Manhattan city officials are discussing ceasing the publication of legal notices in The Mercury and instead posting them on the city government’s own website, driving through a loophole in state law. City manager Danielle Dulin proposed the switch during the city commission’s retreat Tuesday, saying that it would save $17,000 to $20,000 per year and streamline workflow. Under Kansas law, cities are required to designate an official newspaper for publishing legal notices, which also go to the newspapers’ websites and a searchable database of similar notices from around the state and nation. A legal notice is an advertisement to notify…
Author: Cole Bertelsen
City commissioners on Tuesday chose not to rezone a 0.36-acre portion of the Acacia fraternity’s 2005 Hunting Ave. location after significant pushback from surrounding neighbors. The fraternity applied for the space’s rezoning from low-density residential to residential with university fringe overlay, with the expressed plan of then expanding on the fraternity’s building to make space for 15 more fraternity members and adding a larger parking lot in the 0.36-acre portion of the tract. The Manhattan Urban Area Planning Board held a public hearing Dec. 15 to consider the rezoning and failed to recommend approval after a split 3–3 vote, resulting…
City commissioners on Tuesday permitted parks and recreation to purchase additional robotic mowers, portable pitching mounds and a mobile digital screen. Steel and Pipe Supply Ballpark will be maintained by Husqvarna robotic mowers whose cutting widths range from 9.45 inches to 26.8 inches. These machines can mow day and night, perpetually keeping ballfield grass at the same height. Robot mowers from a previous purchase maintain Anneberg Sports Complex and the Ott Joint Maintenance Facility. To view the full article visit theMercury.com. Click here for more local Manhattan news.
After the city of Manhattan sent surveys to its registered voters Nov. 3 to gauge support for an indoor aquatics facility, the results are in — and generally not in support of a facility in its proposed form. While the city initially sought a return of 400 surveys, it received 1,361 responses — a return rate of 26%. Of those responses, 55% did not support an indoor aquatics facility at any location, 23% preferred one be located at CiCo Park and 15% supported any location. The proposed indoor facility included plans for both competitive and recreational pools, with a total…
The Manhattan City Commission will consider numerous rezoning requests, construction and purchasing decisions during its Tuesday meeting. One request asks to rezone the site of Acacia’s fraternity house at 2005 Hunting Ave. from low-density residential to residential with university-fringe overlay. The Manhattan Urban Area Planning Board recommended to deny the request after a 3-3 vote. Another rezoning request would amend the Professional Place Planned Unit Development, which the planning board recommended for approval. To view the full article visit theMercury.com. Click here for more local Manhattan news.
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.
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.