During Tuesday’s legislative session, Manhattan City Commissioners discussed the implementation of a Rural Housing Incentive District program. An RHID captures incremental gain in property taxes for a housing development project which can be used to reimburse the project’s infrastructure costs. Director of Community Development Stephanie Peterson, The board agreed that there is a need for [...]
The Riley County Board of Commissioners signed a disaster declaration today, April 18th, activating disaster emergency plans to combat a wildfire burning in a northern section of the county. According to a news release, “The declaration was issued because the fires near Indian Hill Road and Mariadahl Road imminently threaten to cause wide-spread or severe [...]
The Riley County Law Board considered the first draft of the Riley County Police Department’s proposed 2024 budget during their Monday meeting. RCPD Administration Captain Brad Jager presented the proposed Budget 1, which includes the addition of a recently proposed general counsel position. Jager also presented proposed Budget 2, which has a realized cost of [...]
Pottawatomie County Commissioners approved an amendment to a planned unit development Monday on a 2-1 vote. Currently the permit allows for 48 units of multi-family housing on a defined lot, single family units and duplexes, for a total of 313 total residential units. The proposed amendment changes that to allow for development of triplexes and [...]
The City of Manhattan has announced that Wyatt Thompson will join the City Manager’s Office as an assistant city manager. Thompson joins fellow Assistant City Manager Jared Wasinger, who was named to the office in March 2022. Thompson has served as the interim Parks and Recreation Director for the past year, bridging the gap between [...]
Riley County Police are investigating an incident of vandalism at Anneberg Park. A criminal damage to property report was filed Saturday listing the City of Manhattan as the victim after an unknown suspect damaged and destroyed dispensers, trash cans, a mirror and a sink in a women’s bathroom. The total loss is about $630. Anyone [...]
A Topeka man has been arrested on a pair of Riley County District Court warrants stemming from 2020 incidents involving domestic violence against a 38-year-old woman known to him. According to RCPD, 32-year-old Luis Martinez was charged Friday with two counts each of kidnapping, aggravated domestic battery, aggravated assault, criminal damage to property and domestic [...]
Wamego held their 36th annual Tulip Festival over the weekend, despite Mother Nature’s attempt to interrupt the celebration. Wamego Chamber of Commerce Event and Tourism Coordinator Tegan Kreider downplayed the strong wind in true Kansan style. The tulips held up to the heavy rain and subsequent strong wind like champions. But vendors were physically holding [...]
The Riley County Police Department says an investigation is underway following the death of an inmate confined at the Riley County Jail this weekend. Corrections Officers located 38-year-old Laura Pearce unresponsive in her cell just before 8:30 a.m. Saturday. According to an RCPD news release, officers immediately began lifesaving measures. Riley County EMS was dispatched [...]
The Kansas State Department of Education announced this week that 261 high school seniors have been named 2023 Kansas Career and Technical Education Scholars — the highest number ever since the program’s inception in 2017. Students must have completed a minimum of three CTE credits with at least two above introductory level and have a [...]
