The Village of West Salem’s Board met at Village Hall on August 25, 2025 at 6:30 PM. Highlights from the meeting include:
Announcements, Reports, and Discussion:
- The West Salem Chowder was held on August 16th was a great success. Mayor Bradham thanked the Chowder Committee, the West Salem Development Association, the Utility Department, and the many volunteers who worked on this event.
- Mitch Plfum owner of Champion Liquidation & Warehousing introduced himself during the public comment session of the meeting. This new business in West Salem is located in the old Champion Laboratories. It offers boat and RV storage, as well as sales of pallets packed with goods. The building is open to the public on Saturdays from 9:00am to 2:00pm, the entrance is on the north end of the building. Follow their Facebook Page for more information.
- A Bulk Trash Pick-up has been scheduled for Thursday, October 16, 2025. Residents are asked that all materials be placed in weather proof containers (plastic bags). Mattresses need to wrapped in plastic.
- Oil and Chip work on the streets of West Salem is being completed later this week.
- The Village was recently notified that the West Salem Senior Center, which is operated by the Edwards County Council on Aging (ECCOA), will be closing on September 30, 2025. ECCOA relies on grants and donations to provide meals and services for area seniors. They previously discussed their financial struggle at the West Salem Village Board Meeting in March 2025 . The Village owns the West Salem Senior Center building. The Lease agreement between the Village and ECCOA allows for ECCOA to operate from the West Salem Senior Center building rent free, provided they maintain the building. Trustee Aaron Winter along with several West Salem residents attended the ECCOA Board meeting on August 20, 2025 to determine if the ECCOA Board would reconsider their decision to cease operations in West Salem. The West Salem group was unsuccessful in changing the decision of the ECCOA Board. The Albion Senior Center will be remaining open.
Village Board Action:
- The Board approved a payment for $37,002.00 to Followell Construction for their work on the two pickleball courts and a tennis/volleyball court. Striping (painting) is all that is needed for this project to be completed. This project has been made possible through a grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, as well as donations from the West Salem Development Association and the Simms family.
- The Board formally adopted Ordinance 2025-08, Amending the Water Rates for the Village of West Salem. At the July 28, 2025 Village Board Meeting, the Board voted to increase water rates. The Village had not raised its water or sewer rates in over twelve (12) years, but the cost of supplying water to village households had gone up dramatically during that period. The resident base rate will be $15.50 plus $8.35 for 1,000 gallons of water; meaning the new minimum water bill for residents will be $24.85. The non-resident base rate will be $31.00 plus $16.70 for 1,000 gallons of water; meaning the new minimum water bill for non-residents will be $47.70. Customers will see the new rates on the utility bill they receive in September. More information can be found on the Village’s website.
- The Board approved using three investment CDs, totaling $83,434.19 to help pay down the loan for the new Fire Truck.
- The Board approved a $1.00 per hour increase in wages for Utility Worker Mike Clark. Mr. Clark recently passed the IEPA Water License test for a Class D Operator.
- The Board approved the Fall Fun Festival scheduled for Saturday, October 18, 2025. This event is sponsored by Love West Salem Community Outreach and will be held on the Village Square in West Salem (100 South Street, West Salem, IL).
Updates and Announcement from the Village of West Salem can be found on their website at WestSalemil.com. The next regularly scheduled Village Board Meeting will be Monday, September 22, 2025 at 6:30 PM. The West Salem Village Board meets at Village Hall which is located at 106 E. South Street, West Salem, IL.