City Service/Safety Director Cappuzzello said they'll have to coordinate with the downtown sidewalk renovation project that's beginning June 20 also.
During his report, Cappuzzello also said the summer street paving project will begin at the end of June/beginning of July. He said the city will keep everyone informed through the newspaper and social media.
He also announced that leaf pickup only happens in the fall, so if any residents have bags out now, they'll need to contact their trash hauler to take them. The city will not pick up leaves until the end of October/early November.
Councilwoman Cyndi Baronzzi Dickey asked about Miller Pipeline and whether they would be doing more landscaping work related to the Columbia Gas pipeline project, saying she's had some complaints from residents who can't mow their curb lawns due to rocks and ruts. He said they usually do a nice job and he would contact them.
In other business, Berlin announced the city received word that the application for the new Community Reinvestment Area post 1994 has been approved, meaning the entire city will be eligible for the CRA program for tax breaks on the new value of construction or renovation projects. Before the new areas in the program can get started, the city will need to form a CRA Housing Council and Tax Incentive Review Council.
He also announced a dedication will be held for Howard A. Tibbs Way at Howard and West Second Street on Memorial Day, after the parade and program at Grandview Cemetery. More information will be released on the time. The Memorial Day parade will be held on Memorial Day, May 30, at 10 a.m., leaving from city hall, traveling north on Broadway, east on East State Street to Ohio, then Ohio to Franklin out to Grandview Cemetery.
Council passed two pieces of legislation, a resolution approving the OneOhio Region 11 governance structure related to distribution of opioid settlement proceeds and an ordinance for appropriations and transfers. The Region 11 board will include 21 members, with three representatives from each county. As the largest populated city in Columbiana County, Salem will be entitled to one representative.
mgreier@salemnews.net