Salina appoints Jacob J. Wood as interim city manager effective Feb. 7

The Salina City Commission voted to appoint Deputy City Manager Jacob J. Wood as interim city manager, effective Feb. 7, 2025, the commission announced at the end of a special meeting on Jan. 8, 2025.

The decision followed two recesses into executive session to discuss the appointment, each taken under the Kansas statute the commission cited as KSA 75-4319(b)(1), which permits closed discussion of personnel matters. A commissioner moved to appoint Wood “as set out in interim city manager employment agreement to be executed by and between Jacob J. Wood and the city of Salina, Kansas,” and the motion was seconded; members approved the appointment by voice vote and the chair said, “Aye. Motion carries.”

City Attorney Greg Pinkston, who the commission invited into the executive session, told commissioners afterward that staff and counsel had reviewed the draft agreement and expected to provide a final copy for signature. “I appreciate the commission working with me to prepare the agreement,” Pinkston said. “Commissioners who’ve had opportunity to see the full content and text of the agreement have talked that through with Mr. Wood. We should be able to provide and have a final copy of that to be signed and available … as soon as we can after you all adjourn.”

The commission also scheduled a discussion of the process for appointing a permanent city manager for its Jan. 27 meeting. A commissioner asked to add that agenda item to begin the process of selecting a permanent successor and said one of the January meetings would be an appropriate time to start that work.

At several points during the meeting commissioners noted logistics for the closed sessions, including inviting City Attorney Greg Pinkston and Deputy City Manager Jacob Wood into the executive session. Human resources staff (identified in the meeting only as Natalie) estimated about 30 minutes would be needed to answer questions during the closed session.

Commissioners concluded the meeting with brief remarks thanking city staff and Saline County Emergency Management for snow-removal work following a heavy storm; no formal action related to snow removal was taken at the meeting.

The interim appointment is to take effect Feb. 7, 2025, and the commission said the interim employment agreement will be executed and made available to commissioners and others who request to review it after adjournment.