Salina – Week of June 15 2025
Downtown Alcohol Consumption; Plastic Bag Ban?; KSU Tech Project; Dog Park; Bonds Issued;
City Commission Approves Downtown “Common Consumption Area”
Commissioner Proposes County-Wide Plastic Bag Ban
K-State Salina Tech Project Gets Green Light for Campus Site
Barkley Dog Park to Receive $132,000 for Upgrades
City to Issue $12.3 Million in Bonds for Improvement Projects
BREAKING
Joshua Barnhart
1. City Commission Approves Downtown “Common Consumption Area”
The Salina City Commission voted unanimously to approve the creation of a “common consumption area” in downtown Salina, a move that will allow patrons to purchase alcoholic drinks from licensed establishments and walk with them in designated outdoor public areas. The ordinance, which also involved a major reorganization of the city’s alcohol codes, is set to take effect September 1, 2025, to allow time for public education and outreach. The designated zone will stretch from Elm Street to South Street and between Fifth and Seventh streets, operating daily from 9 a.m. to midnight. Beverages must be sold in special plastic cups bearing the logo of the participating business. During a lengthy discussion, commissioners and the public debated the potential impacts. Proponents, including downtown business representatives, argued the move adds another layer to the downtown experience, could boost retail sales, and formalizes what may already be occurring during events. Concerns were raised about underage drinking, enforcement, and maintaining the area’s family-friendly atmosphere. City staff noted that 42 such permits are active in Kansas and that most communities have adopted similar signage and rules without significant issues. The city will be the official permit holder and will work with downtown establishments to roll out the program over the summer.
2. Commissioner Proposes County-Wide Plastic Bag Ban
A discussion about environmental health was initiated by a commissioner, Joe Hay Jr., who asked county staff to investigate the possibility of implementing a county-wide ban on plastic bags. Citing the proliferation of plastic-bag litter in ditches and on fences, particularly near the county landfill, Hay described the situation as awful and out of hand. The county administrator, Phillip Smith-Hanes, noted that he had not researched the topic before but suggested the first step would be to work cooperatively with the City of Salina, as most retailers that distribute plastic bags are located within city limits. Smith-Hanes drew a parallel to the legal complexities surrounding the mask mandate during the pandemic, noting that the authority for such a ban would likely fall under public-health rules and would be most effective as a joint city-county effort. The administrator agreed to look into the county’s options.
3. K-State Salina Tech Project Gets Green Light for Campus Site
A major economic-development project at Kansas State University’s Salina campus is moving forward after the City Commission approved vacating two utility easements at the proposed building site. The commission’s unanimous vote clears the way for construction of the K-AIRES Center (Kansas Advanced Immersive Research for Emerging Systems), a 47,000-square-foot facility that will house Pure Imagination Labs and related research programs. The project is expected to bring nearly 100 new high-paying programming and tech jobs to Salina, with many salaries posted at over $100,000. A K-State Salina representative stated the goal is to have the facility completed by June 2026, noting that research projects are already funded and waiting for the building to be operational. The city’s action was required because the planned location for the building sits atop old utility easements from when the campus was part of Schilling Air Force Base. No active public or franchise utilities were located within the easements.
4. Barkley Dog Park to Receive $132,000 for Upgrades
Responding to feedback from a dedicated group of users, the City Commission approved a change order for up to $132,449 to construct significant improvements at Barkley Park, the city’s popular off-leash dog park. The project will add permanent metal shade pavilions and 880 square feet of concrete gathering space to each of the park’s three existing sections. The additions are intended to enhance the experience for dog owners, creating more comfortable social spaces and better transitions into the park. The project is funded entirely from the Animal Services Revenue Fund’s balance. Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Hammond also noted that staff is pursuing a separate project to add a fourth rotating section to the park to better allow for turf maintenance and recovery. Hammond addressed ongoing concerns about “little barley,” a type of grass weed whose seeds can get stuck in dogs’ paws, outlining a more aggressive pre-emergent and herbicide treatment plan for the coming year.
5. City to Issue $12.3 Million in Bonds for Improvement Projects
The Salina City Commission has authorized the issuance of $12,315,000 in general-obligation bonds to finance a slate of annual improvement projects. The bonds received a strong response on the market, with eight bids submitted. The winning bid from Robert W. Baird resulted in a true interest cost of 4.08 percent. The projects funded by the bonds include the Schneider building improvements, among other capital projects. During the presentation, the city’s financial advisor noted that Moody’s reaffirmed Salina’s Aa3 bond rating, citing strong reserves and its position as a regional economic hub. The advisor also mentioned that while the city’s rating is good, it has been held back from an upgrade due to local income and valuation levels being lower than peer cities. However, he expressed optimism that recent economic growth could support a push for a rating upgrade in the near future, which could lead to lower interest rates on future bond issues.
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Sources
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- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iv2cD04MWtQ
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iv2cD04MWtQ
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iv2cD04MWtQ
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