> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.citizenjournal.us/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Manhattan City Commission Summary - URL: https://www.citizenjournal.us/manhattan-city-commission-summary-24/ - Published: 2026-09-02T16:03:23.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-02T16:03:23.000Z - Description: Week of September 2, 2026 - Author: Greg Loving - Tags: ksu, #summary # City commission approves $15 million airport taxiway reconstruction # Passenger facility charges to cover city's airport project share # Commission approves $1.5 million K-18/K-177 ramp repair project # K-18/K-177 ramp redesign to accommodate 'super loads' # Officials clarify funding ahead of Nov. 3 sales tax vote # Rec centers open early to accommodate middle school time changes # Public meeting set for proposed City Park pickleball courts # Manhattan Housing Authority sheds 'troubled' HUD designation # City welcomes new chief financial officer --- ### City commission approves $15 million airport taxiway reconstruction MANHATTAN, Kan. — The Manhattan City Commission unanimously approved a roughly $15 million project Tuesday to reconstruct Taxiway Alpha at the city's airport. The project, largely funded by a 95 percent grant from the Federal Aviation Administration, includes a nearly $1.5 million task order with Olsson Inc. for design and a nearly $13 million construction contract with Clarkson Construction Co. Construction is slated to begin in March 2027 and conclude by November 2027, with officials noting the phased work will not cause any commercial flight disruptions. --- ### Passenger facility charges to cover city's airport project share MANHATTAN, Kan. — The local share for the $15 million Taxiway Alpha reconstruction project will not require general fund tax dollars, airport officials announced Tuesday. The city's roughly $750,000 portion will instead be covered by Passenger Facility Charges, a $4.50 fee attached to every passenger ticket boarding a flight out of Manhattan. Officials estimate the debt for the city's portion of the taxiway project will be paid off in about two and a half years using the generated fee revenues. --- ### Commission approves $1.5 million K-18/K-177 ramp repair project MANHATTAN, Kan. — The city commission unanimously approved an agreement for a $1.5 million pavement restoration project through the Kansas Department of Transportation's City Connecting Link Improvement Program to rebuild the aging K-18 and K-177 off- and on-ramps. The state grant will cover $1.2 million, while the city will be responsible for a 20 percent funding match, estimated at $300,000\. Originally built in the mid-1980s, the ramps currently carry about 5,000 vehicles per day, including a higher-than-average percentage of heavy truck traffic for the city. --- ### K-18/K-177 ramp redesign to accommodate 'super loads' MANHATTAN, Kan. — Upcoming reconstruction of the K-18 and K-177 ramps will include geometric redesigns to better accommodate "super load" commercial trucks. Public Works Director Brian Johnson noted that oversized trucks, such as those carrying wind turbine blades, frequently use the route and have previously required city staff to manually rotate traffic signal arms 90 degrees to allow passage. The intersection redesign will likely feature dual left- and right-turn lanes, as well as new curb, gutter and storm sewer additions to mitigate erosion. --- ### Officials clarify funding ahead of Nov. 3 sales tax vote MANHATTAN, Kan. — During discussions on funding the K-18/K-177 ramp project, city officials clarified the potential impact of a half-cent street maintenance sales tax measure on the Nov. 3 ballot. While the ramp project could potentially utilize some of those funds if the measure passes, officials emphasized that the proposed sales tax is primarily dedicated to neighborhood and minor streets. If the ballot measure fails, officials warned it would place greater pressure on the city's special street and highway funds to complete required local road maintenance. --- ### Rec centers open early to accommodate middle school time changes MANHATTAN, Kan. — In response to new school district start times, the recreation centers at Anthony and Eisenhower middle schools will now open at 7 a.m. on weekdays, city officials announced Tuesday. The expanded hours will allow students to access the facilities before school, providing them with a safe environment to utilize the courts, walking tracks and designated quiet areas for studying. --- ### Public meeting set for proposed City Park pickleball courts MANHATTAN, Kan. — The city will host a public meeting on Thursday, Sept. 3, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at City Hall to discuss the potential installation of outdoor pickleball courts in City Park. Officials are seeking community feedback on the proposal following the recent opening of eight new tennis courts, which commissioners noted were immediately filled to capacity by the high school tennis team and local residents over the weekend. --- ### Manhattan Housing Authority sheds 'troubled' HUD designation MANHATTAN, Kan. — The Manhattan Housing Authority (MHA) has successfully reversed its troubled status with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the city commission announced Tuesday. After initially receiving a failing score of 46 earlier this year, HUD approved the agency's appeal, correcting the 2024 score to 63 and removing the troubled designation, before subsequently issuing a passing score of 79 for 2025\. Commissioners publicly congratulated MHA Executive Director Aaron Estabrook and his staff for their successful efforts in appealing the score and rehabilitating the organization's standing. --- ### City welcomes new chief financial officer MANHATTAN, Kan. — The city commission officially welcomed new Chief Financial Officer Amy Lange during Tuesday's meeting. Lange, who formally joined the city staff in early September, was introduced by commissioners who expressed enthusiasm for her future role in incorporating new processes and continuing to strengthen the local government's financial systems. --- --- Found a mistake? Have a news tip or feedback to share? Contact our newsroom using the button below: [Contact Us](https://www.citizenjournal.us/contact/) --- [![Job Board](https://rosebud-ads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/JOB.png)](https://gregl72.github.io/job/?ref=citizenjournal.us)