[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6389664,"mediaKeyId","2113177-40a58ad1e17247234a1d78ae0007c8e4","parentId",2113177,"title","Commissioner Linkowitz elected Salina mayor; Commissioner Hopick chosen acting mayor","audioSeconds",174,"startMs",1079000,"endMs",1253000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2113177-40a58ad1e17247234a1d78ae0007c8e4&start=1079&end=1253","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2113177-40a58ad1e17247234a1d78ae0007c8e4/thumbnail_1079000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6389664/Kansas/Commissioner-Linkowitz-elected-Salina-mayor-Commissioner-Hopick-chosen-acting-mayor","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6389664-6f4386f35aa82780efae77b1ec00a836/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184369&Signature=hFUhE0DIfojyHjePU-bbWvidu2R~-exGbOU5s2LkfPBA6bDtyOmCdRpoB8zWNf16ASEIsc7nELZ5pkvrETtHvclyqgCX8ZzstJP1qbgdPjxIhV5G~x6e1UUcjv-kMh65-Nvwc5D5UgW2FdCB38CZDOmaxA-gX1hnZt5i1PEVyh0I~RrRv-Gml3n~LVvWq~uHUFA~g5dl~a2T7Prg68gVlLGnl9HvSUcQ1iDKq46A4Z0NNHeVovIjd9cqmT84Cvu-n3pwsDZX2i9ndphGbThLgkE0vZlFeBgayvlse9j6qDVWy7cwv5Uz0uoTiV0CLnlBQKhMum~b-e4~qmtrrVhb8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Salina, KS","date","2025-01-13T00:00:00Z","article","The Salina City Commission recessed into an organizational meeting on Jan. 13 and elected Commissioner Linkowitz as mayor and chairman of the Board of Commissioners and Commissioner Hopick as acting mayor and vice chairman in roll-call votes in which all commissioners present voted \"aye.\"

Why it matters: the votes complete the commission’s annual organization and confirm leadership roles that will guide meeting agendas and local priorities for the coming year.

At the Jan. 13 meeting the commission first moved and seconded a motion to recess into the organizational meeting; the chair called the motion and commissioners voted \"aye.\" The commission then accepted nominations and elected Commissioner Linkowitz as mayor and chairman of the board by roll-call vote. Each commissioner cast an \"aye\" on the Linkowitz nomination. The commission then nominated and elected Commissioner Hopick as acting mayor and vice chairman by roll-call vote; the recorded votes were unanimous.

After the elections, the commission presented a plaque of appreciation to outgoing Mayor Bill Longbein recognizing his service as mayor from Jan. 8, 2024, to Jan. 13, 2025. Longbein offered brief remarks of gratitude and noted recent local milestones and development activity.

The meeting concluded after a motion and second to adjourn, which carried on an \"aye\" vote.

Ending: The newly elected mayor and acting mayor will preside over future meetings and any leadership assignments will be reflected in the commission’s schedule and public records.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Salina City Commission Meeting - January 13, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","During the Jan. 13 organizational meeting, the Salina City Commission recessed, elected Commissioner Linkowitz as mayor and Commissioner Hopick as acting mayor/vice chair in unanimous roll-call votes, and presented a plaque of appreciation to outgoing Mayor Bill Longbein.","taxTitle","Salina, Saline County, Kansas","taxId",55343,"location","Kansas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6389669,"Residents criticize Salina snow removal and ask for sales-tax relief; commission orders after-action review",0,594000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2113177-40a58ad1e17247234a1d78ae0007c8e4&start=594&end=594","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2113177-40a58ad1e17247234a1d78ae0007c8e4/thumbnail_594000.jpg","/articles/6389669/Kansas/Residents-criticize-Salina-snow-removal-and-ask-for-sales-tax-relief-commission-orders-after-action-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6389669-c314b5c5307760f42a5be7000b6f4e33/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184369&Signature=iDwNr4xcv5C~Wrq6WrE68vV7W9WknkopFuLD73XpUkweifVSDd9~ayRHz~ntTqoEtYCr64StzSWIsaf79H0sa-DX9cpIrL8zSoQnVKAF8QRoNA~icU-ODI3XIprjiSefGcUov4JxJRnr3Mj6NuqEP1UebsT5fBQGB76Lc2t64eD9wIbblKuqjNx5I~pPYA9rbAJOP5N9xUifRsDtZ6JJUiSVai99xA8iR~0O6-hA7U2sEIpa1wMMslkOnqBMttYGN66q1GDpAzgQbfkrFyWmka~sxDA6N9kA7uxL7pjPd5Rni9ZulzepsGo-mdwmdvFrGJMajDh1L4LwdLvA2Ac7HQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Salina City Commission said city employees from police, fire, streets, utilities and parks worked through a recent storm and directed staff to conduct an after-action review and to meet with the school district to assess coordination.

Why it matters: residents told commissioners inconsistent plowing and leftover curb piles created traffic and driveway access problems, and one commenter urged the city and county to follow the state in reducing sales tax on groceries.

Commissioners thanked city staff for their response to the storm and announced the city will perform a formal after-action review of operations and outreach. A commissioner said the city had reached out to the school district and would sit down with district staff to review performance during the storm.

Public comments at the Jan. 13 meeting included multiple residents who criticized the pace and prioritization of plowing and other storm responses. Ben Winholz, a Salina resident, said posted plowing schedules promised residential streets would be plowed twice in each direction and additional plowing would begin Jan. 10, but he said he did not observe trucks on several main streets between Tuesday and Thursday and questioned why crews appeared to be clearing secondary entrances at the municipal golf course before some main thoroughfares. Winholz also raised taxation concerns, saying the state had lowered its sales tax on food to 0% but \"we are still paying Saline County and citizens of Saline are still paying 2.75% sales tax\" and urged the commission to consider relief for residents.

Another resident, Bernard Baker, said some plows left large piles of snow three feet from curbs that made driveway access hazardous. A separate commenter questioned equipment operators’ training and urged the city to hire qualified operators or provide training.

The commission did not vote on changing plowing protocols or on the sales-tax issue during the meeting. Commissioners directed staff to carry out the after-action review and to report back with findings and any recommended operational changes.

Ending: The sales-tax concern raised by speakers was not acted upon at Jan. 13; any change to city or county sales taxes would require separate policy action and, if applicable, state or county-level compliance steps.","Following a heavy snowstorm, the Salina City Commission praised city staff, ordered an after-action review and received public complaints about plowing priorities, curb snow piles and continued city/county sales tax on groceries despite a state reduction.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6389674,"Salina commission schedules special session to discuss Chamber funding and baseball facility proposal",57,162000,219000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2113177-40a58ad1e17247234a1d78ae0007c8e4&start=162&end=219","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2113177-40a58ad1e17247234a1d78ae0007c8e4/thumbnail_162000.jpg","/articles/6389674/Kansas/Salina-commission-schedules-special-session-to-discuss-Chamber-funding-and-baseball-facility-proposal","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6389674-3016593974054fa39fc211634b066c4b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184369&Signature=bhbCb~WCWNaO-ZxAn~DLUHeG23mNSxvAJruUATPJS80wieSPBe0g1Tuypu0dkyQuNbhSMp8dEcagUOTkklKdnU8xFZsLVfQH2WRvHj4HrJtmYjjYPW~1n05ul1lcybXDgRaCkp8Pn-zFT1YUuHzH3AU4X3Mwx90THrSL3wb7dNYN584hb6XElCzWrSMJfDp8S7rGZ8UvC-5Q5-42spDwNZwaoyRYMr3oQgRN1JYdHyd4~mxYEEdHC7TATVWxZOCmpeBRbfLjEyfmgaesAOzd0nR34qpEgmd1jGGiKWtKbpTOtqyI3vG7mRAbRHsBR0fzB2T9bkdR87e7biZbYTZxuA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Salina City Commissioner Linkowitz announced the commission will hold a special meeting Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. to enter executive session for two agreement negotiations: a final discussion on the Chamber of Commerce funding agreement and consideration of a recently received proposal regarding baseball facilities.

The special meeting was described by a commissioner during the Jan. 13 City Commission meeting as intended to conclude in time for a separate photo opportunity showcasing a new barricade the police department has taken delivery of; the barricade was described as partially funded by the city, the Law Enforcement Excellence Fund and the Daryl Wilson Foundation.

Why it matters: both items under discussion involve funding and contract terms that the commission said require private deliberation with staff and negotiators. The city indicated the need for an executive session to protect negotiating positions on agreements.

Details: a commissioner asked colleagues and staff to confirm availability for the Wednesday afternoon meeting; the stated agenda items were (1) a final conversation related to the Chamber of Commerce funding agreement and (2) consideration of a recently received proposal related to baseball facilities. Commission discussion did not include the text of any proposed agreement, dollar amounts, or vendor names at the Jan. 13 meeting.

No formal vote on contract terms occurred during the Jan. 13 session. The commission indicated staff will schedule the meeting and finalize logistics. Any formal action on the agreements is expected to be announced after the executive-session deliberations and any permitted public motion or vote.

A review and documentation of the meeting schedule and any resulting motions will be posted to the commission’s agenda materials after the special meeting.","The Salina City Commission agreed to schedule a special meeting Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. to meet in executive session to finish negotiations on a Chamber of Commerce funding agreement and to consider a newly received proposal related to baseball facilities.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioner Linkowitz elected Salina mayor; Commissioner Hopick chosen acting mayor

Residents criticize Salina snow removal and ask for sales-tax relief; commission orders after-action review

Salina commission schedules special session to discuss Chamber funding and baseball facility proposal