By NATE KING
Salina Post
The City of Salina has a new mayor. Mike Hoppock, who served as mayor in 2020, will return to lead the city commission in 2023. Commissioner Bill Longbine will serve as vice mayor.
Hoppock replaces Commissioner Trent Davis, who was Salina mayor in 2019, 2021 and 2022 and remains on the governing board.
Prior to the city commission calling the organizational meeting to order, Chad Farber, Salina, offered his public comment regarding the mayoral selection process.
"The mayoral position being appointed as opposed to being elected is off-putting to many citizens in Salina," Farber said. "I continue the request that we do move into some kind of system where the citizens can elect the mayor and separately have the commissioners represent different districts of town. I think that would help with the communication between the citizens and this board."
The process of choosing the mayor
Each January, the city conducts an organizational meeting for the purpose of electing a mayor and vice mayor to serve one-year terms. Although there is no formal policy, a long-standing city commission tradition is that the vice mayor will be elected mayor the following year.
Former Vice Mayor Karl Ryan said in December that he would not accept that nomination in 2023.
"I've made the decision not to seek or to accept the nomination as mayor in 2023, so I thought it important to put this decision out in front of all of you as fellow commissioners so we can preserve the celebration and the dignity that goes with the changing of the guard," Ryan said.
Ryan cited hearing loss as his reason not to accept the nomination for mayor.
During his brief statement after accepting the nomination, Hoppock thanked Davis for his time and commitment to the city commission.
"I've had the pleasure of serving twice under you [Trent Davis] as mayor, and it is like a fine wine, it just gets better with age," Hoppock said.
State of the city and message of appreciation
After giving a commemorative plaque and gavel to Davis, Mayor Hoppock spoke about his vision and the confidence he has in the commission to deliver results for all Salinans.
"Currently, our city is in a good place," Hoppock said. "It's good to see us as a as a cohesive group trying to move the community forward, because that has not always been such and I'm appreciative of the current commissioners and how we've helped build that bridge and continue to move forward."
He said he is pleased with the way city staff and the commission works with local partners, including Saline County, the Salina Community Economic Development Organization, Salina Area Chamber of Commerce, Salina Airport Authority, USD 305, and Kansas State University Salina Aerospace and Technology Campus.
Hoppock said he's always considered being a city commissioner as a community service.
"I feel serving as mayor is no different," Hoppock said. "I will do my best to run our meetings in a professional manner and when asked to attend various functions, my remarks will be those that represent this commission as a group."
He said he appreciates the professionalism shown by the current commission.
"I remember (Davis) telling us as a commission a few years ago that it is good that we have a debate and discussion and bring up different views on the subject. A 3-2 vote is not always a bad thing," Hoppock said.
2023 commission goals and strategy
Hoppock said the city must continue to implement the new pay plan approved in 2022.
"Hopefully, this will allow the City of Salina to get closer to full employment," he said. "We hear about the shortage of police officers, which again is a national issue, but we have many departments that are running below optimal staffing."
Hoppock said affordable housing to meet the need of business development and workforce expansion would be an issue addressed in 2023.
"We have a request for proposal to build up to 500 apartments units here in Salina," Hoppock said. "I believe that we need to go back to the stakeholders, those employers who have told us they are bringing new jobs to the community, to verify that those jobs are still coming, to verify when they will be here. Because the one thing we don't want to do is to build too much too fast and to have empty apartments. This is a hard balancing act that city staff and this commission will deal with, but I believe we can meet that goal."
Hoppock thanked the Community Housing Development Corporation of Central Kansas for making strides in rehabilitating Salina homes.
"They have received grant money for the Greater Salina Community Foundation, which has allowed them to purchase properties and rehab them, and then sell them to owner-occupied individuals," Hoppock said. "These are properties that were in dire need of improvements. They've received American Rescue Plan funds from Saline County to help with the winterization of owner occupied homes.
Recently, the group purchased 44 homes in Salina, which will soon be updated and will be rented to low- to moderate-income families
Leading for future generations
In closing, Hoppock thanked his family, particularly his wife, Polly.
"At times, you look at maybe having to move a vacation or missing something that's going on," he said.
Before adjourning, Hoppock gestured to his three grandchildren who were in attendance.
"That's the future. That's the reason a lot of us give our time and want to see Salina continue to grow and be a place where those young people will want to stay and live as they grow up," he said.