The Manhattan City Commission awarded a quarter-million dollar construction contract Tuesday to ABcreative Inc. for a new playground to be located next to the new Steel and Pipe Supply Ballfields, currently under construction in CiCo Park. The playground will sit at the northeast end of the park near Kimball Avenue. Aaron Stewart, director of Parks and Recreation, said a playground was always planned to accompany the ballfields, but “we just weren’t sure when that would be.” “We actually tried to salvage the original equipment from 2001,” he said. “We looked into what it would cost to refurbish that and reinstall…
Author: Cole Bertelsen
Riley County has experienced a lower crime rate than the state average for the past 21 years, Riley County Police Department Director Brian Peete told city commissioners Tuesday. At the same time, Peete said 214 of the jail’s 224 allotted spaces are filled, and stressed the continued need for additional room in the jail. He said the county is aware of the jail’s need. There were 198 violent crimes reported during 2024, which is a crime rate of 2.8 per 1,000 individuals. Aggravated assault and battery accounts for 161 of those crimes. In 2024, 1,018 property crimes were reported. Thefts…
The city of Manhattan is preparing for snow-clearing this winter through cooperation with Riley County, Pottawatomie County and USD 383. Director of Public Works Brian Johnson told city commissioners during a work session Tuesday that some roads are designated as a coop, meaning that while a road belongs to and is typically maintained by one entity, another maintains it for snow and ice removal. Maps detailing what entities maintain different roads in Manhattan can be found on the city’s website. They also show what roads are designated as primary or residential. To view the full article visit theMercury.com. Click here…
The Kansas Livestock Association wrapped up its yearly convention Friday after swearing in its new president and approving two new policies. The event was Wednesday through Saturday at the Manhattan Convention Center and Hilton Garden Inn. Last year, its 130th anniversary, KLA had its convention in Manhattan for the first time. Ty Breeden, a 2003 Kansas State University graduate and Quinter, Kansas, native, began his year-long term as KLA president on the final day of the conference. Members selected Jeff George, a cattle feeder from Garden City, as next year’s president-elect. To view the full article visit theMercury.com.
Manhattan city commissioners approved Kansas State University’s request to rezone a tract of land as part of its Edge District development plan. The 15.7 acre area on the northeast corner of Kimball and College Avenue was rezoned from university college district to mixed use in a unanimous 4-0 vote. Commissioner John Matta was not present at Tuesday’s commission meeting and did not vote. The planning board recommended approval of K-State’s request. Stephanie Peterson, director of community development, reminded the commission that the land could not be conditionally rezoned depending on what the university planned to do with it, providing it…
Manhattan Regional Airport is working to give its main taxiway a facelift. The Manhattan City Commission on Tuesday unanimously authorized project plans and financing for Taxiway Alpha’s reconstruction project. That approval also included a professional services agreement with Olsson Inc. The total cost of the project is $1,213,800. Previously, Federal Aviation Administration grant funding was provided at a 90/10 split, with the city responsible for 10% of the cost. However, under recent FAA reauthorization, that cost share improved to 95/5, reducing the local share. To view the full article visit theMercury.com. Click here for more local Manhattan news.
The Riley County Police Department substation in Aggieville may relocate from Moro Street to the new hotel at 12th and Laramie. RCPD director Brian Peete said on Monday the move would provide significantly more space. “We have an opportunity to lease, to increase our footprint three-fold from 1,000 to 3,000 square feet at the new hotel that’s being built, on the first floor,” Peete said. “The owner will give us the same cost of square footage but because we have tripled the space, it will go from $1,000 a month to roughly $3,000 a month.” The hotel is planned to complete…
Riley County commissioners on Monday approved sending a letter requesting a grant for the Flint Hills Area Transportation Agency. The Formula Grants for Rural Areas Program (5311) grant provides funding through the Federal Transit Administration for smaller communities. Flint Hills ATA Bus Director Anne Smith said this request must be sent from local jurisdictions. “So this is for services outside of Manhattan,” she said. “Basically, Manhattan has urbanized funding, and so this would be northern county, any rural areas outside of Manhattan, Ogden and part of western Pottawatomie County.” To view the full article visit theMercury.com. Click here for more…
Manhattan City Commission candidate Andrew Von Lintel successfully retained his slim lead over Amber Starling, beating her by 29 votes, according to final Riley County and Pottawatomie County election results. In the race for three city commission spots, former K-State Foundation employee Larry Fox led the race with 3,773 votes, followed by retired attorney Jim Morrison, who came in second with 3,568. Big Lakes Developmental Services employee Von Lintel was third with 2,735, with business owner Starling just behind at 2,706. The state pays for a recount if a candidate requests one, but only if the margin between candidates is…
Election Day is in the books, but with advance mail-in ballots still coming in and provisional ballots yet to be processed, some races could still be in flux. Advance ballots are still arriving through mail, Riley County clerk Rich Vargo said. Those ballots slightly narrowed the fight for third place in the city commission election between Big Lakes Developmental Services employee Andrew Von Lintel and business owner Amber Starling. Von Lintel’s earlier lead of 39 votes has dropped by three, and with provisional ballots still to be processed, that position could still be up for grabs. To view the full…