By Meg Hibbert
Contributing Writer
The company that purchased the Salem General Electric Co. property is planning an addition to the rear of the building at 1501 Roanoke Boulevard.
Monday night, Salem City Council voted unanimously to set a $139,469 bond for soil erosion, sediment control, landscaping and physical improvements by Phoenix Salem Industrial Investors LLC.
Completion date was set at 12 months.
No details were released about specifics that Phoenix plans for the property.
After the meeting, Vice Mayor Jim Wallace said he believed the project involves a large sewer pipe and other changes to the former GE plant.
In other matters at the Oct. 10 meeting, Council:
- Authorized City Manager Jay Taliaferro, on behalf of the city, to join the National Rural Water Association Contamination Lawsuit to lessen any financial burden on City of Salem citizens in the event the city discovers per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in any of Salem’s water sources in the future. Joining will not cost the city any money.
Photo by Meg Hibbert
Mayor Renee Turk pointed out that Salem’s Water and Sewer Director has not found any PFAS in Salem water. It has been detected in Spring Hollow Reservoir’s water, however, that provides water to Roanoke County and other parts of the Roanoke Valley;
- Reappropriated $37,634 in unspent funds in the city’s storm water management program required by the state;
- Appropriated $704,931 in school cafeteria funds, because Salem Schools had more meals eligible for state money than expected;
- Set a $4,763 erosion and sediment control bond for Brown and Son Storage Lot. Mayor Turk said the project will clean up an existing lot and add landscaping. Brown and Son is located at 1023 and 1031 Florida Street.
The Council meeting that began at 6:30 ended at 6:43 p.m.
Council joined in with the Salem School Board and school officials the next night to see renovations and additions to Salem High School.
