New coronavirus and influenza
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announced a person in Douglas County has tested negative for the new coronavirus.
While this means there are no cases of the virus in Kansas, it is still active in other parts of the world.
That is Pottawatomie County Health Department Director Lisa Kenworthy, who says Kansas residents should continue to be wary of the flu.
For information about flu vaccines and appointments in Pottawatomie County, visit
pottcounty.org or call 785-457-3719.
Potential city-wide sales tax in Manhattan
The Pottawatomie County Commission spoke about the potential taxation and annexation of Blue Township by the City of Manhattan during their meeting Monday.
This was in response to the Manhattan City Commission talking about potentially transitioning from a Riley County sales tax to a Manhattan sales tax.
County Commissioner Pat Weixelman says he doesn’t think it is the county’s job to initiate this process, with Commissioner Dee McKee saying in response that the county needs to be prepared for these kinds of conversations.
She also expressed concern over differing budgets.
Going forward, the commission has requested information on income and revenue over the past five years from Pottawatomie County townships.
Public Works Fleet Maintenance Facility
The Pottawatomie County Commission continued discussing potential changes to the Public Works Fleet Maintenance Facility design Monday.
One potential change is increasing the building’s width from 80 feet to either 90 or 100 feet.
An expansion to 100 feet in width would cost an extra $215,000 to $250,000 plus about $24,000 in design changes.
Public Works Director Peter Clark says a 100-foot width should be considered to accommodate for potentially larger vehicles that are purchased in the future.
A second potential change is to increase the building’s concrete-slab thickness from 6 inches in thickness to 8 inches, which would cost about $10,000 in additional costs.
A third potential change is to use radiant-floor heaters instead of radiant-tube heaters that are suspended from the ceiling.
This would cost an extra $60,000 to $70,000 plus about $6,000 in design changes.
The commission is opposed to the change in heating system but is in favor of a thicker concrete slab as well as not painting the walls or ceiling, which saves about $23,000.
Commissioners Dee McKee and Pat Weixelman want to see the cost for a 90-foot width while Commissioner Greg Riat is in favor of an 80-foot width.
The commission will receive more information about the cost for a 90-foot width, different types of metal paneling and an exhaust-ventilation system during their meeting next week.
Their next meeting is Monday at 8:30 a.m. at the Sunflower Room in Westmoreland.
