The Salina City Commission has approved a water connection agreement for an industrial property located outside city limits. At their September 23, 2024 meeting, commissioners authorized the director of utilities to enter into an agreement with Grant M. Wilcox for a property at 370 East Avenue A in the South Industrial Area of Saline County.
Martha Tasker, Director of Utilities, presented the request to the commission. She explained that the South Industrial Area subdivision was platted in 1965 outside city limits and remains outside city limits today. The city has been providing water and sanitary sewer service to properties in this area through outside-the-city connection agreements since the late 1960s.
According to Tasker, Mr. Wilcox is seeking to connect to an existing 8-inch public water main on Avenue A. The property currently has a well, but Tasker stated its quality and quantity have been poor for at least 14 years. Central Kansas Metal Works operates a structural steel fabrication facility at the site, which qualifies as an industrial use under city policy.
The agreement includes provisions for connection fees, installation costs, termination, changes in ownership and use restrictions. It also contains a consent to future annexation clause that would take effect when the city commission determines it to be in the best interest of the city.
Tasker noted that most properties on Avenue A in the South Industrial Area have similar outside-the-city connection agreements with consent to future annexation. The connection fee for this property is $4,240, based on 200 feet of frontage on Avenue A.
The commission voted unanimously to approve the agreement.
