MANHATTAN — One month has passed since back-to-back robberies were reported in Manhattan.
The United Bank and Trust on Tuttle Creek Blvd and the east Manhattan Dairy Queen were both robbed within days of each other in late January. Information regarding those incidents has been slow to come out, but Riley County Police Department Director Director Dennis Butler informed Manhattan city commissioners Tuesday where police are currently at in their investigation.
Butler was questioned by commissioner Jerred McKee at the request of residents in the Northview neighborhood. A total of three notable robberies occurred in Manhattan in January, but Butler says it’s not evident of any uptick in crime.
In other business Tuesday, commissioners discussed social service funding.
Commissioner Wynn Butler opened the conversation by suggesting they give one mil to the Social Service Advisory board for funding to distribute through the different agencies.
Commissioner Jerred McKee agreed with this as long as it was not a cap on their funding in the future.
The only commissioner opposed to the new funding at the time was Linda Morse.
The annual revenue and expenditure forecast also was presented Tuesday. Finance Director Bernie Hayen says a new permanent sales tax is being considered.
Hayen says the long term the tax could help augment the general fund and future city-wide projects that may be bonded.
Each commissioner had a different perspective on the proposed sales tax, Usha Reddi said she doesn’t want to push the sales tax onto the people.
Commissioners discussed what question to put on the ballot concerning the sales tax, but no final decision was made at Tuesday’s meeting.
