By NATE KING
Salina Post
After a nearly unanimous decision, Salina City Commissioners voted to make the city’s newly updated website the official “newspaper” of Salina, with additional notices to be published in Salina311.
Monday’s vote to move legal notices online was widely anticipated by the public following the commission's decision to “charter out” of the Kansas Statute back in Aug. By chartering out, the city is able to list its own city website as the official city “newspaper.”
Salina Assistant City Manager Shawn Henessee said although Kansas statutes require a designated newspaper, the criteria are inconsistent.
“There are certain criteria that have to be met for an official city newspaper. However, those statutes are not uniform, and therefore the city had the option of adopting a charter ordinance,” Henessee said. “That charter ordinance was adopted, and because the 60-day protest period has expired. The city has the option of designating its website to be the official city newspaper.”
READ MORE: Salina City Commission votes in favor of charter ordinance on first reading
City Manager Mike Schrage said because of the lack of uniformity, commissioners would have the option to designate a print publication for certain notices.
“If it is required to be published in the official city newspaper that will be published on the website and if it's required to be published in either newspaper of general circulation or just generally published, the city would pay to publish that in a print media of your choosing,” Schrage said.
Historically, print notices from the city were published in the Salina Journal. For cost-saving reasons, the city decided to explore switching from print to digital publishing.
According to Henessee, The Salina Journal charged the City of Salina $14.38 per inch as of Aug. 1. Salina311 charges only $6 per inch. Henessee said the city paid $37,258 in 2023, $42,000 in 2022 and $53,600 in 2021 for notices.
The resolution ultimately passed 4-1 with Commissioner Karl Ryan voting against the resolution.
“I agree with making the official city newspaper, the city's website, but when it comes to the choice of the two [Salina311 vs Journal], I prefer the traditional paper,” Ryan said. “The Journal is published six days a week and I feel like the content of The Salina Journal is in a more traditional journalistic style where both sides of an issue are examined.”
Commissioner Greg Lenkiewicz, who voted in favor of the resolution, said he had nothing against the Salina Journal.
“What we're publishing would be available free to the public on Salina311. It’s locally owned, and it has a lot more local news that resonates with me a bit more,” Lenkiewicz said. “I grew up with The Salina Journal. I mean, I have nothing against the publication. It just is not the publication that it used to be.”
Other items discussed during the meeting:
Recognized Fire inspector Jeff Daily’s retirement
Approved an ordinance to add group day care homes iin an unoccupied dwelling
Approved and ordinance to amend Chapter 2 of the Salina Code pertaining to Article XII
Authorized the execution of a special warranty deed to The Salina Community Theatre Association, Theatre Salina, for the expansion in Founders Park
Approved annexation of 41.92 acres of land into the city for the new Salina Destination Development apartments which will be located near Menards
Approved an amendment to a city ordinance on allowing the city to determine when public sidewalks must be installed in subdivisions
Accepting an offered right of way and easement dedication from South Ohio Land LLC for land located on the west side of South Ohio Street
Authorized the execution of transferee agreements with both The Hive Salina and Spa and 213 North Santa Fe LLC and Salina2020 inc.