By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY
Salina Post
While Salina City Commission candidates brought varying opinions to a forum Tuesday night, one topic they agreed on was that housing is a big concern.
All but one of the city commission candidates were in attendance for the Candidates Forum that was livestreamed on the Smoky Hills PBS Facebook page. Because of the pandemic, no audience members were allowed in the forum, however, citizens were able to submit questions.
The candidate forum was sponsored by the Salina League of Women Voters and the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce.
Candidates in attendance included Douglas Alt, Chad Farber, Michael Hoppock, Jerry Ivey II, Greg Lenkiewicz, Bill Longbine, and Matthew Smith. Elise Carter did not attend.
View the candidates' profiles on the chamber website
After their opening statements, candidates answered questions from local media and questions submitted by the public.
Concerning housing, Farber acknowledged that it was "a big issue for Salina." He said that the current city commission has been working on the housing issue for a while, but noted that he would like the process to move more quickly.
"I know that there are restraints with government and with incentive programs, and different things like that, but we are on the verge of a housing emergency here in Salina," Farber said. "We have new businesses that are wanting to relocate individuals to our town and there's simply no place for them to take up residence at this time."
Hoppock, who currently serves on the city commission, agreed that housing was an important issue and discussed measures the city already has taken.
"As you know, we have a significant number of jobs coming to the community. The current commission I serve on, we have been addressing that. A couple of weeks ago, we approved some IRBs in order to put a new apartment complex up out by Menards. We're in the process of approving an RHID for a new housing district out by Schilling and Ohio," Hoppock said.
IRBs are Industrial Revenue Bonds and an RHID is a Rural Housing Incentive District.
Hoppock said he mentioned both of those measures because it is important to match the housing to the jobs that are coming.
"By using these two tools, we're able to reduce the rent or able to reduce the cost of housing," he said.
"We have quite a few housing subdivisions opening up: Stone Lake, Magnolia Hills II is opening up. Those are larger homes that will appeal to certain demographics," Hoppock continued. "What we're trying to do is bring in some housing that will hit that younger workforce."
Ivey said he would make housing a priority.
"I would preferably work to bring developers in to maybe bring in some lower-income housing, middle income housing, too, 'cause I think that would move people out of the lower end and open up some of that as well," he said.
Lenkiewicz agreed that there was a need for housing.
"I can tell you that being in the property management sector there's definitely a need in the leasing part of the housing, and it's my understanding that there's definitely a need in single family residential homes," he said. "Being on the planning commission for the last five years, I can tell you there are things coming down the line that are gonna help improve this problem."
Lenkiewicz acknowledged the housing projects mentioned by Hoppock.
"We also have multiple housing developments that we voted on in the last year, year and a half. We have the development just north of Magnolia Hills, as mentioned before, the extension to Magnolia Hills. We have a new development that's just being started off of Cedar Ridge. And I think we've got a good start on trying to tackle this problem. We just need to nurture these programs," he said.
Longbine said that in the short term, he would like to see neighborhoods revitalized and infill of available lots.
"We need to find builders who would find it in their timeframe to build smaller, affordable homes. We have lots of jobs here available, but we don't have jobs that match the cost of housing in Salina, and affordability is key," he said. "We need to attract investments in apartment buildings -- as Commissioner Hoppock said, this was just approved last week -- that are not limited to age and income restrictions."
Longbine said he also would like to see some of the obsticles reduced that builders face trying to get projects approved.
"It's a long process, especially when you're putting in streets and utilities, to actually get a development in. We need something quick," he said.
Smith said he would like to see more housing that is affordable for working class families.
"I think the City of Salina possibly has the funds to help with that," he said.
Alt agreed that the city's housing situation was challenging. He said he would like for the time it takes to get building permits to be shortened, noting that it "seems like it takes quite a while."
"Hopefully there would be some way that we could shorten that up to maybe get builders more encouraged to do more building," he said. "Also maybe tweak the special assessment process that we have."
To find out what else the candidates had to say, you can watch Smoky Hills PBS' recording of the forum by clicking the link below.
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EDITOR'S NOTE: Leslie Eikleberry was part of the media panel for the Candidates Forum.