Resident asks council to enforce zoning laws

The city's general fund budget this year will be 5.4 million.
SALEM -- A city resident has suggested the city crack down on dilapidated properties.
Sally Shaw of East 11th Street told council Tuesday that she and her family moved to Salem four years ago because it was a "clean, safe and beautiful city."
But since then, Shaw said she has seen many homes deteriorate.
Shaw's daughter and her family also moved to Salem. But Shaw said her son had to live in Boardman because he couldn't find suitable housing in the city.
Shaw said that if the city is trying to attract businesses and residents, it needs to enforce zoning laws. "I think we need to sharpen the look," Shaw said.
The city is trying to attract businesses or keep new ones. Council members made no comment.
In other developments, council approved appropriations for 2007.
The city will have a general fund of 5.4 million this year, which finances most departments. The total appropriations totaled 26 million, including water and sewer funding.
Councilman Justin Palmer, the head of council's economic development committee, said if the city needed economic development funds it could use about 700,000 in wastewater funds overseen by the city's utilities department.
Councilman Steven Andres said the idea had been discussed before but no action was ever taken.
Council is working to create a program that would help new or current companies. The companies would receive a 50 percent rebate of income taxes paid by new workers hired by the companies for a set period.