Salina Heritage Commission approves 2025 annual report and forwards memo to City Commission

The Salina Heritage Commission approved its 2025 annual report and voted to forward the report and its three exhibits, with noted corrections, to the Salina City Commission.

The motion to forward the memo and attachments passed after staff presented the report and commissioners reviewed membership, applications and staff changes. Unidentified Speaker 4, the meeting presenter, opened the report by saying: "Today, we have our 2025 Heritage Commission annual report for you."

The report said the commission held two regular and three special meetings in 2025, and two regular meetings were canceled because of a lack of agenda items. Staff recorded five certificate of appropriateness applications and one administratively reviewed certificate in 2025; projects included property rehabilitation, sign refurbishment and installation, building remodel and expansion, construction of a detached garage and exterior repairs. Unidentified Speaker 4 said one nomination was submitted to the State Historic Preservation Office seeking comment on the former Dunbar Elementary School's eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places and the Register of Historic Kansas Places under the city's certified-local-government agreement with the SHPO.

The presenter listed organizational memberships maintained in 2025 — the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions and the Kansas Preservation Alliance — and said staff did not attend conferences or continuing-education sessions that year. The report also recounted membership changes: Kyle Martin was reelected chair, Maggie Gillum was reelected vice chair, Carla Waters was appointed the planning commission representative and Tanya Compton was appointed as a new member effective Sept. 1, 2025; the commission's youth member seat remains vacant.

Staffing updates included the retirement of Dean Andrew in June and retitling of that position to planning manager, which the presenter said is now filled. The presenter said Dustin Herz, Gage Roberts and the presenter make up current planning staff, with Daisy Bicknell providing administrative support. The report outlines 2026 goals to assist property owners with nominations to historic registers to qualify for state and federal rehabilitation tax credits and the Kansas Heritage Trust Fund, prepare an RFP for a comprehensive plan and zoning code update, and research economic-incentive programs to promote preservation and rehabilitation.

During review of the exhibits, an attendee noted a repeated typographical error in the staff information on page 13 referencing the "board of zoning appeals." The presenter acknowledged the error and said, "It was a typo. We're gonna we'll we'll get that corrected." The commission then considered staff's proposed motion to send the memo and three attachments to the City Commission.

Unidentified Speaker 3 moved "to recommend sending the memo with the noted revisions along with the 3 attachments to the City Commission," and seconded; the chair called for the vote and the motion carried. The commission earlier approved the minutes of the Dec. 4, 2025 special Heritage Commission meeting during this session.

No members of the public attended in person or on Zoom. With no unfinished business, the commission voted to adjourn.

The staff presenter will forward the corrected memo and exhibits to the Salina City Commission for their consideration.