Manhattan local news summary

Commissioner Adam Chak bids farewell at final meeting

Commission approves police access to city surveillance cameras

City attorney clarifies local sales tax rules on food

Contract awarded for new playground at Seco Park

Symphony in the Flint Hills ends 20-year run

ATA Bus expands service to connect Ogden and Junction City

County maintains high bond rating

Appraiser: Rising property values dictated by market, not tax rates

First half taxes due Dec. 22

County seeks protections before signing animal control agreement with city

University Park Fire Station 110 officially opens

Hospital CT scanner failure spikes EMS transport volume

HVAC leak causes water damage to museum artifacts

Commissioner Adam Chak bids farewell at final meeting

MANHATTAN, Kan. - Tuesday marked the final meeting for Commissioner Adam Chak, who served on the body for 18 months. Chak expressed gratitude to city staff for their expertise and to his fellow commissioners for a productive year focused on economic development. The mayor and other commissioners thanked Chak for his leadership and willingness to serve, particularly noting his work on the budget and quick adaptation to the role after joining mid-term.

Commission approves police access to city surveillance cameras

MANHATTAN, Kan. - The city commission approved an agreement Tuesday allowing the Riley County Police Department to access live feeds and recordings from city-owned surveillance cameras, including traffic monitoring systems. The agreement utilizes FUSIS software, which will allow officers to access footage remotely to aid investigations without requiring city staff to manually retrieve files for open records requests. While the measure passed as part of the consent agenda, one resident spoke during public comment to express concern regarding privacy and the potential for the system to evolve from reactive investigation to proactive surveillance.

City attorney clarifies local sales tax rules on food

MANHATTAN, Kan. - In response to constituent questions regarding the state’s elimination of sales tax on food, City Attorney Katie Jackson clarified that the city cannot unilaterally remove the local portion of the tax. Jackson explained that existing local sales taxes are imposed either by a vote of the electorate or special districts with specific statutory uses. Consequently, the city's sales tax must be applied as an "all or nothing" proposition and cannot be modified to exempt food items under current regulations.

Contract awarded for new playground at Seco Park

MANHATTAN, Kan. - Commissioners voted 5-0 to award a construction contract to AB Creative for the installation of new playground equipment at Seco Park. The project, funded by surplus revenue from the recreation and trails sales tax, includes new surfacing, equipment and shade structures. Parks and recreation officials utilized a cooperative purchasing group to secure the bid after initial sealed bids failed to meet specifications. The new playground replaces equipment originally installed in 2001.

Symphony in the Flint Hills ends 20-year run

MANHATTAN, Kan. - During commissioner comments, it was noted that the Symphony in the Flint Hills has concluded its operations after a 20-year run. The organization recently sold its assets, including a building in Council Grove, and distributed the proceeds to four organizations dedicated to supporting the Flint Hills region. These final distributions will support local projects, including the Discovery Center’s educational initiatives.

ATA Bus expands service to connect Ogden and Junction City

MANHATTAN, Kan. - The mayor announced that the ATA Bus system will launch a new circular route connecting Junction City, Ogden and Manhattan. The expansion addresses a critical transportation gap, particularly for military families living in Ogden who may lack access to a personal vehicle for reaching medical services and grocery stores. While the ride will include multiple stops, city officials praised the move as a significant improvement for regional connectivity.

County maintains high bond rating

RILEY COUNTY, Kan. — Riley County has maintained its Aa1 bond rating from Moody's Investors Service. This rating, which is the second-highest tier available, reflects the county's strong financial health and creditworthiness.

Appraiser: Rising property values dictated by market, not tax rates

RILEY COUNTY, Kan. — County Appraiser Anna Burson addressed the commission to clarify the distinction between property valuation and taxation. Burson emphasized that the Appraiser's Office is required to follow market trends to ensure equitable value distribution and does not set tax rates. She noted that housing markets increased by 4.5 percent in September alone, necessitating higher valuations. Commissioners acknowledged the difficulty of the situation, noting that while valuations are market-driven, the resulting tax burden remains a frustration for property owners.

First half taxes due Dec. 22

RILEY COUNTY, Kan. — County Treasurer Shiloh Hager reminded residents that the deadline for the first half of property tax payments is Monday, Dec. 22.

County seeks protections before signing animal control agreement with city

RILEY COUNTY, Kan. — The Riley County Commission discussed concerns regarding a proposed animal control services agreement with the city of Manhattan. County Counselor Jacob Hansen advised the board to seek a memorandum of understanding ensuring the city maintains ownership and responsibility for the animal shelter facility before the county agrees to the service contract. Commissioners expressed concern that without specific legal protections, the city could change its ordinances, potentially forcing the county—which has a statutory obligation for animal control—to assume the costs of the facility. The commission agreed to have the county counselor negotiate these terms with Manhattan City Attorney Katie Jackson before moving forward.

University Park Fire Station 110 officially opens

RILEY COUNTY, Kan. — Commissioners celebrated the completion of the new University Park Fire Station 110, following a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by administration and firefighters. The commission described the new facility as a "game changer" for rural citizens and firefighters in the northern part of the county. The station represents the culmination of infrastructure projects spanning the last eight years aimed at upgrading rural fire protection capabilities.

Hospital CT scanner failure spikes EMS transport volume

RILEY COUNTY, Kan. — EMS Director David Adams reported a significant increase in ambulance calls for November, totaling 506 responses. Adams attributed the spike to a failure of the CT scanner at Ascension Via Christi Hospital during the Thanksgiving holiday week, which required emergency medical services crews to transport patients to other facilities for imaging services. Despite the logistical challenge, Adams noted that staff managed the surge effectively, and call volumes are expected to normalize as equipment is repaired.

HVAC leak causes water damage to museum artifacts

RILEY COUNTY, Kan. — Riley County Historical Museum Director Katherine Hensler reported that a major leak in the museum's heating, ventilation and air conditioning system on Nov. 17 caused water damage to items in permanent storage. The leak, which occurred over a weekend, affected a section of shelving containing textiles and sewing machines. While staff and the collections committee determined that most items can be preserved, some damaged objects may need to be deaccessioned. Hensler noted that the HVAC system was installed through the storage area in the late 1980s, a design she described as "not ideal" for preservation standards.

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