City staff told the Salina City Council on Nov. 25 that construction for the Oak Avenue Utility Rehabilitation Project is scheduled to begin Monday, Dec. 8, with initial work on storm-drain infrastructure and temporary closures of blocks between Mitchell and Madrona.

Assistant City Manager Joe Leach said equipment and demolition will be visible and that contractors and staff will notify affected property owners and businesses door to door as closures occur. He described the project as a multi-month effort with an initial underground phase likely to be completed before summer, weather permitting.

Leach also briefed the council on a separate utilities issue: staff review of ultrasonic meter data found 23 customers with meters recording reverse flow into the city water system. "We found that there were 23 customers that had their meters actually going backwards," Leach said, and characterized the condition as a public-health issue requiring installation of city-approved backflow devices. Staff apologized for the timing of notices around the holidays and said they have been in contact with customers reporting extenuating circumstances.

To mitigate financial hardship, Leach said staff will return to the council on Dec. 9 seeking a budget appropriation to provide assistance and to discuss a payment-plan option through utility billing similar to existing arrangements for other customers.

Council members asked for continued outreach and clear scheduling; staff committed to share updated construction schedules and repeated notifications as the project progresses.