SALINA, Kan. — Over the objections of Commissioner Doug Rempp, Salina City Commissioners approved an $89,000 agreement with Roadway Asset Services Monday for a pavement condition study. Rempp questioned the need for this expense, which he felt city crews could handle in-house and based on their general knowledge of street conditions.
Public Works Director Ron Marsh said this involves specialized equipment that can record conditions all the way through the base. Marsh noted it would, based on the staff they have, take several years to do this kind of study.
Commissioners accepted the low bid of $968,000 from Prado Construction LLC of Valley Center for the Magnolia Trail project. This project is mostly grant funded, with the city contributing $242,000 towards the project, which also involves work by Union Pacific Railroad on pedestrian crossings at Belmont and Magnolia which the city will fund up-front at KDOT will reimburse.
Authorization was made to award bids for 24 vehicles and other pieces of equipment included in the city’s 2025 Sub-Capital Improvement Fund covering several departments. In nine cases it was recommended the low bid not be selected due to failure to meet request specifications. The bulk of the bids were awarded to local bidders or nearby firms. In all but six cases the bids were below budget but there savings on other equipment to offset most of that.
It also authorized a change order to upgrade interior cabinets in an ambulance box currently being remounted due to the condition of the existing wood cabinets to aluminum. This adds just under $33,000 to the remount cost, but would still be under budget, and still over $100,000 less than a complete new ambulance.
At the end of the meeting the Commission went into an executive session to discuss legal matters related to the Salina Animal Shelter, with no action taken. Prior to that, several citizens addressed the Commission on issues at the shelter and asked them to take action on multiple issues including staffing, spending, euthanasia and documentation.
Several citizens called on the Commission to make major changes including removal of present leadership or bringing in an outside operator for the shelter. One person raised the issue of salaries paid to shelter management, while another discussed a December incident where three puppies with parvovirus were euthanized within minutes of each other without sedation being given first.
One of the speakers called for greater transparency including bringing all issues fully into the open, citing the fact a recent Animal Advisory Board meeting wasn’t posted on the city’s YouTube page and spending practices including not purchasing supplies in bulk
There has been a proposal submitted from Prairie Paws to take over the shelter, and one person suggested taking it out from under the Parks and Recreation Department.
Mayor Mike Hoppock responded to claims the Commission doesn’t care about the issues. Saying one study session on the topic has been scheduled. Hoppock also noted there are a lot of options on the table, but the city has to follow certain processes too. Those speaking though say there is enough information now to warrant immediate action, one saying the city faces potential legal liability if it doesn’t act quickly.
