The Manhattan City Commission provided feedback on tree plans in Moro Street’s reconstruction design during Tuesday’s work session. All current variations of the design include angled parking on the north side of the street, no parking on the south, wider sidewalks, additional crosswalks and trees along the route. Discussion focused on the number of trees, their placement and cost. One design included 34 trees, while a more conservative proposal pictured 25. City manager Danielle Dulin said they “ballpark that it would cost about $25,000 to $30,000 per tree.” To view the full article visit theMercury.com.
Author: Cole Bertelsen
City commissioners debated proposed revisions to Manhattan’s workforce housing sales tax policy Tuesday night. Commissioners pushed back against removing certain requirements and references to workforce housing, which was meant to give the commission more discretion on a case-by-case basis. “The whole rationale for having a policy is to have a set of standards … that our developers can be looking at,” Mayor Susan Adamchak said. The discussion focused heavily on how to define affordability targets, how strictly to cap income eligibility and whether the program should prioritize ownership, rental development or a mix of both. To view the full article…
The Manhattan City Commission approved resolutions permitting alcohol at two city events during its Tuesday meeting, despite commissioner Jim Morrison’s pushback. The commission voted to allow alcohol at concerts in the “Arts in the Park” series. This permit will apply to people possessing or consuming alcoholic beverages in the approved area within City Park from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on June 5, 12, and 26 and July 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31. The Parks and Recreation Department told the commission it plans to host a public watch party June 12 at Anneberg Park for the USA soccer international…
Manhattan city commissioners unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday opposing the proposed incorporation of the city of Green Valley in Pottawatomie County. The resolution says the petition is “inadvisable” under state law. This decision authorizes city manager Danielle Dulin to present Manhattan’s position at an upcoming public hearing before the Pottawatomie County Commission. Dulin said state law requires neighboring cities within five miles of a proposed incorporation to address factors including population growth, annexation history, the ability of the proposed city to provide services and the overall effect on orderly economic development. To view the full article visit theMercury.com.
Dave’s Hot Chicken will join the Manhattan fast food scene late this year, according to an announcement from the company. A job listing for general manager of the restaurant lists its future location as 214 Leavenworth St. — the former location of Taco John’s, which closed Feb. 23. The chain also announced a location coming to the east side of Wichita at 2692 N Greenwich Road in the Greenwich Place shopping center, with an anticipated opening in August 2026. Additional restaurants are planned in Lawrence, Topeka and west Wichita, with openings expected throughout 2026. To view the full article visit…
Downtown Manhattan generated 10% of the city’s total sales in 2025, according to an update presented Tuesday to the Manhattan City Commission. Downtown Manhattan Inc. executive director Gina Snyder said the area continues to see strong business occupancy and visitor traffic, but faces infrastructure and maintenance needs. “We strive every day to maintain a careful balance of retail, dining service businesses,” she said. “They’re all very important, no matter what they are. Employees, 3000-plus of them, eat lunch and dinner and attend our events. Everybody’s important to the downtown district and overall to the health of Manhattan and the sales…
Kansas State University has been swept up in a nationwide cybersecurity attack affecting approximately 8,800 educational institutions. Canvas, the college’s learning management system, is currently inoperable. The hackers claiming responsibility demand payment, or they say they’ll leak all information on the site. In a message sent around 4 p.m. Thursday to students and staff, K-State officials said that Instructure, the parent company of Canvas, notified them of the issue. To view the full article visit theMercury.com.
Manhattan city commissioner Andrew Von Lintel left his day job after a mental breakdown in January brought on by stress and lack of sleep. Von Lintel was employed at Big Lakes Developmental Services for two years. In interviews this week with The Mercury and News Radio KMAN, he said the decision was necessary to improve his mental health. “Pretty much everybody told me — Big Lakes told me, my wife told me, my therapist told me — pretty much everyone said that Big Lakes was getting to me,” he said. To view the full article visit theMercury.com.
The Manhattan City Commission got an early look at the city’s finances Tuesday as it begins work on the 2027 budget. Consultant Benjamin Hart of Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors presented a preliminary budget to commissioners during the work session. “Any time you have an ability to look out into the future, make changes now that will make changes into the future, that’s not a critical situation,” Hart said. “You’re in a good position, and you’ve got really good news with both the operating budget and that debt budget.” To view the full article visit theMercury.com.
City commissioners on Tuesday approved accepting $781,185 in federal funds for use in local street maintenance. City engineer Brian Johnson said the city will again utilize the federal fund exchange program, calling it “federal gas tax reimbursement that comes back from the federal government to the states,” which can then be passed on to cities. Johnson explained Manhattan can either spend those dollars on federal highways or exchange them for local use at a 90/10 split. “The state keeps 10, we get 90,” he said, noting the city typically chooses the exchange option to avoid costly federal requirements. To view…