7/1/2008
DAVID CLOUSTON
Shortly into his first day Tuesday as the new director of the Salina Housing Authority, Larry Pankratz spied a plate of cookies left at the receptionist’s counter, with a note.

It was from a former Housing Authority client, saying she’d just purchased a home of her own, and thanking the agency for helping her while she saved up the money to take that step.

It illustrates what Pankratz says will be his focus as the agency’s leader — helping people living now in public housing to eventually become established and living in their own residences.

But for now, he’ll settle for relocating the Housing Authority staff back to its own office at 469 S. Fifth, which was damaged by smoke, fire and a ceiling collapse caused by the December ice storm. The repairs are scheduled to be finished and office staff moved back around July 25 and 26.

In the meantime, the Housing Authority staff has offices in the city water treatment plant, at 401 S. Fifth.

Read more about Larry Pankratz and the Salina Housing Authority in Wednesday's Salina Journal.