The Salina City Commission on Monday held a public hearing and unanimously approved Resolution 25-8317, authorizing the issuance of industrial revenue bonds (IRBs) for A&B Tool & Machine as part of the company’s planned expansion on South Ohio Street.
A&B Tool & Machine Expansion
Economic development officials outlined the project, which stems from a 2024 KDOT grant that helped open McIntosh Road in the Liberty Addition. A&B Tool & Machine, currently operating from a 9,000-square-foot leased facility on Centennial Road, plans to construct a 38,170-square-foot facility on a 5.5-acre lot at Ohio and McIntosh.
Project details included:
- Total investment: $6.34 million
- Building construction: $5.67 million
- Land acquisition: $135,500
- Fixed machinery & fixtures: $535,475 (eligible under IRB guidelines)
- Job creation: 6 new positions within 3 years, 10 within 5 years
- Average wage: $27/hour plus $5.53 in benefits
Officials noted the building’s layout allows for a duplicate structure to be added in the future to support further expansion.
The SCEDO board previously recommended approval after reviewing the project’s economic impact analysis, which reported benefit-to-cost ratios of 1.10 for the City, 1.11 for Saline County, and 2.52 for the State of Kansas. Commissioners approved the IRB resolution 5–0.
Commission Adopts 2026–2030 Capital Improvement Plan
The Commission also approved Resolution 25-8318, adopting the City’s 2026–2030 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).
2026 CIP Highlights
Planned cash-funded projects for 2026 include:
- Downtown wayfinding
- Brookwood Trail pedestrian bridge
- 9th & Ohio signal interconnect upgrades
- Northwood & Fairdale culvert replacement
- Comprehensive planning and zoning code update
Total: $1.21 million
Debt-financed 2026 projects include:
- Ohio & Schilling roundabout design
- East Magnolia bridge and road improvements
- North Ohio overpass painting
- Bifra runway repairs
- New landfill cells and scales
- Airport water mains
Total: $9.4 million
Additional funding allocations:
- $743,500 for facilities maintenance
- $790,000 for park maintenance
- $5.79 million for street maintenance
- $2 million for utility system enhancements
- $4.81 million for vehicles and equipment
- $203,383 for Kenwood Cove maintenance
Commissioners asked for future discussions on pedestrian safety concerns related to the proposed Ohio–Schilling roundabout. Staff confirmed those issues would return during the design-contract stage.
The CIP was approved unanimously, 5–0.