Rempp: Juby Email Was ‘Very Damning’ as Commission Faces Water Costs, Prairie Paws Transition

Salina City Commissioner Doug Rempp shared five takeaways following Monday night’s City Commission meeting, including his view that Dr. Melissa Juby’s email regarding the animal shelter was “very damning” and may have affected earlier commission decisions if members had been given more time to review it.

Rempp also addressed Salina’s massive water infrastructure needs, the Prairie Paws transition, the Citizens Forum debate and criticism surrounding Commissioner Gary Norris’ phone use during a prior meeting.

1. Water Costs Will Be a Major Challenge

Rempp said Salina is facing hundreds of millions of dollars in water-related needs over the next decade or two.

According to Rempp, the city is currently carrying debt service on approximately $190 million in bonds, with about 10% of that debt expected to be paid off by 2031.

He said an anticipated update to the city’s main water treatment plant is estimated at approximately $58 million, while more than 100 miles of cast-iron water mains still need to be replaced.

“Closer to $2 million actually,” Rempp said of the current cost per mile.

Rempp also noted that the city has not bid a water-main replacement project larger than approximately 2.3 miles in years and suggested larger projects could potentially reduce the per-mile cost.

“Maybe, just maybe, the cost per mile will come down with bigger projects,” Rempp said. “One thing for sure, the costs will only continue to go up.”

Rempp said the next major question is how Salina will pay for the work.

2. Prairie Paws Moves Another Step Forward

Rempp said Prairie Paws moved another step closer to operating Salina Animal Services after commissioners gave city staff direction to prepare a contract.

Once an agreement becomes official, Rempp said the transition is expected to take approximately eight weeks.

“The sooner the better,” Rempp said.

He also pointed to the Animal Shelter Advisory Board’s earlier support for seriously examining Prairie Paws and said Humane Salina has raised concerns about conditions at the shelter for years.

“It took determination to get to this point,” Rempp said. “The Commission should have listened to the community earlier.”

3. Rempp Calls Juby Email ‘Very Damning’

Rempp also addressed questions surrounding the email Dr. Melissa Juby sent following the December 2025 euthanasia of three puppies at Salina Animal Services.

Rempp described the email as “very damning” but said he does not believe commissioners were ever provided their own copies.

“I think the commissioners had a copy in front of them for five minutes, maybe, at an executive session,” Rempp said. “It was only enough time to scan over the 2,000-plus-word email. It was then collected back.”

Rempp said that, in his opinion, commissioners may have responded differently if they had been given an opportunity to thoroughly review the email.

“I have to believe that if any of us had a chance to thoroughly read the horrific details listed in that email, we would have discussed,” Rempp said. “Then we would have voted differently. That's my personal opinion.”

4. Citizens Forum Changes Die Without a Motion

Rempp said the commission ultimately made the right decision Monday by allowing discussion over possible changes to Citizens Forum procedures to end without a motion.

He credited Norris, who initiated the earlier discussion, with acknowledging that existing policies already provide rules intended to keep Citizens Forum orderly.

Rempp said commissioners, residents and city staff all share responsibility for maintaining civility during meetings.

“All three sides play a role in keeping meetings civil, and all three sides have failed at times,” Rempp said. “We are only human, and emotion and frustration can build up.”

He added that improvement should begin with city leadership.

“We all must do better, starting with leadership,” Rempp said.

5. Rempp Says Norris Deserves a Chance After Phone Controversy

Rempp also addressed criticism Norris received after using his phone during his first City Commission meeting.

Rempp said he had not previously realized commission rules prohibited commissioners from using their phones during meetings.

During Monday’s meeting, Rempp said he nearly reached for his own phone to send information to a resident before remembering the rule.

“I almost picked up my phone to send the info and caught myself mid-reach,” Rempp said.

He noted that Norris has apologized and said Norris has acknowledged both publicly and privately that he came on too strongly during his first meeting.

“I know there was an initial denial, but we all do things at times without even realizing it,” Rempp said.

Rempp urged residents to give the new commissioner an opportunity to move forward.

“Let's give him a chance,” Rempp said. “It's part of being civil. None of us are perfect.”