The Salina City Commission voted 5-0 to approve a development agreement with Salina Saline County War Memorial, Inc. for planned improvements to the War Memorial at Sunset Park.

The agreement allows the nonprofit organization to move forward with the next phase of the project, which includes additional memorial features and site improvements. Planned work includes memorial benches, granite monuments, marker wall tiles, brick paving, concrete walks, landscaping, lighting, infrastructure and related site work.

The estimated total cost of the project, provided by Hutton Construction, is $317,428.66. Under the agreement, the city’s contribution will not exceed $165,732.51. City staff said that funding will come from the Parks Improvement Fund, which is supported by sales tax revenue. The project was also identified in the city’s 10-year capital plan for parks maintenance.

Salina Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Hammond told commissioners the original memorial was built in Sunset Park and dedicated to the City of Salina in 1994. The memorial was established to recognize members of the armed forces from Saline County who died in the line of duty, as well as others who served the country. The city has continued to maintain the memorial through the Parks and Recreation Department.

In recent years, the Salina Saline County War Memorial group was reestablished as a nonprofit organization to continue honoring veterans and to create additional commemorative opportunities, including the sale of inscribed bricks and other memorial elements.

According to city staff, the War Memorial group first brought the project concept and fundraising plans to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board in February 2023, where it received a positive recommendation. Representatives later presented the project to the City Commission during an April 2024 study session, including conceptual drawings, estimated costs and a request for city participation in the project.

Under the agreement approved Monday, the nonprofit will be responsible for construction, installation and completion of the improvements once funding requirements are met. The nonprofit will serve as the contracting entity with Hutton Construction, not the city.

The agreement also makes clear that the improvements will be city-owned and located on city property. The city will retain final approval over inscriptions, names, sponsors and related text placed on the memorial. The agreement also states that approved inscriptions will be treated as government speech, not a public forum.

Several members of the War Memorial group spoke in support of the project.

Bob Miller, a member of the War Memorial Association and former project manager on the original 1994 memorial, said approval of the agreement will allow the group to begin a formal fundraising effort.

“Phase one was completed in 1994,” Miller said. “Phase two recognizes those conflicts that have occurred within the last 32 years, and will provide a little bit of additional room for anything that may come up that we don’t foresee.”

Veteran Stan Britt also spoke in favor of the project, saying the effort has been discussed for several years and is intended to improve the memorial for veterans, their families and the broader community.

Ben Vidrickson II, treasurer and project designer for the committee, thanked city leaders for considering the partnership. He said the project continues work started decades ago by the original War Memorial Committee.

Commissioners also briefly discussed whether Saline County had been asked to contribute to the project, given the memorial’s countywide focus. No county contribution was identified during the discussion, though members of the group indicated that could be a future step.

Following the unanimous vote, Mayor Mike Hoppock thanked the group and veterans for their service.