County advances $3.78 million Keats sewer project, renews subsidized recycling contract
Commissioners approve major infrastructure spending and agree to subsidize glass recycling in a split vote.
MANHATTAN, Kan. — The Riley County Commission unanimously awarded a $3.78 million construction contract to overhaul the Keats sanitary sewer system, advancing one of the county's major infrastructure initiatives. To cover a $250,000 funding shortfall, the county plans to use federal American Rescue Plan Act funds or submit a supplemental funding request to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Commissioners also unanimously approved an amendment to the engineering agreement with BG Consultants, extending the construction timeline from 10 to 15 months, with ARPA funds covering additional hourly fees. Construction is slated to begin in late summer. The commission also unanimously approved an $85,085 agreement with ArchImages for a four-month space needs assessment for the Riley County Health Department and Raising Riley to explore consolidating services.
In a 2-1 vote, the commission renewed a five-year recycling service contract with Bison Ridge Recycling that includes an annual county subsidy of up to $15,000. The subsidy will cover the facility's net losses on processing materials, specifically glass. Commissioners debated whether spending taxpayer dollars to subsidize an unprofitable commodity was appropriate; supporters of the contract argued the funds are necessary to continue diverting large volumes of glass from local landfills.
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