Salina local news summary

Davis, Lenkiewicz, Rempp Lead Salina City Commission Race; Freelove Tops School Board

Commission postpones decision on Ninth and Water Well roundabout amid debate

Interim four-way stop planned for Ninth and Water Well

Summer collegiate baseball league coming to Dean Evans Stadium

Pit bull ban repeal headed to special election

City accepts $350,000 grant for police co-responder program

City donates $5,000 for emergency food fair

City approves $1.2 million purchase for new landfill scraper

Solar panel project proposed for senior center roof

Senior center secures over $712,000 grant for major renovations

Senior services reports lower taxpayer cost since county takeover

Senior meal demand continues to rise

Davis, Lenkiewicz, Rempp Lead Salina City Commission Race; Freelove Tops School Board

SALINA, Kan — Trent W. Davis, Greg Lenkiewicz and Doug Rempp emerged as top vote-getters in Tuesday's Salina City Commission race, garnering 3,159, 2,879 and 2,713 votes respectively in unofficial results. In the USD 305 school board election, Amy Freelove led all candidates with 4,210 votes, followed by Dana Johnson with 3,960 and Gabe Grant with 3,757. Voter turnout across Saline County reached 21.76 percent, with 8,212 ballots cast among 37,736 registered voters. Results remain unofficial pending certification.

Commission postpones decision on Ninth and Water Well roundabout amid debate

SALINA, Kan. - The Salina City Commission on Monday voted to postpone a decision on a proposed roundabout for the Ninth Street and Water Well Road intersection, opting to reconsider the project Dec. 8, 2025. The move followed a lengthy debate and public comment session where local trucking industry representatives raised significant safety and operational concerns. While a study by Kaw Valley Engineering recommended the roundabout as the safest and most cost-effective long-term solution, commissioners requested more detailed data on truck traffic before making a final decision.

Interim four-way stop planned for Ninth and Water Well

SALINA, Kan. - An all-way stop will be installed at the intersection of Ninth Street and Water Well Road as an interim safety measure, Public Works Director Ron Marsh announced Monday. The temporary four-way stop will remain in place until a permanent solution, such as the proposed roundabout or a traffic signal, is constructed. Marsh said the change from the current two-way stop is expected within the next few weeks, pending coordination with the county to place electronic message boards alerting drivers to the new traffic pattern.

Summer collegiate baseball league coming to Dean Evans Stadium

SALINA, Kan. - The city commission authorized a five-year agreement with a private sports operator to bring a summer collegiate baseball league to Dean Evans Stadium starting in 2026. The league plans to host 30 home games between late May and early August. The agreement grants the organization rights to ticketing, sponsorships and concessions, including the sale of single-serve beer and seltzers. The city will invest $16,200 for utility hookups to support a new concession trailer, which will also be available for other events at the stadium.

Pit bull ban repeal headed to special election

SALINA, Kan. - Salina voters will decide the future of the city’s ban on pit bulls after the city commission directed staff to organize a special election on the issue. The decision came after a certified citizen-led petition seeking to repeal the breed-specific ordinance was presented at Monday’s meeting. Commissioners opted against passing the ordinance themselves, triggering a state-mandated process to put the question to a public vote. City Manager Jacob Wood estimated the special election could cost taxpayers between $60,000 and $80,000.

City accepts $350,000 grant for police co-responder program

SALINA, Kan. - The city commission accepted a $350,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to support the local co-responder program for the next two years. The program pairs mental health professionals with law enforcement officers to respond to calls involving mental health crises. The funds will help continue the partnership between the city, Saline County and the Central Kansas Mental Health Center, which was formalized with an updated memorandum of understanding also approved by the commission.

City donates $5,000 for emergency food fair

SALINA, Kan. - In an unscheduled action, the city commission voted unanimously to donate $5,001 to the Salina Area United Way for its “SNAP Back Against Hunger” food and resource fair. The event, scheduled for Nov. 17, was organized to assist local families facing food insecurity. The donation matches a similar contribution from the Saline County Commission and was approved as an emergency measure given the event’s timing before the next commission meeting.

City approves $1.2 million purchase for new landfill scraper

SALINA, Kan. - A new wheeled tractor elevating scraper will be purchased for the Salina Municipal Landfill after the city commission approved the $1,268,578 expenditure on Monday. The Caterpillar 623 model from Foley Equipment will replace a 20-year-old, smaller unit that has become difficult to repair. Public Works Director Ron Marsh said the new equipment is crucial for meeting state regulatory requirements for daily waste cover and will be delivered in early 2026.

Solar panel project proposed for senior center roof

SALINE COUNTY, Kan. — The county is considering a proposal to install solar panels on the Department of Senior Services building, a project that could generate over $445,000 in net financial benefits over 30 years. Staff presented a concept from Hutton Energy Services on Tuesday, detailing an initial investment of $147,750, which could be reduced to approximately $88,650 after federal tax credits. The analysis projects the panels could offset 52 percent of the building’s electricity usage, saving an estimated $17,811 annually. The project is timed to coincide with a planned roof replacement funded by a separate grant, which would streamline installation. No action was taken, but staff may bring the item back for a formal vote in the coming weeks.

Senior center secures over $712,000 grant for major renovations

SALINE COUNTY, Kan. — The Department of Senior Services has been awarded a $712,460 Community Development Block Grant to fund major exterior renovations, Director Rosie Walter announced Tuesday. The grant, combined with a county match of $225,000, will be used to replace the building’s roof, repave the parking lot, install new lighting and repair uneven sidewalks. Walter said the project is currently in the environmental review phase and is expected to go out for bid in early 2026, with construction potentially starting in the spring.

Senior services reports lower taxpayer cost since county takeover

SALINE COUNTY, Kan. — The amount of property tax dollars required to subsidize the Department of Senior Services remains significantly lower than before the county assumed operations in 2018, according to a fiscal report presented Tuesday. Director Rosie Walter showed that through the third quarter of 2025, county tax dollars have subsidized operations by $173,388. In 2017, the final year under the previous Commission on Aging model, the county’s contribution was $328,800. Walter attributed the department's financial stability to a steady increase in securing outside grants and community donations.

Senior meal demand continues to rise

SALINE COUNTY, Kan. — The demand for meals from the Department of Senior Services continues to grow, with the department serving 32,669 meals in the third quarter of 2025. Director Rosie Walter reported that the total for the year has reached 94,469 meals, with 97 percent of them subsidized. This year’s total is on pace to exceed the 92,074 meals served during the same period in 2024. The program provides both on-site dining and Meals on Wheels delivery, which accounted for over 20,000 of the meals served last quarter.

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