Riley County Commission Summary
Week of October 30, 2026
County approves 90-day grace period for short-term rental buyers
Evergy details grid impact of data center boom
County prepares new five-year indigent defense contract
Criminal nuisance abatement makes KAC priority list
Public meetings set for RCPD director search
Vehicle supervisor retires after 40 years of service
County approves 90-day grace period for short-term rental buyers
RILEY COUNTY, Kan. - The Riley County Commission unanimously approved an amendment to short-term rental regulations Tuesday to grant new property owners a 90-day grace period to apply for a license. Planning Director Amanda Webb explained that previously, a short-term rental license terminated immediately upon the sale of a home, subjecting the new owner to recently enacted zoning rules, including a 500-foot separation distance requirement between rental units. The amendment allows buyers of legally operating short-term rentals to maintain the property's operational status without being penalized by the new proximity restrictions, provided they apply for their own license within 90 days of the purchase.
Evergy details grid impact of data center boom
RILEY COUNTY, Kan. - Jason Klindt, Evergy's senior director of external affairs, presented to the Riley County Commission regarding the impacts of incoming large-scale data centers on the regional power grid. Klindt noted that data centers drawing 75 megawatts or more are placed on a special Large Load Power Service tariff, which requires a minimum 12-year commitment and an optional five-year ramp-up period, for a total contract length of 17 years. Klindt said this arrangement requires customers to pay a minimum monthly bill based on 80 percent of their contract demand, regardless of actual usage, to cover incremental infrastructure costs. He said this structure is designed to absorb the utility's fixed costs and put downward pressure on residential electric rates, while protecting local taxpayers from shouldering the financial burden of massive new transmission lines and substations.
County prepares new five-year indigent defense contract
RILEY COUNTY, Kan. - Riley County is finalizing a new five-year contract for Indigent Defense Services, avoiding the lengthy negotiations that have historically complicated the agreement. County Counselor Jacob Hansen announced that the new contract will include a fixed 5.5 percent annual compensation increase, a figure based on recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation reports. Hansen said securing a five-year term provides budgetary stability for the county and ensures defense attorneys are fairly compensated without requiring annual contract disputes.
Criminal nuisance abatement makes KAC priority list
RILEY COUNTY, Kan. - Riley County successfully lobbied to include criminal nuisance abatement in the Kansas Association of Counties' (KAC) top five legislative priorities for the upcoming year. County Counselor Jacob Hansen reported that the county will lead the state-level charge to present the issue to the legislature. The KAC's top priorities also include provisions for adjusting revenue-neutral rate notices, addressing property tax limitations and allowing counties to publish legal notices on their own websites instead of in print newspapers.
Public meetings set for RCPD director search
RILEY COUNTY, Kan. - The search committee for the new Riley County Police Department director will officially post the position for 30 days beginning next week. As part of the hiring process, the committee is scheduling two public meetings—one in Manhattan and one in Leonardville—to gather community feedback on what residents want to see in the next director. Final dates and locations for the public forums are currently being secured.
Vehicle supervisor retires after 40 years of service
RILEY COUNTY, Kan. - The Riley County Commission formally accepted several employee action forms Tuesday, including the retirement of Donna Borgerding, the vehicle supervisor in the treasurer's office. Borgerding is retiring after a 40-year career with the county. The board unanimously approved her retirement alongside the retirement of WIC Clerk Deborah Banks from the health department, as well as the hiring of a new volunteer firefighter for Fire District No. 1.
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