SALEM — Salem council approved updates to the city’s farm market ordinance in its meeting Tuesday.

The updates modify section 727.03, which governs where farm markets may be set up within the city limits. The previous version specified that the market “shall be at 568-600 East State Street” with the updated language stating that its location “shall be subject to the approval of the City Service and Safety Director in accordance with all local, state and federal laws.”

Council also approved the appropriation of $38,740 within the general fund, $5,240 in the “supplies & materials vehicle/equipment repair & parts” line, $1,500 in the “travel & training schooling” line, $22,000 in the “supplies & material turnout gear” line and $10,000 in the “contractual services legal services-litigation line.” In a meeting of the finance committee immediately prior to city council’s meeting City Auditor Sal Salvino explained that when the auditor’s office was closing purchase orders for 2024 the remaining balance of these lines hadn’t been carried into 2025 as they should have been.

“[The auditor’s office] close(s) out the purchase orders at the end of the year and then the department heads let us know that they want to carry the encumbrance from a certain line into the following year. These ones were accidentally closed out in error so what we need to is encumber the money back into these fund lines from the general fund,” Salvino said.

A third and final reading on long-discussed updates to the city’s animal ordinance was originally on the budget for Tuesday’s meeting; however, that reading was tabled until city council’s next meeting to give the board of health time to discuss the ordinance.

During his report City Councilman Jeff Stockman announced the rules and ordinance committee would meet at 6 p.m. March 4 prior to city council’s next meeting

City council will meet next at 7 p.m. March 4.

mahart@mojonews.com