For more than two decades, the City of Manhattan has had steady leadership coming from City Hall.
In our third part of our KMAN News series looking back at the city manager’s four decade career, we hear from the city’s long time fire chief and the director of Downtown Manhattan on how Ron Fehr’s led by example. Scott French has been with the Manhattan Fire Department since 1994, including the past decade as its fire chief.
Downtown Manhattan, Inc. Executive Director Gina Snyder says Fehr was her number one connection to the city and someone she routinely called for advice.
French says Fehr will be best remembered for being a leader and a relationship builder.
Snyder credits Fehr’s vision leading downtown redevelopment, which began early in his city career with development of the mall as a vibrant city center, continuing well into the early 21st century, with future development north and south of the mall.
The city used sales tax and revenue bonds to help create the entertainment district near the Flint Hills Discovery Center. That district will soon house the new Museum of Art and Light, opening later this year.
Fehr will be honored at a public retirement reception Thursday at City Hall beginning at 3 p.m.
