By TS Targos – Staff writer
In its last meeting before elections on April 3, the Salem Town Board revisited, reviewed and clarified a host of issues considered and decisions made in recent months. The liveliest discussions of the night centered on the board’s decisions to form two new citizens committees.
Committees formed for information, celebrations
The board voted to form a committee to examine “information, communication and technology.” The committee, to be comprised of a town board member, a town employee and Salem citizens will be formed after April’s election.
As proposed by supervisor Dan Campion, the committee would seek to improve communication “within town government and with the outside.” The committee could consider incorporating new processes and technology that could reduce paper flow within the town and to more timely updates to the town’s website.
While nearly all agreed with Campion’s ideas, especially to reduce paper flow, many supervisors and meeting attendees pointed out that Salem residents already have a great of information available to them.
Town chairperson Diann Tesar summarized the discussion by saying “people need to investigate the significant information that is already made available to them by the town…they should not need to be spoon-fed.”
At the suggestion of Tesar, the board decided to form a committee to organize future town celebrations, such as fireworks on the Fourth of July.
The committee, to be comprised of Salem residents, will explore fundraising and organization options for such events that will be put on without expending taxpayer funds.
Town business – revisited
• the board revised several sections of the town’s newly approved ordinance regulating pawnbrokers. The changes, which resulted from a meeting between the town, county sheriff’s office and the owner of MT Coins, clarified that a pawnbroker’s recordkeeping requirements to match those required under state law;
• the Town of Salem will seek grant funding to conduct studies of invasive plants in Rock and Montgomery Lakes – the two town lakes without associations. The grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources would pay for about two-thirds of the study’s costs;
• the board decided to publish (make effective) the slow no-wake hours for Camp Lake – sunset to 10 a.m., seven days a week – that were approved last month;
• to remain in compliance with Wisconsin state law, the board approved an ordinance that prohibited liquor sales from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. at establishments like liquor and convenience stores;
• the board approved a liquor license for the new Player’s Park South bar, formerly known as Lumpy’s, located on Antioch Road.
Upcoming town events
The town will hold a Vendor Fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 31. The event, to be held at Salem Town Hall, will include Easter egg hunts for various age groups.
Tesar reminded attendees to vote on April 3. Three supervisor positions are on the ballot.
The joint Salem-Bristol Public Safety Fair will be held on Saturday, June 2. This year, the free event will be held in Bristol.
Do you live in a floodplain?
At this month’s town board meeting, supervisor Dan Campion suggested that Salem residents check the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s special website to see if they live in a designated floodplain area.
Campion suggested that homeowner’s visit FloodSmart.gov, then enter their zip code to find out the type of flood risk that exists in their area and if there have been any recent changes.
Campion reminded homeowners that have until June to purchase flood insurance at a discounted rate for their property.