The Manhattan City Commission considered the fleet department’s request to switch to a new software and discussed a new home exterior improvement grant during Tuesday’s work session. Mayor Susan Adamchak was not present at the meeting. The fleet department — a division of public works — maintains all city-owned vehicles, equipment and trailers. The department currently uses Verizon software with GPS location capability only. To view the full article visit theMercury.com. Click here for more local Manhattan news.
Author: Cole Bertelsen
Manhattan city commissioner Andrew Von Lintel told The Mercury Friday he will remain in his position despite a “significant setback” and mental breakdown. “January 12th I had a very hard time going to sleep and I ended up with less than 1 hour of sleep that night,” Von Lintel wrote in a public statement on his campaign Facebook page Friday. “I went and participated in the Commission meeting on the 13th and couldn’t get to sleep that night either. On Wednesday my mind broke down. I went into psychosis but was still trying to do my duties at Big Lakes.…
Kansas State University officials gave a tour of its research-focused nuclear reactor facility on Thursday, explaining how 60-plus years of operation have aided fields beyond nuclear engineering, from health care to agriculture to manufacturing. K-State’s low-enriched uranium-fueled reactor is one of only 25 university-operated research reactors in the country, and the only one in Kansas. It has a 1.25 megawatts licensed power level — the fourth highest among universities. Because the reactor doesn’t make use of its generated heat, no power is produced for the university’s campus or surrounding areas. Instead, the TRIGA Mark II nuclear reactor is utilized for research, training and…
Manhattan city commissioners considered the future of Aggieville’s road construction, parking availability and trash services during Tuesday’s special meeting. The next and final part of the city’s 2019 redevelopment plan will be Moro Street’s reconstruction. Along with needed infrastructure upgrades like replacing water lines, city officials are working with the Olsson engineering firm to come up with concepts of what the street’s layout, parking availability and sidewalk space will look like. Deputy City Manager Jason Hilgers said it’s not possible to leave Moro Street just as it was after construction because of new regulations. The street currently has two 10-feet-wide…
The Manhattan City Commission unanimously selected new commissioner Jim Morrison to serve on the Riley County Law Enforcement Agency Board. “I’ve been involved with law enforcement for 53 years in various forms,” Morrison said. “I have an idea of what accountability and responsibility the community is. I think I can bring maybe some critical issues that need to be discussed.” Mayor Susan Adamchak asked Morrison how he would handle competing interests. To view the full article visit theMercury.com. Click here for more local Manhattan news.
The Manhattan City Commission will hold a special meeting in place of its Jan. 13 work session, where commissioners will hear an update on Aggieville construction and be appointed to external and city boards. City officials will provide an update on Aggieville trash consolidation, Tax Increment Finance public infrastructure construction, the future Moro Street design and construction, and public parking. City administration will seek guidance and direction on several of these topics as it prepares for construction and financing improvements. To view the full article visit theMercury.com. Click here for more local Manhattan news.
City commissioners on Tuesday dissolved the Frederick Douglass Recreation Complex Advisory Board upon its request. The commission’s decision also added two positions to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and amended that board’s bylaws. This consolidation makes a nine-member PRAB board with a requirement to use best efforts that two members are from Ward 1, Precinct 1 to preserve the Douglass board’s community representation. The Douglass board’s members voted 4-2 in favor of the dissolution because they felt they lacked purpose while struggling to meet a quorum and recruit new members. Their vote was predicated on PRAB’s expansion. To view…
Carlos O’Kelly’s closed its doors permanently Tuesday after 37 years of business in Manhattan. The company confirmed the closure in a statement. “Closing our Manhattan Carlos O’Kelly’s was a difficult business decision,” restaurant officials said in an email to The Mercury. “Like many in the restaurant industry, we continually evaluate performance, and despite our best efforts and trying everything we could, we simply couldn’t make it work in this location. Our focus right now is on our team. To view the full article visit theMercury.com. Click here for more local Manhattan news.
The building at 520 McCall Road can now be the site of restaurants and retail operations after city commissioners approved its rezoning. The Manhattan City Commission on Tuesday unanimously approved the rezoning from light industrial to industrial commercial services zoning. Dave Dreiling, owner of Booth Creek Wagyu and whose real estate company applied for the rezoning, told The Mercury this opens up far more potential for the space. “The new zoning will allow us to do a lot wider range of things in there since we don’t know who all the tenants will be yet, and the front of the…
Riley County Police Department will be solely responsible for enforcing animal-related ordinances as of Jan. 1 after entering a new contract with the city. The Riley County Law Enforcement Agency Board approved an agreement Monday for the city to transfer specialty vehicles and equipment for animal control needs. RCPD acknowledged and agreed that it will be the sole enforcement authority of animal-related ordinances within city limits. The Riley County Law Enforcement Agency Board approved the contract Monday in a 5-2 vote, with Barry Wilkerson and Kathryn Focke voting against. To view the full article visit theMercury.com. Click here for more Riley…