Mayor John Raymer said....(more at the bottom) Here is Mayor Raymers written version of the State of the City in its entirety. Welcome to the bright new year of 2015 in Salem. Like the settlers 200 years ago arriving in oxen drawn wagons making their way to the west, people came through Salem from Indiana on their way to the Oregon and Santa Fe trails. With the early state Capitals of Shawneetown and Vandalia, Salems location as midpoint from the end of the trail in Vincennes, through Salem to the beginning of the Oregon Trail in Vandalia became a transportation center. Railroads directly linked to Cincinnati, St. Louis, Chicago and Memphis as early as 1855 when Salem became a City. As we enter our 150th year as our sesquicentennial, we have a special time to look back at the forces that made us prosperous. Looking ahead at how to maintain and increase our quality of life. In many ways, our prosperity has been due to the good roads we enjoy. Our Union Pacific “yards” continues to be a major employer with the long planned expansions now about to become a reality with new switch tracks and yard expansion underway. But the roads we use to bring in goods and ship out manufactured goods are largely carrying trucks, with major truck operations by Conway and Dayton. When Interstate 57 opened in Salem in 1969 much of the town retail business moved west to set up shop near the new road. Salem still attracted former business from Rt 37 through the heart of downtown, but the explosion of car dealerships, restaurants, hotels, retail stores, gas stations and other services moved to the “hot spot” where US 50 and Interstate 57 came together. Salem still leads all other Southern Illinois Cities in buildings occupied near the square. With a small amount of money injected from the City, local people have worked to change the face of downtown from the retail center to the services center of town. Salem has leveraged its position as county seat of government into downtown redefined as law offices, abstract companies, niche restaurants, small retail and other services. If there were some way to get 1200 semi trucks out of the downtown area every day, we would have more room and less noise to enjoy area. In the past year the City has made TIF loans and grants available to improve older buildings and parking lots for Poppys alterations, Crew Cuts, ` Oddfellows, Moose and Elks, Installed handrails along Main street, sought grants for Salem Community Theater building improvements and been the meeting place to begin discussions about the next projects people envision for downtown. In the past four years this mayor has seen Salem turn an important corner - one in which we have moved on from mourning the loss of World Color Press and into the light of working to support and expand the manufacturers and business we now have in Salem. Ask any child in sixth grade about working at World Color Press and they have no idea what you are talking about. It was before their time. Now we are planning to have good jobs waiting for them when they leave school and join the work force in places like Americana products. Boasting the largest (and best) powder coating operations in the Midwest, Americana supplies Lowes and any other retailers with awnings, decking, sporting goods - and now powder coatings for Jarco propane truck operations in their new building. Between Americana and Jarco, we will have 200 jobs, good ones, inside in well lit and clean working environments to fill in for those lost when the 1000 jobs at World Color Press moved to Tennessee. Even though we saw the departure of Yellow Freight, the City stepped in to buy the property from Yellow and make a parking lot available for workers in the industrial park. Just in time, we add, to meet the parking needs of North American lighting as they topped 1000 employees this year. If you drive a Toyota, and it came with taillights, they were made here. Now NAL has added lines for GM and Cadillac. We have now completely filled up all available warehouse space in and around Salem with newly manufactured items waiting for shipment. Did I mention that 70% of all the freight in the US moves through Illinois? Can we talk about being in the right place at the right time? We have a new number to celebrate -- one point two seven. 1.27 tells us that things are going very well in Salem businesses. Both the State and US departments of Commerce track closely how people spend their money and thats where we get the number 1.27. Basically it means that Salem has moved up from a rating of .86 to 1.27 in the past 8 years. We used to only keep 86% of what people in Salem had to spend on goods and services, but now we get all 100% spent here - plus another 27% that people come here to buy cars, food, health services, machinery, lumber, retail goods and services. 1.27 is the reason that Applebees does so well here without hurting other restaurants. 1.27 is also why the New Holiday Inn Express is coming here and is projected to increase all other hotels business with new people exiting I-57 to check us out. While here they will buy gas, lunch, stop at Wal-Mart and drop in to check our Rural King, Westgate businesses and take in a movie. Well, we do have find that new Cinema, and hopefully with a kids fun center and restaurant attached. If you believe the data, our 1.27 will be 1.36 next year, and 1.60 in another 4 years. Be smart; buy some property near I-57 now! The City Unity Forum on February 10 will invite the public. The Unity Forum is a special evening where over 75 people who serve the City as members of Boards and Commissions will come together to celebrate our successes from 2014 and lay out our goals for 2015. The evening takes place at Bryan-Bennett Library at 6 PM. With utmost pleasure the City Council will recognize the outstanding work of the Murray Center Parents Association in their vigilant fight to keep the former Governor from closing this important state facility. Highlights of our year in economic development will be presented in musical and theatrical presentations and will be careful to say those important words “Thank You” to people who give freely of their time. The past year included street improvements with new asphalt coatings for South College Street, North Shelby St, Oil-chip for several miles of city streets and a new city parking lot at Main and Jefferson where the old hotel stood for many years. Demolition of nine old houses and business buildings was accomplished by owners taking them down, the City demolishing them, Drug Court volunteers tearing them down and any means possible. Councilwoman Sue Morgan leads efforts to focus on cleaning up old properties, Code Enforcement Officer Brian Hunt does the paperwork and City Attorney Mike Jones takes demolition requests to the Marion County Court when necessary. In a spirit of cooperation and improvement, the City has led the way in getting the houses that had turned into eyesores into clean vacant lots. The new open spaces may attract neighbors to buy lots to add to yards and gardens, or attract new homes to be built. The Marion County Drug Court has plans to construct a small duplex on North Walnut street where the City, drug court and owners came together to remove two old houses. This is an important step in beginning to revitalize areas with new construction in neighborhoods that have been in decline. Major sewer and water replacements on Hamilton Streets and Shelby Street are complete and the new road surfaces are welcome in those neighborhoods. Best of all was the return of Animal Control as a City program. With the purchase of land and building on the Cartter Road, we now have a place to humanely care for dogs and cats that no longer enjoy living indoors with owners. Safety continues to be at the top of the list on peoples minds. People want to keep the comfortable, safe, small-town feel to our city. New Police Chief Sean Reynolds and new Deputy Chief Susan Miller continue the same operations we have come to trust. Salem Police officers go about their work in a professional and friendly manner. The work they are called to do is often to calm arguments or intervene in domestic arguments, definitely good places for a cool head and a rational plan. Like public works, the police do much of what we depend upon in a quiet manner out of the view of most citizens. The respect they receive is deserved and appreciated. Recent expressions of appreciation include donuts and coffee from local churches, kind words and hot coffee from people who live nearby work sites and emails to the mayor expressing thanks for keeping our water running during the coldest weather when crews toil for our benefit. Crime in Salem continues to be low. The Department of Emergency Management led efforts a year ago today when several people were stranded during the ice and snow storms that began the year in 2014. Rev. Jean at the Apostolic Church responded with food, cots, blankets, and friendly welcomes to stranded motorists. Many people with small children sent notes of thanks and praise to the City, the Apostolic Church and St. Theresas Church for housing and feeding them when all the hotels filled up. No one complained about Nativity scenes or crosses on walls when Salem opened our hearts and churches to people in need. I know that Wal-Mart parked far more trucks safely on their lot than anyone imagined would fit. That cost of snow removal and repairs cost Wal-Mart over $70,000, and they had no complaints. Many of you may have seen the “Safe Shed” demonstration at the Apple fest or Little Egypt Festival featuring one of their buildings that actually saved lives of the people and pets who took refuge during a tornado. Rex Barbee manages operations of this new industry. Manufacturing of the concrete above ground shelters takes place in the former BASF ink building, marking another transformation from printing to manufacturing. Safe Sheds has secured new government and military contracts for their tornado shelters. Radiac manufacturing is now under ownership of Tyro lit, a European company. Through consolidation of other plants in Pennsylvania, operations now in Salem focus on high tech products, moving away from traditional grinding wheels and abrasives that we manufactured previously. With new ownership and focus on precision of product, Radiac now manufactures grinding wheels for sharpening catheters, shaping crystal and glass lenses and other applications requiring exact and consistent products. New attention on emissions has improved air quality. With new plant manager Jim Baylis in place, Radiac is perfectly situated for expansion with 100 acres of land total and over seventy acres available for plant expansions. Soccer, volleyball, and mens softball teams operate under the direction of the Recreation Department. Sherry Daniels oversees these programs as well as special events, including the Christmas in My Hometown festivities that includes train rides, movies, downtown business treats and caroling. The birthplace of William Jennings Bryan is available for tours and special events. Salem Historical Commission provided the challenge of establishing a City of Salem Museum to preserve artifacts and important items that define Salem. With the award of $15,000 from the Union pacific Railroad Foundation, the Historical Commission will begin to acquire local collections of historical items from the Salem area in 2015, culminating with opening a new Salem Museum. The Historical Commissions efforts are led by Becky Shuler. The Commission is charged with assembling items in four areas: Oil Fields, Railroads and Transportation, William Jennings Bryans life, and the economic and military history of Salem. With the approach of spring and good construction weather we are ready to construct the new walking trail in Bryan Park. Using funds from Illinois Department of Natural resources ($108,000) and the Lowes Foundation ($20,000), the new walking trail will serve as a safer place for people to exercise and enjoy the beauty of Bryan Park. Holiday Inn Express is poised to begin construction on the new 86 room hotel located near the intersection of I-57 and US 50. The project is estimated to cost $8 million and will open following 11 months of construction. The new hotel was built without incentives from the TIF district or enterprise zone. Taxing districts will receive full taxes the first year of operation of the hotel. This is significant in that tax increments allowed by taxing districts will now be realized in new tax dollars for schools, roads and other taxing bodies Special Events that bring visitors to Salem include the World Coon Hunt, Marion County Fair, Little Egypt Festival, Apple Fest, Annual Home Show, Salem Theater Presentations, Antique Power Days, Farmers Market, Easter Egg Hunt, Salem Triathlon, Salem Invitational Basketball Tourney, Missoula Childrens Theater, Junior High State Cross Country Meet, and school sports events. Sunday church services are held in 39 different church buildings in Salem with an estimated 5000 people attending each week (out of a population of 7400). On an average day 12,000 vehicles travel US 50 through Salem and 10,000 travel on Interstate 57 with fewer than 1,000 exiting here. Salems location as county seat, county fairgrounds and Bryan Park recreation continues to be an advantage. Getting more retail business from Interstate traffic becomes a reality with the new hotel and businesses that will locate here to attract new business from the Interstate. Regarding City finances, the City operated in the black for the 2013 year. Property tax rates have been stable. Sales tax collections increased by nearly 4% over 2013. Reserves in the general fund stable, but the City Council remains committed to operating within funds available and leaving tax rates as they are. Regarding our agricultural outlook, most farmers have recovered from the 2013 drought with corn and soybean production up. Water supplies from Lake Carlyle remain stable, but the city will need to study how we store the water prior to treatment. With natural silt buildup in the city reservoir accumulating for over 60 years, improvements will be needed to maintain the stability of good water for residential and industrial use. Retail operations remain stable, as well as real estate and financial services. Downtown district new businesses included Country Creek Crafts, Crew Cuts Salon, Main Street Chic Apparel, Strong Arms furniture, Star Buildings, Sakura Restaurant, Salem Banking Center, Joes Pizza and Baubles and Bling. Westgate Shopping Center added Vapor. Demolition of the former Salem Hotel has led to construction of new parking spaces at the corner of Jefferson and Main streets. Keep Salem Beautiful has installed new collection trailers for recycling paper and plastics. The Salem Fire Protection District has acquired the property to the south of the fire station and improved parking and access. The Purple Elephant Antiques has moved from East rt. 50 to the former Moldovan building on Rt 37 south. In that move, US Licensed Bows has taken the former Purple Elephant property and expanded manufacturing on that site. Marathon Oil Company began construction on new pipeline, storage tanks and administrative offices at the Patoka Pipeline station in July 2014. The $190 million project will make new connections to the coming Enbridge Pipeline. Slated for finish in 2015, the Enbridge project will connect Pontiac Illinois to Patoka to bring new supplies of oil southward to refineries in Robinson and Alton. Gasoline prices hit a low of $1.72 in January 2015, a welcome relief to drivers who have paid as much as $3.68 earlier in 2014. Saving the best for last, Jarco Propane has now moved into their new 50,000 sq. ft. building at #10 Carpenter Drive and begun expanded operations there. With a work force of 40, we are now building propane trucks at the rate of one a day, up from one a week in the old 10,000 sq. ft. building on Rt 37 south. With new President of operations Tracy Timmerman and Plant Manager Les Zahn in charge, Jarco moved from the ground breaking last June to complete operations in the new building in January 2015. The move also signaled the success of City Council actions and planning in moving city resources to support the local businesses and manufacturing we have now. The new cooperative arrangements with Americana Powder Coating and Jarco have resulted in expansions at Americana that now provide highest quality powder coating and painting for much of Jarco products. Jarco will host Polar Industry dignitaries for their plant opening in February. To which Mayoral Candidate Sarah Boyles said This is my ass
Posted on: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 22:13:14 +0000
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