SALEM, Ohio - Columbiana County Commissioners have approved an annexation for a Salem meat processing plant.

According to Salem Mayor Cyndi Dickey, commissioners approved the parts of property purchased by Fresh Mark Inc. located in Perry Township be annexed into the City of Salem.

Mayor Dickey says parts of property purchased by the company including the entrance and a portion of the parking lot are located in Perry Township. This caused confusion for first responders on which agency should respond to calls there.

With this annexation, all areas of the property can now be served by the City of Salem.

Additionally, Mayor Dickey tells us this would create about 50 new "good paying" meat packing and meat processing jobs for the city, which in turn would increase income tax and corporate tax revenue.

City Council is scheduled to vote to approve this annexation at its next meeting. Dickey tells us no one in council is opposed to it.