During Tuesday's Salina City Commission meeting, Commissioner Hoppock highlighted the city's robust financial reserves as a critical factor in its ability to respond to unexpected emergencies like the recent Smoky Hill River debris accumulation without raising taxes.
The commission approved a contract with Diehl Enterprises, Inc. for debris removal from the Smoky Hill River at Bill Burke Park, with a maximum cost of $452,351. The project will address the logjam caused by recent high water events.
"Eight years ago, we had $3.5 million in general reserve balance. This kind of event becomes a real concern and we would be talking about a mill levy increase and increase in property taxes," Commissioner Hoppock stated during discussion of the river cleanup project.
According to the discussion, the city's financial position has significantly improved since that time, now allowing for emergency responses without requiring additional tax burden on residents.
The contract with Diehl Enterprises is structured for a four-week work period, with crews expected to begin work September 8th and complete the initial phase by October 6th. The project specifically targets removal of the original debris pile that formed in June, with a plan to assess additional work needed for subsequent debris accumulations that occurred during July storm events.
Martha Tasker, Director of Utilities, explained that approximately $47,000 of the project funding will come from the city's contingency fund, with the remainder from the general fund.
The commission's approval comes after consideration of multiple bids for the project.
