The City of Salina is searching for a guide – to navigate the River Renewal Project.

“What we have in mind right now is to go out for a request for qualifications for a team of engineers, consultants that do this type of work, river renewal and cleanup,” said Martha Tasker, Utilities
Director for Salina.

“We hope to have that consultant on board by the end of 2016,” she said.

Tasker joined in on the KSAL Morning News Monday with a look at the project Salina voters okayed back in May with a mail-in ballot.

Tasker added that the plan is front-loaded with research on the easements and right of way along the river – including a long list of permits required to work through on the state and federal level.

“Our hope would be that we complete design in 2018 and be in construction in 2019 through 2021,” she said.

“This is a project that takes time.”

The sales tax hike, which goes into effect in October will allocate $1.35 million of the projected $9.35 raised annually to the clean up and renew the flow of the Smoky Hill River channel.

Salina Park facilities get a $600,000 boost from the new tax while $3.6 million will be used for neighborhood street updates.

City leaders will also use $2 million to fund capital projects and another million dollars to help stabilize local property tax.