Pottowatomie County is one of the faster growing areas in a region already full of fast growth.
During Thursday afternoon’s joint City/County/County meeting comprised of leaders from the City of Manhattan and both the Riley County and Pottowatomie Board of County Commissioners, Manhattan’s northeast neighbor was asked to further its involvement in the region.
First, it was discussed that Pott County appoint a representative to the Manhattan Bicycle Advisory Committee, then it was asked to appoint another representative to the Manhattan Urban Area Planning Board, which Riley County is already a part of.
Jared Tremblay, who is the staff liaison to the Manhattan Bicycle Advisory Committee, said it was important to invite Pott County when it comes to further development of bike paths and other development in the region.
“With the recent passing of the Manhattan Area Transportation Strategy there was a call for increased regional cooperation, and that’s where the Pottowatomie County side comes into it,” he said.
Representatives of Pott County had no problem with that, but were hesitant when it came to involvement with the Manhattan Urban Area Planning Board.
Pott County Commission Chairman Pat Weixelman didn’t say he was against the notion, but does want to give the proposal a hard look.
“I don’t want to handcuff ourselves,” he said during the meeting.
Both City and Riley County officials assured him his commission and existing planning board would still have the final say in matters, though, when it came to development in Pott County.
After the meeting, Manhattan Mayor Karen McCulloh said nothing was decided concerning the invitation.
“Part of the comprehensive land-use plan stressed that we should consider adding a person from Pottowatomie County to the Riley County/City of Manhattan Planning Board,” she said. “We just suggested it to them. There was some resistance, but I think our staff, the county staff and the Pott County staff will talk about it and give them better examples of what this will involve.”
