Salina – Week of April 30, 2025
South High lockdown scare; Mental health funding request; Ninth St hotel extension; Corrections funding cuts loom; City manager search delayed
Misidentified Noise, Old Social Media Post Spark South High Lockdown; Officials Praise Response
Mental Health Agency Requests 4% Funding Increase, Cites $1.25M Uncompensated Care & Service Expansion
Divided Commission Grants Extension for Ninth Street Hotel CID Project
Community Corrections Faces Uncertain Future Amid Potential State Funding Cuts
City Manager Search Delayed as Commissioners Reject Flawed Recruitment Brochure
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Obituaries
Iron Horses of the Prairie
Misidentified Noise, Old Social Media Post Spark South High Lockdown; Officials Praise Response
Salina South High School went into lockdown Monday morning after a 911 call reported a possible person with a gun, triggering a swift multi-agency law enforcement response. Subsequent investigation by Salina Police determined there was no gun at the school and no active threat. Police officials stated the incident began when a student, aware of an old social media post from April 3rd showing another student with a gun, reported hearing what they believed was the sound of a gun being racked in a restroom. However, surveillance video confirmed the student from the social media post was not in the restroom at the time, and the student who made the initial report later told police the sound likely came from crushing a water bottle. The Salina school district confirmed the building was searched, deemed safe, and returned to normal operations, emphasizing no weapon was found and no shots were fired. The original April 3rd social media post remains under investigation.
During Monday’s Salina City Commission meeting, officials commended the rapid and coordinated response of school staff, the school resource officer, and the Salina Police Department, noting officers were inside the building within five minutes of the 911 call. Commissioners, however, also expressed concern about misinformation spreading on social media during the lockdown, stating some posts questioned the integrity of responders and fueled community fear. They stressed the professionalism displayed during the incident and urged citizens to be cautious about sharing unverified information during emergencies, highlighting the challenge of managing information flow in crises. Source: City of Salina, kwch.com
Mental Health Agency Requests 4% Funding Increase, Cites $1.25M Uncompensated Care & Service Expansion
Central Kansas Mental Health Center (CKMH) presented its case for a 4% county funding increase for 2026, requesting $376,272 to support its operations. Chief Executive Officer Glenna Phillips highlighted the agency's role as a safety net, noting CKMH provided nearly $1.25 million in uncompensated care to uninsured or underinsured Saline County residents in 2024 alone. Crisis Services Director Esther Kency detailed the success of expanded crisis services, including the co-responder program (partnering mental health professionals with law enforcement), which diverted 81% of encounters from jail or hospitals in its first full year. Kency also announced that mobile crisis response will become available 24/7 starting May 1st, 2025, further aiming to reduce pressure on emergency services. While the requested funds aim to sustain these vital services, the presentation was part of the annual budget allocation request process; the proposal was taken under advisement by the Commission for consideration during the upcoming 2026 budget deliberations, and no formal action on the funding was taken during this meeting. Source: Saline County
Divided Commission Grants Extension for Ninth Street Hotel CID Project
In a split 4-1 vote, the Salina City Commission approved extending deadlines related to a Community Improvement District (CID) for a second hotel project on Ninth Street. The amendment pushes the completion deadline for the Best Western Plus hotel to December 31, 2027, and extends a sales tax exemption on construction materials through June 30, 2027. The developer cited challenges including the property's location in a floodway and delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. While city staff noted that hotel incentives are not typically supported, an exception was made in this case due to the difficult nature of developing the property, which previously contained dilapidated buildings. The project involves a 2% CID sales tax surcharge collected only at the new hotel once operational, which helps reimburse the developer for eligible improvements within the district. The dissenting vote suggests continued discussion around the use of public incentives for such projects. Source: City of Salina
Community Corrections Faces Uncertain Future Amid Potential State Funding Cuts
Potential cuts to state funding pose a significant challenge for Saline County Community Corrections, Director Michelle Callam reported during her semi-annual update. While funding for the upcoming fiscal year remains flat, initial projections from the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) indicated potential cuts starting in FY2027, initially estimated as high as $500,000 over three years, though later estimates were lower. Callam noted that the agency's average daily population has decreased, which could be used to justify cuts, but expressed concern about future needs and the lack of an "insurance plan" if caseloads rise again. The final impact remains uncertain as KDOC continues to revise its figures, leaving the agency in a state of flux regarding long-term financial stability. Source: Saline County
City Manager Search Delayed as Commissioners Reject Flawed Recruitment Brochure
The Salina City Commission deferred approval of a recruitment brochure for the city manager position after multiple commissioners raised concerns about inaccuracies and the overall tone of the document during Monday's meeting. Commissioners pointed out factual errors, such as references to a community college Salina does not have and a minor league baseball team, and felt the brochure was overly focused on arts and humanities while omitting key areas like recent housing initiatives and economic development tools. Concerns were also raised about whether the educational requirements listed (initially a Master's degree) might unnecessarily exclude experienced candidates. The commission decided to hold a special study session on May 5th at 4:00 PM to thoroughly review and revise the brochure with the recruitment consultant. Commissioners plan to provide individual feedback to the consultant beforehand to streamline the process, ensuring the final brochure accurately reflects the community's strengths, challenges, and the requirements for its next chief executive. Source: City of Salina
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