SALEM Council to act on street plan

Council authorized a repair at the city's sewer plant.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
SALEM -- City council agreed to move forward with one phase of a streets improvement project, part of which faces opposition.
Council decided Tuesday to allow engineering to be undertaken for a plan to widen and extend Third Street and make improvements to Bentley Drive and Roosevelt Avenue.
Yet to be authorized, however, is bidding for the $1.7 million project.
Council is still considering whether to approve the job because East Third Street residents have complained that extending their dead-end street to Roosevelt will increase traffic, devalue their homes and endanger children.
City officials say the project is necessary to alleviate traffic congestion in the nearby East State Street commercial district.
Resident's comment
Susan Sowers, an East State Street resident, attended the meeting and urged council to move ahead with the project. Sowers said it's important to have an alternative route through the area.
Officials have said they want to start construction on the project in the spring, if council authorizes it. The work would take about eight months.
Council also approved paying for repairing a failed filter distribution system at the city's sewer plant.
The repair is expected to cost about $173,000, which will come from the city's utilities department.
Despite the cold, snowy weather gripping the area, city officials still intend to finish a fall chore --- picking up leaves.
Service Director Joe Julian said workers' leaf-vacuuming duties were interrupted by the snow. The work will resume once it melts, Julian said.
He said the city intends to pick up all the leaves brought to city curb sides, even if the task takes until January.
leigh@vindy.com