County administrator asks commissioners to adopt high-level goals from downtown campus master plan

Saline County Administrator Phil Smith asked the Board of Commissioners March 4 whether commissioners had sufficient information to adopt high-level goals from a recently completed downtown campus master plan, including options for the old jail site, the health department and a potential judicial center.

Smith said the master plan delivered conceptual recommendations and three additional cost estimates requested by commissioners during an earlier joint meeting with the Salina City Commission. He described decision steps as a cascading series of choices: for example, pursuing senior housing on the former jail site would need to be weighed against relocating the health department or developing judicial facilities. Smith said the county can commit to high-level goals (for example, moving specific county offices) but cannot unilaterally commit the city to shared uses of city-owned spaces.

Several commissioners indicated they had enough information to move forward with high-level goals. Commissioner Grievous said the documentation was comprehensive and that he felt ready to decide whether to pursue demolition of the old jail and related redevelopment. Commissioner Hay said he supported moving forward but noted the importance of balancing preservation and long-term planning for downtown assets such as Memorial Hall.

Smith recommended that the commission adopt a set of high-level goals — for instance, removing the old jail, moving the health department and identifying a site for a judicial center — and then allow staff to pursue the detailed, phased steps needed to implement those goals across 2025–2026 (including coordination with the city). No formal adoption vote was taken at this meeting; Smith asked whether commissioners needed additional information before a formal adoption later in the month. Most commissioners said they did not need further information.