By SALINA POST
A proclamation, a tax exemption public hearing, commissioner appointments, and land annexation are among the items on a busy Salina City Commission agenda for Monday.
About the meeting
Study sessions and city commission meetings will take place in–person in room 107 of the City-County Building, 300 West Ash Street, and via Zoom until further notice. Meetings also can be viewed at the City of Salina YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/cityofSalinaKansas.
To participate via Zoom, citizens will need to use the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89275984587.
The meeting also can be accessed by phone at 1-346-248-7799. Enter Meeting ID:892 7598 4587 when prompted.
If citizens wish to speak, either during the public forum or when the mayor requests public comment on an item, citizens attending via Zoom must raise their hands so that the meeting host can allow them to speak. Those who attend the in-person meeting will have the opportunity to speak at the podium.
Citizens also can send written comments or questions to city commissioners via email at [email protected].
In order for the commissioners to have an opportunity to review comments in advance of the meeting, please email your comments or questions by 5 p.m. the Sunday prior to the Monday meetings.
Study session
Commissioners are scheduled to begin their day with a 2:30 p.m. study session. The topic of the study session is Salina Housing Update.
According to a memo to the commissioners from Lauren Driscoll, director of community and development services, the update will include "the current status of various potential housing developments, the potential growth of housing and associated infrastructure in the community as well as an introduction to a potential funding request for SPARK dollars with an opportunity for City Commission direction. The potential SPARK funding request could impact the community by creating new acreage of developable land, speeding up the development process, keeping housing affordable and with the design and maintenance of infrastructure."
Regular meeting
The regular meeting is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. A time for public comment is scheduled near the beginning of the meeting.
Commissioners are being asked to consider proclaiming February 2022 as Black History Month in the City of Salina. Hannah Rivers of the Human Relations Commission is scheduled to read the proclamation.
Commissioners also are scheduled to conduct a public hearing concerning a proposed tax exemption for McShares, Inc. Commissioners on Jan. 24 instructed city staff "to move forward with this matter and set a date of February 7, 2022, for the public hearing." Following the public hearing, commissioners will consider approving a resolution that would grant the tax exemption.
According to information in the city commission meeting packet, McShares, Inc., doing business as REPCO, plans to expand its local headquarters and its warehouse and manufacturing facility located at 1835 E. North Street.
"The company does business in 46 countries around the world and has products that most Americans have consumed in their lifetime. The company works in the milling industry, nutritional industry, and the bakery industry. The company makes ingredients, additives and premix blends plus manufactures state-of-the-art equipment and has on-site tech services. Their products enrich wheat, rice, corn, and many other products in addition to extending their shelf life. The company has over 70% market share within these industrial sectors. Additional REPCO facilities are located in Manhattan, KS; Wamego, KS; Chicago, IL; east coast United States; Philippines; and Africa," according to information in the Jan. 24 commission meeting packet.
Additionally, commissioners also are scheduled to hear Mayor Trent Davis' appointments from the governing body to various boards and commissions. Those appointments, as reported in the commission meeting packet, are as follows.
Commissioner Karl Ryan: Salina Arts & Humanities Commission, Salina/Saline County Building Authority
Commissioner Bill Longbine: Salina Housing Authority, Salina Community Economic Development Organization, Salina/Saline County Building Authority
Commissioner Greg Lenkiewicz: Parks & Recreation Advisory Board, North Central Regional Planning Commission
Commissioner Mike Hoppock: Salina Airport Authority, Convention and Tourism Committee
Mayor Davis: Salina Area Chamber of Commerce Board, Salina Public Library Board
Other items on the city commission agenda for Monday include the following.
●Consider awarding a bid for 2022 pavement sealing to Circle C Construction in the amount of $287,776.91 with a five-percent construction contingency for a total project authorization not to exceed $302,165.76 and authorizing the city manager to execute a contract with Circle C Construction upon fulfillment of all prerequisites under the bid documents.
●Consider authorizing the city manager to execute an agreement with Tyler Technologies for utility billing software in the amount of $193,448 with a five-percent contingency for a total cost of $203,120.
●Consider certifying final costs for 2021 special assessment projects and set Feb. 28 as the date of a public hearing and then consider approving an ordinance levying special assessments for improvements.
●Consider approving a resolution adopting the 2022-2026 Amended Capital Improvement Program.
●Consider approving on second reading an ordinance that would allow for vacating a five-foot alley east of N. Third Street between Otis Avenue and Euclid Avenue.
●Consider approving an ordinance that would amend the Salina Zoning Ordinance to establish regulations for short-term RV parking at travel plazas and hotels and motels within the city and adding short-term RV parking as a listed conditional use in the C-5 and C-7 zoning districts.
●Consider approving an ordinance that would annex a 53.26-acre tract of land located east of Centennial Road between Schilling Road and Magnolia Road.
To see the full Salina City Commission meeting packet for Monday, click here.