Commissioner Doug Rempp calls for moving $5 million back from River Renewal project to water infrastructure
Salina City Commissioner Doug Rempp called Monday, Oct. 26, for the city to move $5 million back out of the Smoky Hill River Renewal project and put it toward water infrastructure.
Rempp made the comments during the commissioners' comment portion of the Salina City Commission meeting. He did not make a motion, and the commission took no action on the request.
"We know we have a water need," Rempp said. "I'd like to see that $5 million moved back and devote it to water infrastructure."
Questions about the project's scope
Rempp called River Renewal "a very hot topic in our community" and said residents who support the project were at the meeting. He said he believes "it's more of an 80-20 issue."
He said he had spoken with City Manager Jacob Wood about the project the week before. According to Rempp, Wood asked what had changed. Rempp pointed to the 2010 and 2016 votes, the ordinance that moves $1.3 million a year to the project and the $5 million transfer.
"Now, going back to 2016, the ordinance talked about a slimmed down river project, and I don't think there's anything slimmed down about it," Rempp said. "It would be hard to count the number of bells and whistles on this project."
He said he believes "a lot of people would be fine with a scaled down version of it, but there is nothing scaled down about it."
Rempp noted that the city manager's spending authority is $50,000. He said he asked Wood what the commission's spending authority is, and added that in this case it is "probably 50 million, if not more."
Water and other needs
Rempp said water was identified as an issue in 2014 and stayed a priority for about two years before tapering off. "We've gotten way behind on our water needs," he said.
He also mentioned the seven bridges that are part of the project. He acknowledged grant money is tied to the bridge replacements, but said, as a taxpayer, he objects to tax money being sent back out to communities. He said he expected city staff would respond that if the city doesn't ask for the money, it will go to another community.
Rempp said he believes many people in Salina face tight finances. He said housing costs and property taxes may be comparable to neighboring communities, but that he has heard local wages, particularly in manufacturing career jobs, are not.
"We have so many other needs in our community that I think we need to get back to basics on the river renewal," he said.
Other comments
Rempp also said, referring to an arts presentation earlier in the day, that the city's entryways "from whatever direction you're coming from" are not very inviting.
