[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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",6209150,"mediaKeyId","3736481-3a1e3b90bb79e7e3d2bf5ce2e718923e","parentId",3736481,"title","Commission approves vacating utility easements for new K‑State Salina KAERIS building; project expected to bring tech jobs","audioSeconds",5093,"startMs",5699000,"endMs",606000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3736481-3a1e3b90bb79e7e3d2bf5ce2e718923e&start=5699&end=606","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3736481-3a1e3b90bb79e7e3d2bf5ce2e718923e/thumbnail_5699000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6209150/Kansas/Commission-approves-vacating-utility-easements-for-new-KState-Salina-KAERIS-building-project-expected-to-bring-tech-jobs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6209150-c97c947204400e133021f1c80d4cfdbd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770430248&Signature=cvsVwf4auYKFVeX6YFraQa6r7wzMUg8Ya1okmq0w8LvhCcfWLgR5tiZKZTmhxgRp7gvsOd2gHqljSqJTinBYjYrX4Gtm9dnxSmj6ZxKNzTDrx9q2HAfT-xax7oTyeOGktuiIeOQ5JpXe7mwRt9LHmXW9ErCmia4t-1podvxP4ymimDtkq9geIUQhnvsQaf0B7Xi1MBFLnlrb7WLLgjMPxIQEZLfIxTldQ8K8imgSPIqQyPLj1dtNJ9LBgHGz2B9HqNWHOul4lvzTVUc4zA6oHqS-hHXWdMm1KdN2o4HsrYTWjZEHDUA3DI5~S1OdZ8SncA2DvjzUWbvxCkulzfK4EA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Salina, KS","date","2025-06-09T00:00:00Z","article","The Salina City Commission on June 9 approved an ordinance vacating several platted utility easements on Lot 8 of Shilling Subdivision No. 3, clearing the way for a proposed Kansas Artificial Intelligence Research and Imagination Studio (KAERIS) at the Kansas State University Salina campus.

City staff explained the easements cross the parcel selected for the KAERIS facility and that no public or franchise utilities occupied the affected easements; the statutory public hearing drew no objections from utilities or neighboring property owners because Kansas State University owns surrounding parcels. The commission voted 5–0 to adopt ordinance 25‑11248 vacating the north–south and east–west utility easements described in the staff packet.

Michael James, Kansas State Salina’s executive director for administration and finance, told the commission KAERIS is a proposed 47,000‑square‑foot center that would house Pure Imagination Labs after the company relocates from Southern California. “That building will hold a 120 personnel of which at least a 100 of those will be new jobs added to the Salina economy and most of those are programmers,” James said. He said posted positions are salary‑level openings in excess of $100,000 for many roles and that the university hopes to complete the building by June 2026, contingent on regulatory clearances and permits.

City staff noted K‑State projects are not subject to city building‑permit review in the same way as private development, but the campus receives city utilities and fire protection and city addressing coordination. The easement vacation permits the university’s site plan to move forward; the commission opened the statutory hearing, heard staff and university comment, closed the hearing, and adopted the ordinance. No member of the public testified against the petition.

Action: The commission approved ordinance 25‑11248 vacating the identified utility easements on Lot 8 in Block 1 of Shilling Subdivision No. 3; vote 5–0.

Next steps: K‑State will complete permit coordination and site work after receipt of outstanding state notices; the university’s representative said they expect to break ground once KDHE approvals and final coordination are complete and target ribbon cutting by June 2026.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Salina City Commission Study Session and Meeting - June 9, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The City Commission unanimously approved a petition June 9 to vacate platted utility easements on campus property so Kansas State University can build a new KAERIS research facility at its Salina campus.","taxTitle","Salina, Saline County, Kansas","taxId",55343,"location","Kansas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6209156,"Salina adopts downtown common-consumption area and overhauls alcohol code; ordinance approved 4–1",70,984000,1054000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3736481-3a1e3b90bb79e7e3d2bf5ce2e718923e&start=984&end=1054","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3736481-3a1e3b90bb79e7e3d2bf5ce2e718923e/thumbnail_984000.jpg","/articles/6209156/Kansas/Salina-adopts-downtown-common-consumption-area-and-overhauls-alcohol-code-ordinance-approved-41","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6209156-0e77e84e46087930cf509ccf33819b91/orig.mp4?Expires=1770430248&Signature=Le2njn7EDdaCmyl-pMUEKsrmiZUVFUFpo~YaqopDmqDqDD~PW6hFS~jNPdQv8A43GW3ybi3Jdhe5hdcFpDvLoWJU-8yaXdpJEyK~0nk35NiBsJQtCGzrSFoqOIsX3tK8WzTHz2jZebpEYEpQ--WEUkx01nu1MM6udHJp0DcaiOFs7o7J2H8mTWC1FPs0MklbXLEXpJsiHqKl0PSBpU5PPX7NJA0ux6-raC-SGTk3Eqqko1kipCXPZTX1UPGEdN~oblx05LWYkDgu2AuXMfsFcepzAG6NFnqPqyalatcmU7WKS4DCz4dbRxN8yl9GTgI-2aQJLPcKWYTgGqHQZBYd2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Salina City Commission on June 9 reorganized the city’s alcoholic-beverage code and created a designated downtown common-consumption area, enabling licensed establishments and authorized temporary vendors to sell and permit consumption of alcohol in marked cups within a defined downtown boundary.

City attorneys and planners told commissioners the reorganization consolidates scattered rules into a single chapter and adds a new Section 5‑33 to establish the common-consumption area; the commission approved the ordinance by a 4–1 vote. The new map places boundaries roughly from Elm Street on the north to South Street on the south and from Fifth to Seventh Streets east–west, also including the area adjacent to the garage and the river-side plaza east of Fourth Street. Under the structure described by staff, consumption is allowed within the boundary in approved plastic cups that clearly display the participating licensee’s name or logo. The city will apply for the state common-consumption permit and serve as the permit holder, and staff recommended a tentative start date of Sept. 1 to allow outreach and signage to be installed.

Planning staff and the city attorney said state law permits local governments to create these districts and requires clear marking of boundaries; the state permit carries a $100 annual fee and a 30‑day review by the Kansas Alcoholic Beverage Control authority. Gage Roberts, a city planner, showed examples of boundary signage used by other Kansas cities and said participating establishments, caterers and temporary permit holders must use cups with identifying marks. City staff said the public-safety approach includes coordination with police and fire and that enforcement will rely on both city code and state liquor statutes.

The measure drew mixed public comment. Downtown business leaders and the Salina Downtown Inc. director said the change will help events and retail foot traffic and that districts in other Kansas cities have not produced notable disorder. Some residents raised concerns about children’s exposure at daytime markets and asked about enforcement, insurance and the potential for improperly reused cups; staff said the ordinance restricts allowable containers to the approved cups and that police and city staff will monitor and conduct outreach during rollout.

The commission approved the reorganized chapter and the new Section 5‑33 creating the district; a 4–1 vote adopted the ordinance that includes the common-consumption area. Staff will submit the city’s application to the state, finalize signage and outreach, hold stakeholder meetings with downtown businesses in July–August and target a Sept. 1 effective date if the state permit is issued.

Key implementation details: the downtown boundary as presented spans Elm to South and Fifth to Seventh; hours are proposed at 9 a.m. to midnight; plastic cups with participating licensee identification are required; the city will hold the annual state permit and pay the $100 fee; signage marking entry/exit points will be installed before the effective date.","The City Commission reorganized chapter 5 of the municipal code and approved a new common-consumption area for downtown Salina — allowing licensed businesses and approved temporary permit holders to serve beverages in marked cups within a mapped boundary — after public debate and a 4–1 vote.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6209160,"OCCK seeks $1.06 million in city support; outlines route redesign, paratransit software and service upgrades",162,1665000,1827000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3736481-3a1e3b90bb79e7e3d2bf5ce2e718923e&start=1665&end=1827","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3736481-3a1e3b90bb79e7e3d2bf5ce2e718923e/thumbnail_1665000.jpg","/articles/6209160/Kansas/OCCK-seeks-106-million-in-city-support-outlines-route-redesign-paratransit-software-and-service-upgrades","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6209160-360ba0610bf075f281fa70ed94dcc57d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770430248&Signature=atIdEPazCwIWJOf1kOmWcJni7ScUDz2IBipvDRlNcssygFafmCSzh60NuNfaSdIJVLej3CVWIRR~7ogKDojEhF6XAM4Ry5L4HtNpUbqR72AWaSECP3qBjrnL6eSh9AwNan307Wt7GoeiSX7SvANZzfy~gwdnFVak3lB-Q3Ti5e~QIB8S0JW26CWicirEpoKxh~yqtyMaonTrIZDEpnNQhRpT4eI26iHXWAYkVS2MwFlglXKYhE~VHuyvGeEQT6Y5QQ~19xCokL~97CGqhliGY6YefyH-qqkRz-pBi5QQtcRuXh73K8DeDW7OjX0kKZla2BwRuxwuDOP2SrTDtpl1ng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","OCCK, the region’s public transit provider, presented its 2026 funding request and a multi-pronged plan for service improvements to the Salina City Commission on June 9.

The request is part of the city’s outside-agency budget review: Trel Grinter, OCCK Transportation Director, said OCCK’s blended request to the city totals $1,058,953, which covers operating, overhead and capital costs and includes a list of capital needs and service improvements. “That total dollar amount is $1,058,953 and that blends our operating costs, our overhead costs, and capital costs,” she told commissioners.

Grinter outlined ridership and program metrics to justify the request. OCCK reported 71,000 paratransit rides in 2024 (about 57,000 of those local to Salina), and 245,000 fixed-route rides on Citigo in 2024; May 2025 alone delivered roughly 30,000 Citigo rides, she said. She said 28% of trips are work-related, 42% medical and 30% for other needs such as nutrition and education. Paratransit usage is holding steady while fixed-route ridership rises, she said.

Planned investments described to commissioners include: purchase and rollout of new paratransit and scheduling software (current estimate: a $20,000 interim system and an $80,000 target solution for paratransit); Wi‑Fi and automated stop-announcements for fixed-route buses; a route redesign launching Aug. 4 projected to save about 150 vehicle miles per day and eliminate roughly 20 underused stops; and a plan to retain a 3% cost‑of‑living increase for drivers. Grinter also proposed exploring fuel purchasing from the city as a potential cost-savings measure.

She told the commission that KDOT typically matches local operating contributions—roughly 70% state match to 30% local—but noted that KDOT's approval and match levels are subject to its grant process. Grinter said OCCK’s total operating budget is about $6 million; the agency also cited vehicle capital needs (two vehicles estimated at $43,000) embedded in the request. She said OCCK seeks city funding to help ensure reliable service during the redesign and cover software/capital costs if needed.

Commissioners asked about fares and service details: Grinter said fares remain $2 for a day pass, $1 for a one-way trip and $35 for a monthly pass, and confirmed that airport trips can be scheduled for $2 each way. She also noted a recent employer partnership (Schwan’s) that allows employees to ride with an employee ID and contributes to route/route-expansion planning. No formal vote was taken on the OCCK request during the hearing; the request will be considered as part of the city’s budget process.

Clarifying details: OCCK requested $1,058,953 from the city to blend operating and capital; total system budget ~ $6,000,000; 2024 paratransit rides = 71,000 (57,000 Salina), Citigo rides = 245,000; route redesign to launch Aug. 4 with estimated 150 mile/day savings; paratransit software estimated $80,000; vehicle capital ask included two vehicles at $43,000.

Next steps: City budget officials will consider OCCK’s request within overall budget deliberations; OCCK will proceed with outreach and route redesign planning ahead of the August implementation date.","OCCK told commissioners its 2024 ridership rose, asked for $1,058,953 in funding to blend operating and capital needs, and outlined a route redesign, new paratransit software and rider-facing tech upgrades.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6209165,"Salina Grace asks city to maintain $90,000 operating grant for 2026",400,154000,554000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3736481-3a1e3b90bb79e7e3d2bf5ce2e718923e&start=154&end=554","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3736481-3a1e3b90bb79e7e3d2bf5ce2e718923e/thumbnail_154000.jpg","/articles/6209165/Kansas/Salina-Grace-asks-city-to-maintain-90000-operating-grant-for-2026","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6209165-04dfea883d8b354a17fde08416005df8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770430248&Signature=lIzIP6FtkCVXQwIFoOyyQkDx~oTqMIjE697zsJJ24h-VWVOXyiic0clU-W84pSsjMHfuKd1hWwjbXbyg8ZZiqLDrlrxkk1k0IOgg42vnq5y7ERGs7fz4dMGmLYxi41cp2UZMqsnZhGXczHecVtd6daF0qGUNpZ0h2Wvu8ZPFrOcufIYpHWwZb9qNkynJY3Tw0i4hT9auI0dooqIT1ofqALY2tajZvN0q-wYpph9Hfy~KuUoNcgYX1rrf90kEGaKpLriDesJSkSe~lK4gNqWY-H~Xvnl1O0jf5rIfxjGuQCGrCkam8uDVfZFtCeb2j8ijmYrsntG8JTDFnO7WsRJHfg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Salina Grace asked the Salina City Commission on June 9 to hold its outside-agency operating grant steady for 2026 so the nonprofit can continue shelter and resource-center services in the downtown area.

The request matters because Salina Grace recently moved into an 18,000-square-foot facility at 315 South Broadway and said city funding supports daily shelter operations and partner services that reduce incidents that trigger emergency responses. “This past year your support has helped us shelter 92 men, 35 women and 4 kids during the wintertime,” Chad Young, executive director of Salina Grace, told the commission as he outlined the group’s use of city support. Young said Salina Grace served about 16,000 meals last year and averages 50 to 60 people per day in its community resource center.

The nonprofit provides a low-barrier winter shelter with no sobriety or income requirements and operates a multi-agency resource center where eight partner agencies provide mental health, addiction, housing and other services on-site, Young said. “We want to make sure that anyone who is on the streets of Salina has a safe, warm place to sleep,” he said, adding that meals and shelter “are a gateway that helps us to build the trust and opens the door to the longer term change.”

Young said Salina Grace’s overall operating budget is larger — he referenced a $570,000 number during his remarks — and that the organization’s request to the city is to keep its annual city allocation at last year’s level of $90,000 to support shelter operations. He said Salina Grace currently draws roughly 25% of its funding from government entities (with the city identified as the primary government contributor), about 25% from foundations and about 50% from individual donors and community fundraising. Young invited commissioners to visit the new facility at an open house June 17 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and said the shelter will soon open showers and laundry services for guests.

Commission discussion acknowledged both fiscal restraint and the program’s apparent community impact: one commissioner said the service is “something the city would fail doing very fast” without the nonprofit’s volunteers and work. No formal action on the city’s budget allocation was taken during the presentation; the agency’s request will be considered as part of the city’s outside-agency budget process.

Clarifying details: Young gave the counts of people sheltered (92 men, 35 women, 4 children) and meals served (about 16,000 last year). He described the organization’s new 18,000-square-foot building at 315 South Broadway and said showers and laundry services will open in the coming weeks. He described Salina Grace’s funding mix as ~25% government, ~25% foundations and ~50% public donations.

Next steps: Salina Grace’s request will be considered in the city’s outside-agency budget process for 2026; the organization’s June 17 open house is scheduled for commissioners and the public to inspect the new facility.","Salina Grace told the City Commission its expanded shelter and resource center served hundreds over the past year and asked the city to keep its 2026 operating allocation at the same $90,000 level to support shelter operations and new hygiene services.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission approves vacating utility easements for new K‑State Salina KAERIS building; project expected to bring tech jobs

Salina adopts downtown common-consumption area and overhauls alcohol code; ordinance approved 4–1

OCCK seeks $1.06 million in city support; outlines route redesign, paratransit software and service upgrades

Salina Grace asks city to maintain $90,000 operating grant for 2026