It was a day of celebration for the Flint Hills Regional Council, with its fifth anniversary recognized on Thursday. Newly elected Board Chair Robert Boyd of Riley County told the group gathered about reasons to celebrate, including five years of molding an organization into a cooperative to each of the members’ mutual benefits and five years of expanding possibilities.
Director Gary Stith listed the three focuses of the council which include transportation, economic development, and continuing to maintain services for area communities…
A variety of folks spoke, with some admitting to skepticism when the group first got together–but having high praise after the five years of its existence.
Junction City Vice Mayor Jim Sands shared that previous sentiment, telling the crowd that sentiment’s changed through the years of the Council. He said they had become so powerful because they use more than just themselves and involve everyone else around them–which he adds is what the regional concept is all about.
Geary County’s Ben Bennett admitted he was very opposed to doing anything with Riley County and Manhattan when he was first elected, saying as a teacher and coach he had only been aware of the strong rivalry. But he says as they got to working together, sharing ideas and concerns with a common goal, his attitude changed over the five years.
Others speaking included Manhattan Mayor Karen McCulloh, Riley County Commissioner Robert Boyd, and representatives from Fort Riley and several other counties. 23 counties and cities are represented on the Council.
