EDITORIAL: Why I Believe It’s Time for New Leadership in Salina’s Utilities Department

By Tom Wilbur

For more than two decades, Martha Tasker has led the City of Salina’s Utilities Department. That kind of longevity deserves some respect I guess, but public leadership is ultimately measured by results, not years of service. This is not personal. I do not question Martha’s commitment to Salina. I question the results. We no longer have a choice. We do have an emergency. Apologizing for our water has gone on long enough. We’ve accepted bad water as being normal. It’s not.

Our water smells. Our water doesn’t taste good. The Tasker Cocktail of chemicals hurts our skin, our pipes, our appliances, our pets, and the health of all Salinans. The poor quality of water is like a tax— it requires buying bottled water, buying filters, replacing pipes, replacing water heaters and appliances, and in some instances is unusable for laundry, or even tropical fish. It penalizes Salinans to the tune of millions of dollars every year for all this stuff. A recent independent test on Dover Drive showed high levels of lead, metals, and even the presence of e Coli. The city maintains it’s safe to drink. I disagree.

In recent years, Salina residents have experienced documented water system issues that go beyond general dissatisfaction. According to City of Salina Public Works and Utilities reports presented in City Commission meetings between 2019 and 2024, the city has continued to log recurring water main breaks each year, with multiple incidents requiring emergency repair response and temporary service interruptions. These are not abstract concerns. They are official responses to conditions where water service reliability or safety was temporarily compromised and required public notification.

In addition, the city’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and water distribution system assessments have consistently identified a very significant backlog of deferred maintenance. The 2023–2027 Capital Improvement Plan, for instance, outlines millions of dollars in projected water system replacement needs, including aging transmission and distribution mains that are past or nearing the end of their expected service life. Earlier engineering assessments have similarly noted that a substantial portion of the system was installed decades ago and is approaching the end of its design lifespan.

Do we actually have lead service lines in use? City inventories have indicated uncertainty in some older service connections, with very few efforts to verify material types like lead in portions of the system. So, actually, Martha doesn’t know. Do we have a long-term replacement plan? The CIP outlines phased improvements, but funding constraints have repeatedly pushed full-scale replacement timelines decades into the future. Do we have asbestos-cement pipe in the system? Engineering documentation confirms that asbestos-cement pipe exists in portions of older infrastructure and is being monitored as part of whatever long-term replacement planning we have.

Water main breaks themselves have been a recurring operational challenge. We’ve had a bunch of them lately. We’re finding failures in copper pipes and joints. We have sludge in our water mains. Public Works maintenance logs and annual utility reports show that these breaks require emergency response, and create large numbers of service disruptions. While such events are not unique to Salina, the frequency and pattern reflect the condition of an aging system that requires more aggressive long-term modernization and accelerated replacement planning. We don’t do that.

Salina also faces the broader challenge of ensuring consistent water quality standards while managing infrastructure that was largely built in the mid-to-late 20th century. Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) compliance reports and routine water quality monitoring results show that the system barely meets regulatory standards, but compliance alone does not eliminate the operational strain caused by aging infrastructure or the need for repeated emergency repairs. These reports are essential for transparency, but they must be paired with clear communication and a proactive strategy to reduce recurring disruptions. Do we want water that meets the minimums, or the best drinking water possible? And the EPA standards are changing to tougher standards soon. We aren’t ready.

While no single person is responsible for every infrastructure challenge, the Utilities Director is responsible for setting priorities, communicating risks clearly to the public, advocating for necessary funding, and executing a long-term plan that reduces system failures over time. In my opinion, based on the documented pattern of infrastructure strain reflected in city planning documents and public reports, Martha Tasker has not been effective in addressing the scale and urgency of these ongoing issues. She doesn’t have formal training in water systems, or any licenses in water. She is weak at communication, internally and externally. She is not respected within her own department. Her delays impact our health, and our pocketbooks.

New leaders bring new ideas, different perspectives, renewed energy, and a greater willingness to challenge long-standing assumptions. That is not punishment, it is just responsible governance. This is not about assigning blame for every past decision. It is about recognizing when a different approach is needed to address documented, ongoing system challenges. Like bringing in a new coach, to take over a losing team.

Salina deserves an experienced, qualified Utilities Director who can rebuild the public trust, communicate openly about system conditions, aggressively pursue infrastructure modernization identified in city planning documents, and make long-term water reliability and quality the department’s unmistakable priority. The results must be clean drinking water for everyone. No more excuses or deferments. She seems to be too busy working on the River Renewal project than the basic needs of our community.

I appreciate Martha Tasker’s years of service to Salina, even though she doesn’t live here. She seems nice. But after more than two decades, I believe it is time for a new decision maker to take on these challenges with real urgency and a fresh new approach. Not because change is easy. Because the future of Salina’s water system is too important to settle for anything less than the strongest possible leadership. And our system is aging, tired, and unhealthy to every living thing in Salina.

I’m just one voice. I can’t make the decision. Maybe together, we can force a response.