Commission weighs sales tax increase for street maintenance

Pavement report shows city streets averaging 'fair' condition

Stagnant gas tax shifts street funding burden to local sales tax

Annual spring cleanup set for early April amid transfer station delays

Police respond to nearly 500 calls during Fake Patty's Day

February sees spike in violent crime despite property crime drop

Recent string of Kia thefts sparks police investigation

Police director pledges to civilianize roles to save budget dollars

Task force secures grant for homelessness case management

Commission weighs sales tax increase for street maintenance

MANHATTAN, Kan. — A proposal was discussed to increase the dedicated Street Maintenance Sales Tax to 0.5 percent to address a growing backlog of failing roads. Public Works Director Brian Johnson said the proposed increase would generate about $8 million annually, allowing the city to allocate $2 million for main arterials and $6 million to systematically tackle local neighborhood streets across five zones. Debate centered on whether to combine the new rate with upcoming expiring quality-of-life sales taxes in 2027 to fund the initiative without taking on new debt or increasing the mill levy.

Pavement report shows city streets averaging 'fair' condition

MANHATTAN, Kan. — A recent Pavement Condition Index report revealed the city's overall street network scores a 60 out of 100, placing it in the "fair" category. While main arterials scored a 78 and collectors a 66, local residential streets lagged behind with an average score of 54. Public Works Director Brian Johnson noted that while the city has spent $51 million on street repairs over the past decade, the backlog of streets requiring total reconstruction has grown to 17 percent, necessitating between $6 million and $8 million in annual funding to improve overall conditions.

Stagnant gas tax shifts street funding burden to local sales tax

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Declining purchasing power from stagnant federal and state gas taxes has left the city relying on local sales taxes for 80 percent of its street maintenance funding. Public Works Director Brian Johnson stated the federal gas tax has not increased since 1993, and the state tax hasn't changed since 2004, reducing the city's buying power by roughly 40 percent to 60 percent due to inflation. As a result, the city's Special Street and Highway Fund covers a shrinking fraction of local road repairs each year.

Annual spring cleanup set for early April amid transfer station delays

MANHATTAN, Kan. — The city's annual spring cleanup will take place in early April, with public works crews deploying 30 vehicles to collect curbside debris across five municipal quadrants. Public Works Director Brian Johnson reminded residents that crews will not step past the curb to retrieve items due to liability issues. Johnson also warned of potential delays in the cleanup schedule this year due to ongoing construction at the Riley County Transfer Station, which has recently caused dump truck wait times of up to 30 minutes.

Police respond to nearly 500 calls during Fake Patty's Day

MANHATTAN, Kan. — The Riley County Police Department reportedly fielded 489 calls for service and made 30 arrests during the annual unsanctioned Fake Patty's Day weekend, numbers that closely align with the 10-year average. Open container violations were the most common citation issued among the 296 total citations. Despite the lack of severe incidents, Riley County Police Department Director Brian Peete noted the event remains a massive strain on police resources and expressed frustration over the department's inability to fully control the large crowds.

February sees spike in violent crime despite property crime drop

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Preliminary data from the Riley County Police Department indicates violent crimes in the city jumped a reported 63.6 percent above the five-year average in February. Initial figures suggest officers responded to 12 aggravated assaults or batteries, five robberies and one homicide. Riley County Police Department Director Brian Peete noted the spike does not represent a long-term trend, pointing out that overall part-one property crimes — including burglaries and larcenies — were down 28 percent compared to the five-year average.

Recent string of Kia thefts sparks police investigation

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Following reports of seven recent vehicle thefts or attempted thefts — five of which targeted Kia models from 2018 to 2020 — local detectives are reportedly investigating whether a coordinated group or specialized technology may be involved. Riley County Police Department Director Brian Peete stated investigators are working with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Kansas Highway Patrol to determine if suspects could be exploiting electronic vulnerabilities unique to the newer vehicles.

Police director pledges to civilianize roles to save budget dollars

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Riley County Police Department Director Brian Peete proposed plans to avoid requesting overall budget increases by reallocating internal resources and civilianizing certain positions. Peete proposed replacing sworn officers at the Manhattan Municipal Court with civilian security guards, a move that could save the department up to $50,000 and put active-duty officers back on patrol. Peete emphasized that merit pay increases will be the only major funding request he supports, warning that automatic cost-of-living adjustments are financially unsustainable.

Task force secures grant for homelessness case management

MANHATTAN, Kan. — A local homelessness task force has received a state grant to purchase a new case management system aimed at coordinating outreach efforts among local stakeholders to ensure vulnerable individuals do not fall through the cracks. Riley County Police Department Director Brian Peete shared the update as concerns were raised about an anticipated increase in downtown vagrancy following the seasonal closure of the Center of Hope Ministry Warming Shelter. Officials are also exploring options to provide secure rolling lockers for unhoused individuals to safely store their belongings.

Found a mistake? Have a news tip or feedback to share? Contact our newsroom using the button below:

Contact Us