The West Salem Freedom Festival is this weekend (June 28-29, 2025). Fireworks will be at dusk on Saturday night at Centennial Park. The full schedule for Saturday and Sunday is on the website calendar.
The Village of West Salem’s Board met at Village Hall on June 23, 2025 at 6:30 PM. Highlights from the meeting include:
- James Meece of the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) presented a Water and Sewer Rate Study to the Village Board. RCAP is a non-profit organization that helps rural communities. The Village has not raised its water or sewer rates in over twelve (12) years, but the cost of supplying water to village households has gone up dramatically during that period. Mr. Meece strongly recommended that the Village increase their water rates to keep pace with costs. The Board will discuss this mater, and possibly make a decision to increase the Village’s water rates at next month’s board meeting.
- Mayor Jeffrey Bradham informed the Board that a large tree on the 300 block of South Broadway fell on Saturday (6/21/25). The tree which was growing on private property, fell across a Village owned alley and on to a neighbor’s property. A public work employee was injured when investigating the situation. The property owner is responsible for removing the fallen tree.
- Mayor Jeffrey Bradham updated the board on some of the neglected properties that the Village has been addressing. Good progress has been made on several properties, and the Village plans to continue to work with property owners on these issues.
- The Board approved a payment request to Followell Construction for materials and work on the Mill Pond Park project. Work on the two pickleball courts and a tennis/volleyball court has been delayed due to the rainy weather, but is still anticipated to be completed this summer. 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 Village has recently applied for several grants including one for personal protective equipment for the fire department; another for street improvements; and one to replace water mains. These grants are competitive and it may be several months before the Village knows if it has been selected.
- The Board approved an Ordinance clarifying how nuisance ordinance violations are settled. If a property owner receives a violation, the resident has ten (10) days to respond to the violation letter, and fourteen (14) days to abate the nuisance. The new ordinance is posted on the Village’s website.
- The Board approved the purchase of a new copier for Village Hall.
- The Board discussed a 1% Sales Tax. The State of Illinois will be eliminating a 1% tax on groceries on January 1, 2026. This will cause the village to lose approximately $15,000 in funding. Illinois Municipalities have the option of adopt a local ordinance to continue the 1% tax on groceries so they do not lose their funding. They also have an option to adopt an additional 1% sales tax across the board. No action was taken at the meeting. The 1% grocery tax will be brought back next month for further discussion and possible approval.
- The Board approved a Resolution requesting permission from IDOT to close Church Street for the Chowder Parade scheduled for Saturday, August 16, 2025.
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, July 28, 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.