Riley County Commission Summary
Week of June 30, 2026
Commission approves 15 percent funding cut for several outside agencies
Legal review pauses award for IT/GIS remodel project over bid requirements
Commission hesitates on 'Make My Move' grant application amid budget woes
County attorney's request for criminal investigator denied due to budget deficit
Eminent domain action halted for Deep Creek sewer district
County recoups unpaid property taxes in successful auction
Commission approves 15 percent funding cut for several outside agencies
RILEY COUNTY, Kan. - The Riley County Commission voted 2-1 to reduce funding for several large outside agencies by 15 percent in the upcoming 2027 budget. While agencies such as Big Lakes Developmental Center and aTa Bus will see reductions, the commission opted to freeze funding at 2026 levels for smaller entities like Manhattan Emergency Shelter and the Flint Hills Veterans Coalition. The Flint Hills Metropolitan Planning Organization will receive its full 2027 request to maintain the county's voting rights. Commissioners Kathryn Focke and Greg McKinley voted in favor of the measure, while Commissioner John Ford opposed it, advocating for an across-the-board percentage cut to ensure fairness across all organizations.
Legal review pauses award for IT/GIS remodel project over bid requirements
RILEY COUNTY, Kan. - A nearly $40,000 discrepancy between bids for the county's information technology and geographic information systems remodel project has prompted a legal review. Schultz Construction emerged as the apparent low bidder at $1.28 million, but according to County Counselor Jacob Hansen, the firm failed to include a mandatory qualification statement required in the bid packet, rendering the bid "non-responsive". A company representative urged the commission to waive the requirement to save taxpayer dollars, noting the county's familiarity with the firm's past work. Following Hansen's recommendation, the commission agreed to halt the approval process to allow legal counsel time to review the bid.
Commission hesitates on 'Make My Move' grant application amid budget woes
RILEY COUNTY, Kan. - Plans to apply for a second round of state funding to incentivize remote workers to move to Manhattan have stalled as the commission grapples with a tight budget. The "Home in the Heartland" grant offers up to $250,000 from the state but requires a 20 percent local match, totaling $50,000. While the Make My Move program successfully relocated 12 households to the area — yielding an estimated $256,000 in local tax revenue, according to program estimates presented to the commission — there was reluctance to allocate economic development funds for outsiders while simultaneously cutting local services. The commission directed staff to review the economic development budget before committing to the match.
County attorney's request for criminal investigator denied due to budget deficit
RILEY COUNTY, Kan. - Citing significant budget constraints, the Riley County Commission denied a request by Riley County Attorney Barry Wilkerson to fund a new criminal investigator for the Riley County Attorney's Office. The position, estimated to cost $95,760 in salary and benefits, was proposed to help prosecutors manage massive amounts of digital evidence, such as body-camera footage, and conduct follow-up interviews without relying on the heavily burdened Riley County Police Department. While the long-standing need for the position to streamline trials was acknowledged, the commission ultimately decided against the request to prevent further property tax increases.
Eminent domain action halted for Deep Creek sewer district
RILEY COUNTY, Kan. - The Riley County Commission removed a resolution authorizing eminent domain for the Deep Creek Sewer Benefit District from its Thursday agenda. County Counselor Jacob Hansen requested the item be stricken after landowners and the county agreed to pursue a negotiated settlement. Hansen indicated that pursuing a mutual agreement made more sense at this time than moving forward with land acquisitions, prompting the commission to place the eminent domain proceedings on hold.
County recoups unpaid property taxes in successful auction
RILEY COUNTY, Kan. - Riley County successfully auctioned roughly 30 real estate properties with delinquent taxes last week, clearing numerous debts from the county's books. Assistant County Counselor Michael Hawthorne reported that the tax sale went smoothly, with some properties selling for well over the back taxes owed. Another property with over $130,000 in back taxes was successfully redeemed by the property owner prior to the auction. The auction process forces immediate payment for the current year's specials, effectively returning the dormant or abandoned properties to the active tax roll.
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