In his final remarks as mayor, Greg Lenkiewicz reflected on what he described as a “full plate” over the past year, pointing first to the hiring of City Manager Jacob Wood as a key decision for the city’s future direction. Lenkiewicz will continue serving the city as a member of the Salina City Commission.
Lenkiewicz reviewed progress in public safety, including the delivery of new fire apparatus, construction of Fire Station No. 4, and renovations at the Salina Police Department, while acknowledging that a long-term solution for the department’s facility will eventually be needed. He also cited extensive parks and recreation upgrades, ongoing street maintenance and waterline replacement programs, completion of the wastewater treatment project, and continued investment in arts and humanities programming.
Housing was another major focus, with Lenkiewicz noting significant progress on workforce housing through multiple developments across the city. He also referenced challenges during the year, including a natural infrastructure issue that required unexpected attention, but said the city’s strong financial position allowed it to be addressed without major disruption.
“Looking back at this list, there’s a sense of pride,” Lenkiewicz said, adding that while progress can feel incremental day to day, the cumulative impact of the work is substantial.