By SALINA POST
War memorial expansion, a public hearing, and proclamations are among the items on the Salina City Commission agenda for Monday.
About the meeting
Study Sessions and City Commission meetings will take place in–person at the City/County Building in Room 107 and via Zoom until further notice. Meetings 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 can also 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 hand 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 can also send written comments or questions to City Commissioners by visiting the City of Salina’s website at www.salina-ks.gov and using the “Email City Commission” icon on the home page.
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 meet in a study session at 3 p.m. Monday to hear about the Salina-Saline County War Memorial expansion project in Sunset Park.
According to the commission meeting packet, Phase 1 of the restoration and construction, which began in March, includes the site preparation and monument installation to honor Major Dennis Pugh, a Salinan declared missing in action after his aircraft was shot down during the Vietnam War on March 19, 1970. Sons of the American Legion Squadron 62 paid for the monument and all related construction.
Other Phase 1 work includes repairing the east concrete wall marker, bronze panel restoration due to graffiti, and in-laid paving brick repair. The restorations to the existing site are being paid for through the maintenance fund established by the previous memorial committee and held by the City of Salina, according to information in the commission meeting packet.
Additionally, Phase 2 would include the expansion of site to the marker walls on the east and west sides of the memorial. The Walk of Honor is to expand in that area with inscribed paving bricks that border sections of green turf. The expansion would include octagonal concrete seating which would include space at the top for eight granite panels that would be inscribed with historical content, including conflicts and military action, the meeting information noted.
Brick orders are now being taken on the Salina-Saline County War Memorial Committee's website.
To see the study session meeting packet, click here.
Regular meeting
Commissioners also are scheduled to consider the following two proclamation requests.
●Recognize the month of April 2023 as Sexual Assault Awareness Mondy in the City of Salina. Angie White, of DVACK, is scheduled to read the proclamation.
●Recognize the month of April 2023 as Fair Housing Month in the City of Salina. Marissa Patton, community relations specialist for the City of Salina, is scheduled to read the proclamation.
Additionally, commissioners are scheduled to conduct a public hearing concerning the advisability of the issuance of taxable Industrial Revenue Bonds for Beck's Superior Hybrids of Atlanta, Ind.
According to information in the commission meeting packet, Beck's is the third-largest seed company in the United States. The company is expanding westward and is looking for a site for its distribution and sales headquarters in Kansas.
The company plans to sell, distribute, and research corn, beans, wheat, and sorghum in Kansas, according to the commission meeting packet information. Beck's has signed an option on approximately 106.18 acres at 1955 N. Ohio Street.
To see the full Salina City Commission meeting packet for Monday, click here.