Manhattan City Commissioners had both a special meeting and work session Tuesday, with the former K-MART location on the east side of Manhattan on the special meeting agenda. As earlier announced that area is going to be built into a new with Academy Sports as its biggest store tenant.
Eric Cattell, the Assistant Director for Planning with the City of Manhattan told commissioners there are three other retail spots. The proposal is to replace everything out there as new including the building, parking, and landscaping.
This new development will be known as Plaza De Maria. There will be a new 30 foot tall sign and outdoor space for display of merchandise.
Fees, fees and maybe less service fees for the businesses located in the Aggieville and downtown business districts were also examined by commissioners.
Downtown Manhattan Executive Director, Gina Scroggs asked commissioners who’s the responsible one who will be prosecuted if the business owner fails to pay their bills? She had questions if it falls on the manager, adding if the owner of the business can’t pay bills and the business manager is next in line to pay the bills is there a way to make the non-responsible party eliminated from responsibility and put it all own the business owner?
Scroggs indicates she and administrative assistant Linda Vescio have no legal authorization to receive information on the businesses and to whom the businesses rent to which concerned commissioners.
The commissioners approved the first reading of the ordinance levying business improvement fees for 2017 but will look to resolve the wording issues in the ordinance.
The Manhattan Convention and Visitor’s Bureau reported at the Manhattan city commission meeting last night. The group has a new updated website and is also collaborating with K-State Sports.
Director of the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, Karen Hibbard shared statistics to show why the collaboration campaign will be useful. The Get Social Campaign is running now until the end of December.
And Manhattan City Commissioners gathered for an early work session earlier Tuesday afternoon in which they discussed the state of water fees in the community, including wastewater and stormwater fees. Part of the proposed change to installation fees and costs has been spurred by the idea of inspiring residents to conserve water.
City engineer Brian Johnson gave commissioners an overview of progress that has been made on the new storm water plan since it was first introduced in July of last year. Johnson focused a lot on data which has been gathered from community input.
The commission will soon consider adding stormwater upgrades as soon as 2018. Johnson said the community survey indicates tax payers would be interested in assuming the burden if it meant safer streets during heavy rain.
Commissioner Wynn Butler says the community’s water system is an enterprise, and he thinks heavier users should definitely be paying the most per month. Butler stressed his view that everyone needs to be held accountable for the water they use, and in turn the city may begin to see more gallons being saved. Butler says the city could also improve its’ own effort to conserve water – such as limiting the hours of the splash fountain in City Park.
