Residents Press Salina Commissioners Over Water, Animal Shelter and City Leadership

Water quality, proposed water-rate increases, the handling of the Salina Animal Services controversy and broader concerns about City Hall dominated public comment during Monday’s Salina City Commission meeting.

Several residents questioned whether the city is listening to concerns being raised at recent meetings, while others directly challenged commissioners and city administrators over decisions involving the water system and animal shelter.

Residents Push for Answers on Water

Jan Everhart, who said she regularly attends commission meetings but normally sits quietly in the back and takes notes, said Monday was the first time she decided to speak.

“Clean water isn't optional; it's basic,” Everhart said.

She said residents want transparent water-testing information, a clear schedule for replacing aging water mains and regular updates from the city.

“We don't want surprises. We want a seat at the table,” Everhart said. “Our city government should listen to the people who live here and depend on these basic services every day.”

Everhart also questioned the city’s priorities.

“We don't give two hoots about a fancy river,” she said. “We want our water dealt with first before another dime is spent on the river project.”

She said the concerns she has seen raised over water cross political lines.

“This isn't a political issue,” Everhart said. “It's not a Democrat, a Republican, an independent issue.”

Debbie Hoggatt, who identified herself as a Dover Drive resident, focused her comments on the city’s turbidity testing and eligibility requirements for its water relief program.

Hoggatt questioned the city's testing procedures, including a requirement she said calls for turbidity readings above 10 NTU to qualify for the program. She also questioned why water is allowed to run before samples are collected after a resident reports discoloration.

“Call when it's discolored, but we're going to run it for five minutes before we take the sample,” Hoggatt said. “That doesn't sound right at all.”

She said residents feel the standards make it difficult to qualify for relief.

“It is very, very disappointing because it's almost as if they set us up to fail,” Hoggatt said.

Anita Papelka also addressed the potential cost of future water-rate increases.

“I believe something as basic as safe, drinkable water should never be considered a luxury,” Papelka said. “It is a necessity.”

Papelka said she understands that maintaining and replacing infrastructure costs money, but called the proposed increases substantial for retirees, families, residents living paycheck to paycheck and small businesses.

She asked commissioners to provide residents with measurable information, including how many miles of water main would be replaced, which neighborhoods would be addressed first, how much additional revenue would directly fund replacement work and whether grants had been pursued.

“You need to give the citizens of Salina a clear, measurable plan for what they are getting in return for higher rates,” Papelka said.

Animal Shelter Controversy Returns to Commission Chambers

The December 2025 euthanasia of three puppies at Salina Animal Services also returned as a major subject of public comment.

Michelle Timpson Solomon discussed an email from veterinarian Dr. Melissa Juby that raised concerns about the euthanasia procedures reportedly used on the puppies.

Solomon questioned why employees involved in the incident remain on the city payroll and why the city is paying legal expenses connected with their criminal cases.

“Why are we still paying them, and why are we paying their legal expenses?” she asked.

Another resident, Sue Nichols, accused city officials of knowing about Juby’s concerns before the March 23 Animal Services study session and allowing then-director Jeff Hammond to present information she contended was inconsistent with Juby’s email.

Nichols characterized the city's handling of the issue as a “cover-up” and said residents intend to continue pressing for accountability.

Tony Johnson raised similar concerns Monday, saying he had emailed commissioners and City Manager Jacob Wood asking who knew about the Juby email before the March 23 study session.

Johnson said Commissioner Doug Rempp told him his recollection was that he learned about the email in late spring or early summer.

Johnson accused some city officials of failing to correct information presented during the study session and said the issue has damaged his trust in City Hall.

“At this point, there is zero faith in anybody that sits at this table,” Johnson said. “That's not personal. That's just business.”

The statements made during public comment included allegations and characterizations from residents. They do not, by themselves, establish wrongdoing by city officials or employees.

Prairie Paws Transition Also Raised

Residents also addressed the commission’s direction to continue negotiations with Prairie Paws Animal Shelter regarding operation of Salina’s shelter.

One speaker thanked commissioners for moving forward with Prairie Paws but urged the city not to allow negotiations to drag out.

“Are you going to make a contract so impossible that it won't happen, or do you intend to make this a sensible, smooth process?” the resident asked, urging the city to complete the work within the anticipated eight-week period.

Broader Criticism of City Leadership

Tom Wilbur used his public-comment period to deliver a broad criticism of city leadership, touching on water infrastructure, the Cozy Inn litigation, groundwater contamination, the river project, executive sessions, consultants, Arts and Humanities funding, property taxes and the animal shelter.

“We have a lot of challenges,” Wilbur said.

He accused city officials of poor oversight and wasteful spending and argued that residents are being asked to pay more while basic infrastructure remains in need of attention.

“We have broken systems, a broken water park, a broken animal shelter, a broken events center, broken streets, broken curbs, poor leadership, and wasteful spending,” Wilbur said.

Other speakers went further, calling for City Manager Jacob Wood’s resignation or termination and criticizing commissioners for their handling of recent controversies.

The increasingly pointed public comments came as commissioners considered major questions Monday involving the future of Salina’s water infrastructure and the potential transition of Animal Services operations to Prairie Paws.