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Abilene – Week of June 1 2025

City manager, police chief resign; Sunday alcohol sales approved; City finances $10m in projects; Tax sale announced; Housing contract scrutinized

Greg Loving

01 Jun 2025 • 4 min read

Outgoing City Manager Ron Marsh, CREDIT KABI the General

City Manager, Police Chief Resign; Search for Successors Begins

County Commission Approves Sunday Alcohol Sales

City to Finance Over $10 Million for Industrial Park, Street, and Recreation Projects

Impending Tax Foreclosure Sale Announced

Heartland Housing Contract Faces Scrutiny

City Manager, Police Chief Resign; Search for Successors Begins

The Abilene City Commission is beginning the search for a new top administrator following the resignation of City Manager Ron Marsh, effective June 27. During the May 27 meeting, commissioners discussed the immediate need to hire an interim manager and a full-time replacement. The commission plans to engage with the League of Kansas Municipalities for assistance in finding an interim candidate and potentially for the broader search. To expedite the process, the commission agreed to schedule a special meeting to discuss the path forward, acknowledging the urgency created by numerous ongoing city projects.

In a separate development, Police Chief Anna Hatter has also submitted her resignation. The dual departures of the city's top administrative and law enforcement officials come as Marsh completes three years of service, having joined the city as manager in June 2021.

City of Abilene, KABI the General Facebook

County Commission Approves Sunday Alcohol Sales

During its May 29, 2025, meeting, the Dickinson County Commission unanimously passed Resolution 052925, amending a previous ordinance to permit the sale of cereal malt beverages on Sundays. The change allows any establishment in the unincorporated areas of the county with a valid retailer license to sell these beverages on Sundays, a practice that was previously restricted. The new resolution is no longer tied to a requirement that an establishment sells a certain percentage of food. This policy update aligns the county’s rules with those of many other jurisdictions and reflects a significant shift in local regulations concerning alcohol sales.

Dickinson County

City to Finance Over $10 Million for Industrial Park, Street, and Recreation Projects

The City of Abilene is moving forward with a significant financing plan to fund three major capital improvement projects: the Industrial Park expansion, the C-CLIP 2026 street project, and recreation improvements. The commission reviewed a proposal to authorize the sale of temporary notes, later to be converted into general obligation bonds, to cover project costs. The total financing package could reach up to $10.96 million, which includes the project costs plus interim interest and issuance fees. Officials noted that this figure represents a "worst-case scenario," as the final bonded amount is expected to be lower after applying state grant reimbursements and sales tax revenue earmarked for the projects. The financing is scheduled to close in early August.

City of Abilene

Impending Tax Foreclosure Sale Announced

Dickinson County is moving forward with a tax foreclosure sale, according to a report from County Counselor Doug Thompson at the May 29 county meeting. A judge has approved the orders after a final hearing where no property owners appeared to contest the foreclosure. The sale, which could occur as early as June, includes a variety of properties, such as land parcels and lots with structures. A definitive list of the properties slated for auction will be published in the local newspaper and made available on the county's website for public viewing.

Dickinson County

Heartland Housing Contract Faces Scrutiny

The city's relationship with its housing consultant, Heartland Housing Partners, was the subject of pointed debate. Commissioner Commissioner John Kollhoff questioned the value of the arrangement, expressing "more than a little bit of heartburn" over the contract terms. He highlighted that the consultant receives 15% of the tax revenue from the Rural Housing Incentive District (RHID) and a significant portion of the proceeds from city lot sales, which he felt was disproportionate to the value provided to Abilene taxpayers. Ross Vogel of Heartland Housing defended the partnership, crediting it with securing $1.4 million in state incentives and facilitating nearly $7.5 million in local investment, arguing the development would not have moved forward otherwise. Commissioner Kollhoff also sought and received clarification that Mr. Vogel has no ownership stake in the 12-plex apartment project his firm helped incentivize.

City of Abilene