Salem mayor JC Lambert speaks during a city council meeting in Salem, Iowa, on Tuesday, August 25, 2026.
Nick Rohlman/Southeast Iowa Union
SALEM — The Salem City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance adopting a new code of ordinances for the City of Salem during a council meeting on Tuesday August 25.
Salem Mayor JC Lambert says that the goal of the new city code was to bring the city’s ordinances up to date in order to comply with state law changes and to allow for more efficient enforcement of rules around public nuisances such as junk cars, overgrown yards, and dangerous buildings.
The previous city code of ordinances had been heavily amended over many years, with some amendments dating back as far as 1987. State law requires that cities update their code every five years. Councilman Tarrant French said that the new code will be provide both elected officials and community members with easier to read guidelines. The City of Salem worked with the Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission to develop the new code.
In other business, the council approved the sale of city property located at 126 N. Main Street and approved the financial year 2026 street finance report and annual financial report.
The City of Salem will hold a special election to fill a vacancy on the city council on September 22. The seat has been vacant since August 4 after the council accepted the resignation of councilman Blaten Kennedy who resigned after moving outside of city limits. The winner of the election will serve the remainder of Kennedy’s original term which ends on December 31, 2027.
Candidates wishing to run in the special election must file required paperwork at Salem City Hall by Friday, Aug. 28 at 5 p.m. City hall will be open on Friday to accept paperwork. Voting will take place Sept. 22 at the Henry County Emergency Management building in Mt. Pleasant.