Salina Estimates $1.5 Million in Bill Burke Riverbank Repairs Following Log Jam

The City of Salina is estimating approximately $1.5 million in repairs to the riverbank at Bill Burke Park following damage associated with a log jam in the Smoky Hill River.

The proposed repair project was included in the city’s Capital Improvement Plan discussion Monday and is currently being considered for 2027.

Finance Director Debbie Pack told commissioners the damage resulted from logs that accumulated in the river and damaged portions of the riverbank and related structures.

Pack specifically said the estimated damage was the result of the log jam itself and was not attributed to the contractor working in the area.

The city has submitted the estimated $1.5 million project to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for possible reimbursement. It is not yet known how much, if any, of the repair cost FEMA will ultimately cover.

Any portion that is not reimbursed would remain the responsibility of the City of Salina.

The damage also prompted discussion among commissioners about the timing of debris removal from the river.

During the meeting, one commissioner said he had proposed removing the debris approximately 13 months earlier and questioned whether leaving the material in the river for an extended period contributed to additional erosion or damage as water was forced around the blockage. The commissioner suggested the city should have prioritized removing the debris earlier.

City staff did not state during the discussion that the timing of debris removal caused the estimated $1.5 million in damage.

The Bill Burke repairs are part of a larger proposed 2027 capital plan that includes road, bridge, utility, landfill and other infrastructure projects. The capital plan remains subject to additional review and approval by the Salina City Commission.