MANHATTAN — The Riley County Law Board approved a lease extension for the Riley County Police Department firing range during its meeting Tuesday.
The move extends the lease an additional year to June 30, 2020. Riley County Counselor Clancy Holeman says this essentially buys time for the department to continue to negotiate options as the county seeks to acquire the property outright, potentially through eminent domain.
Landowner James Seymour offered this extension in November to the Riley County Commission, which was accepted. Holeman explains how the lease extension dictates what happens if the two sides can’t reach an agreement.
RCPD has been satisfied with the property lease agreement but have said it would benefit them to own the property to make needed upgrades to training facilities.
The law board also moved forward on accepting a grant funded position to create a Victim Assistance Coordinator who will work directly with sexual assault and intimate partner violence victims in Riley County. Police Capt. Tim Hegarty says the position will be renewed on an annual basis, thanks to a new state grant.
The agreement includes a required in-kind match of 8.5 percent of that salary (about $13,000). Since it will take time to fill the position, RCPD would be responsible for roughly half of the in-kind match in 2019. New law board member Linda Morse calls it a good move for the department.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Morse and Robert Ward were sworn in as the newest members of the board. Mike Dodson was elected chair and Marvin Rodriguez was elected as vice chair. Riley County Attorney Barry Wilkerson will serve as the secretary hearing officer.
