Proposed drawing of “The Village Courtyard.”
The Village of West Salem’s Board met on Monday, December 29, 2025 at 6:30 PM. Highlights from the meeting included:
- The Village received one (1) sealed bid for the Village owned property at 108 W. South Street (formerly the West Salem Senior Center). The Board voted to accept the bid submitted by Thomas and Averi Goodman for $10,500.00. The Goodmans plan to open “The Village Courtyard” which will offer meeting space rental, ice cream and specialty drink sales, as well as wedding and event planning services.
- West Salem Mayor Jeff Bradham thanked the West Salem Development Association, and the many volunteers for their work on this year’s “Trees on the Square” event. There were forty-one (41) trees decorated by residents, businesses, non-profits, and civic organizations on display through the month of December on the Square in West Salem.
- West Salem Police Chief Mark Weber plans to retire later this year. The Board discussed a proposal from the Edwards County Sherriff’s Department to provide policing to the Village. There was consensus on the Board to further pursue this idea. The proposal will be discussed with the Edwards County Board, if they are agreeable, terms for a contract will be determined.
- The Village approved an Intergovernmental Agreement with the West Salem Rural Fire Protection District. The agreement allows for the Village to sell a 2000 International Fire Truck to the Rural Department. The West Salem Fire Department and the West Salem Rural Fire Protection District have a long-standing mutual aid agreement in place.
- Fire Department Chief Harvey Fenton presented a Year End Report for the Fire Department. There are currently twenty (20) members on the department; they responded to sixty-nine (69) calls in 2025; and the new Fire Truck has been put into service. Chief Fenton thanked the Board for their support.
- The Board Approved the Appointment of Evan Thomson as Secretary for the West Salem Fire Department.
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, January 26, 2026 at 6:30 PM. All Village Board meetings are open to the public. The West Salem Village Board meets at Village Hall which is located at 106 E. South Street, West Salem, IL.