Riley County Commission Summary
Week of August 18, 2026
County celebrates groundbreaking of long-awaited Keats sewer project
Culvert replacement to close access to Wildcat Park
Annual chip seal operations to cause delays on rural county roads
Extreme heat and summer break drive down July EMS call volumes
Emergency responders gain access to detailed school layout maps
State will fund upcoming window restoration at historic Goodnow House
Historical museum to shift Living History days to fall harvest festival
New museum exhibit highlights history of local first responders
County celebrates groundbreaking of long-awaited Keats sewer project
RILEY COUNTY, Kan. — After more than a decade of planning, officials and community members gathered Thursday evening for the groundbreaking of the Keats Sanitary Sewer Project. The 15-month rural infrastructure upgrade, contracted to Bayer Construction, aims to modernize essential wastewater services for residents, and Riley County Planning and Development Director Amanda Webb attended the blisteringly hot event to field questions from the community, noting that the project recently faced a $250,000 funding shortfall following a failed material donation which the county is working to cover through a U.S. Department of Agriculture supplemental loan request and federal grants before construction begins.
Culvert replacement to close access to Wildcat Park
RILEY COUNTY, Kan. — A culvert replacement project will close the low-water crossing into Wildcat Park on West 62nd Avenue starting Monday, Aug. 24. Riley County Public Works Director John Ellermann said the closure at the intersection of Anderson Avenue will block through-traffic into the park for more than three weeks, with an expected completion date of Wednesday, Sept. 16, weather permitting.
Annual chip seal operations to cause delays on rural county roads
RILEY COUNTY, Kan. — Commuters should expect delays of up to 15 minutes as Riley County begins its annual chip seal road maintenance on Tuesday, Aug. 25. The roadwork will target Welsh Road, McDowell Creek Road and West 32nd Avenue, with crews aiming to complete the surface treatments by Friday, Aug. 28, depending on weather conditions.
Extreme heat and summer break drive down July EMS call volumes
RILEY COUNTY, Kan. — Riley County Emergency Medical Services responded to 433 calls for service in July, a decrease of about 100 calls from the previous month. Riley County EMS Director David Adams attributed the decline to extreme summer heat keeping residents indoors and the temporary departure of Kansas State University students, though he noted call volume is already rising sharply with the start of the fall semester and local fraternity rush events.
Emergency responders gain access to detailed school layout maps
RILEY COUNTY, Kan. — Emergency responders across the county are gaining access to detailed building maps of all local school districts to improve emergency response times. The Collaborative Response Graphics (CRG) maps, which label building entrances and specific door numbers, are currently being uploaded into the Riley County system for shared use by emergency medical services, fire departments and the Riley County Police Department.
State will fund upcoming window restoration at historic Goodnow House
RILEY COUNTY, Kan. — A state-funded window and door restoration project at the historic Goodnow House is slated to begin within two weeks. Riley County Historical Museum Director Katharine Hensler announced that the Kansas Historical Society will cover all capital costs for the much-needed repairs, allowing the site to remain open for tours by securing and working on only two rooms at a time.
Historical museum to shift Living History days to fall harvest festival
RILEY COUNTY, Kan. — The Riley County Historical Museum will permanently transition its summer "Living History" days into a fall harvest festival starting in 2027 to avoid blistering summer temperatures. After being forced to move July's 204-person event indoors to protect vendors and staff from the extreme heat, organizers decided the cooler autumn months would better accommodate the popular community program.
New museum exhibit highlights history of local first responders
RILEY COUNTY, Kan. — A new temporary exhibit celebrating the history of local first responders is now open at the Riley County Historical Museum. Titled "250 Years United in Service," the display aligns with the America250 initiative marking the upcoming Semiquincentennial of the United States, and Riley County Historical Museum Director Katharine Hensler noted that the exhibit highlights the individual stories and historical contributions of local military, police, fire, and emergency medical services personnel who have supported the nation over its 250-year history, remaining open to the public through Jan. 3, 2027.
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