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Plans to help tenants move safely out of the Royal Towers apartment complex are expected to be made public Friday. The Manhattan Fire Department condemned the building last week, giving residents until May 1 to vacate the building. A February exterior inspection found widespread spalling of concrete walkways and stairs, with some areas where concrete [...]
Manhattan extends face mask ordinance through May 16, aligns with RCHD The Manhattan City Commission voted 4 to 1 Tuesday to extend the face-mask ordinance to May 16th, the end of the academic calendar at Kansas State University and USD 383. The decision aligns the city with the Riley County Commission, who plan to include an extension of a county mask ordinance through May 16, as part of its next health order due out Thursday. Commissioner Aaron Estabrook says going forward, he’ll continue to look to county health officials for guidance on certain policies. “Hopefully the people in...
The Manhattan City Commission approved in a four to one vote Tuesday the first reading of an ordinance meant to extend the face mask mandate to May 16. Commissioner Mark Hatesohl was the lone commissioner to oppose. The passage of the first reading of the ordinance does not mean the mask mandate has been extended. It means that the commission is able to move forward with holding a final vote at its meeting on March 16. Despite the passage on first reading, the commission is still split on whether to allow the city’s mask mandate to expire. Mayor Wynn Butler says he would like to let the cit...
Budget discussion and property taxes Mayor Wynn Butler asked Manhattan city commissioners Tuesday to state whether they will support property-tax increases during upcoming budget discussions. Commissioner Usha Reddi pushed back, calling Butler’s question unfair. “For the past seven years, you want us to say one way or the other without getting all the information,” Reddi said. “Let’s get all the information and then decide.” Commissioner Linda Morse says she will also avoid taking a stance until she has more information. Commissioner Aaron Estabrook says that while he is not again...
New Manhattan mayor City commissioner Wynn Butler has officially been named Manhattan’s mayor for 2021. The change was made Tuesday as part of an annual reorganization which involves a rotation among the city commission’s five members. Butler says he wants the commission to focus on taxes, infrastructure and responsible growth during his term. “I don’t want to see property taxes go up,” Butler said. “I don’t want to see sales taxes go up either. We’ve got to continue with infrastructure. Of course the airport – we’ve got a runway issue. We’ve got a maintenance shop we ne...