A pair of votes: Just right
Water restrictions, consolidation effort get city commissioners' OK
By TOM BELL
Editor & Publisher
|
|
We
take back everything negative we've ever said about the Salina City
Commission, including direct and indirect criticisms, scorn and
sarcasm.
Well, not really. But commissioners do deserve a rousing round
of applause after taking two significant actions during their Monday
meeting. Both are positive steps toward enhancing the future of our
community.
As reported by the Journal's Darrin Stineman, the commission
voted 5-0 to extend the water warning issued last summer that restricts
outdoor watering. The vote also allows city staff to work on nine top
priorities listed in its action plan. Those include: watering
restrictions and enforcement; an evaluation and study of the city's
water well field; water rates that encourage conservation; xeriscaping
landscaping requirements; an update on the city's water conservation
plan; and management of groundwater contamination.
City Manager Jason Gage told commissioners that city staff is
well on its way to completing work on those items, in some cases
culling other cities' plans for ideas. One of those cities is Hays,
which has good model programs for water conservation.
The other decision worth celebrating comes in a 5-0 vote to
establish the city's participation in a joint city-county consolidation
task force. The League of Women Voters of Salina made a request for
formation of the task force at last month's meeting between the city
commission and the Saline County commission. City commissioners
expressed support for the study at that joint meeting.
Saline County Commission Chairman Craig Stephenson was not as
supportive of the league's request for a task force, and would not
commit to a timeline for a decision before talking with his two fellow
county commissioners.
But so far, so good. The city commission unanimously supports a
study to see if there are benefits from full or partial consolidation
of city and county services. We are hopeful the county commission will
show the same kind of support -- and in a timely matter.
©Salina Journal
DISCUSS STORY 
PRINTER FRIENDLY 
EMAIL TO A FRIEND 
|
