Meeting colors

OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Manhattan City Commission Regular Meeting - October 6, 2026

City Commission — Tuesday, October 6, 2026

BodyManhattan, Kansas

SessionCity Commission

DateTuesday, October 6, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:48:22

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.

Speaker 1

2:22

Good evening.

2:23

It is now six o'clock.

2:25

Welcome to the October sixth, twenty twenty-six meeting of the Manhattan City Commission.

2:32

Chelsea, will you please call the role?

Speaker 2

2:35

Mayor Adam Chak.

Speaker 1

2:36

I'm here.

Speaker 2

2:37

Commissioner McCullough here.

2:39

Commissioner Fox.

2:41

Here.

2:41

Commissioner Morrison.

Speaker 1

2:43

Here.

Speaker 2

2:43

Commissioner Von Lintel.

Speaker 1

2:45

Here.

Speaker 2

2:45

Mayor, we have five commissioners present.

2:47

The quorum of three is met.

Speaker 1

2:49

Thank you.

2:49

Will you please rise and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance?

Unassigned speaker

2:53

I

Speaker 1

2:54

pledge allegiance to the plan of the United States of America and to Republic for which we

Gary Oles · Speaker 3Inferred

3:02

understand individual with liberty and

Speaker 1

3:08

we have several proclamations this evening.

3:11

We will start with Library Savings Day.

3:15

If representatives from the library will come forward, please.

5:03

In witness whereof, I have a fixed my hand and caused the seal of Manhattan to

Unassigned speaker

5:09

be

Speaker 1

5:10

affixed the 6th of October.

Unassigned speaker

5:13

Thank you very much.

Bree · Speaker 4Inferred

5:21

Hello, everybody.

5:22

My name is Bree.

5:23

I'm the PR manager at the Manhattan Public Library, and here tonight, Eric, our director, joins us as well.

5:29

We just wanted to take an opportunity to thank everyone who participated in our campaign that took the last three months where we celebrated those savings.

5:39

And of course, as Susan had stated, we had a celebration where we honored nine honorees.

5:46

Their total savings equated to over 700,000 in their lifetime savings.

5:53

And that is something that is truly exciting and something worth celebrating.

5:57

So whether you come and join us in the future on September 30th to celebrate this momentous day, or just come and see us next week or any other time.

6:06

We're very excited to have you at our local library.

Speaker 5

6:10

And I just wanted to take again Eric Norris, I'm the director of the Manhattan Public Library.

6:14

Just wanted to take a minute to thank the Manhattan Library Association for their support in this project and their continued support throughout the year.

6:22

I'd also like to thank our board for their dedication to our mission and also for their ongoing leadership.

6:29

And once again to thank every community member out there for their community or for their curiosity and their commitment to lifelong learning and understanding the value of shared resources.

6:39

Thank

Unassigned speaker

6:39

you.

Speaker 1

6:46

Okay, just want to humble brag.

6:48

Your mayor had over $26,000 worth of savings in the last nine years.

6:54

There was a teacher in our community who was at 106,000 one person over the eight and a half, nine years that this has been recorded.

7:05

Pretty amazing.

7:07

I suspect that at least one commissioner is pretty up there as well.

7:13

Moving on to a slightly more serious topic, we will talk about domestic violence in our community.

7:25

And I'm joined by Brandon Peebles and Tyshell Jones, who are from the Manhattan crisis.

7:34

Domestic violence is a widespread public health problem impacting all demographics of Manhattan, Kansas, and perpetrators of domestic violence use illegal and legal behaviors and tactics that undermine a victim's sense of self, free will, and safety.

7:52

And domestic violence can have profound lifelong impacts on a victim's health, opportunity, well-being.

8:00

And to nearly half of women, 45.1%, and more than one in six men in the United States have experienced rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime.

Unassigned speaker

8:15

And

Speaker 1

8:15

the Kansas Bureau of Investigation reports that one domestic violence murder occurs every 18 days and six hours in this state.

8:25

And one sexual battery is reported every eight hours and 57 minutes.

8:33

Across the United States, many leaders and organizations have displayed their commitments to ending domestic violence, and we must devote ourselves to protect vulnerable and at-risk members of our community.

Unassigned speaker

8:46

The

Speaker 1

8:46

Riley County Domestic Violence Task Force is a multidisciplinary group of professionals working together to remove barriers, improve policies and practices, enhance collaboration across disciplines, and promote consistent trauma-informed responses that prioritize victim safety and offender accountability in Manhattan and throughout Riley County.

9:14

We remind victims of domestic violence that they are not alone, that free and confidential services are available by calling the Crisis Center Helpline or texting HEAL to 847-411 or the Safe Line Kansas Helpline.

9:35

Now I, Susan Adamchak, mayor of the City of Manhattan, proclaim October 2026 as domestic violence awareness month in Manhattan, Kansas.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Historic Preservation██████████████████████████26%

Procedural██████████████████18%

Economic Development█████████████13%

Engineering And Infrastructure█████████9%

Public Engagement████████8%

Sexual Violence Prevention█████5%

Public Health█████5%

Veteran Affairs█████5%

Tax Increment Financing████4%

Summary of Proceedings

Manhattan City Commission Regular Meeting - October 6, 2026

The Manhattan City Commission met on October 6, 2026, at 6:00 PM with all five commissioners present (Mayor Adam Chak, Commissioners McCullough, Fox, Morrison, and Von Lintel). The agenda included four proclamations, public comments on a sales tax initiative, debate on the Edge 3.0 development district, the Historic Preservation Plan, historic nominations, and a traffic signalization project.

Proclamations

Library Savings Day: Bree (PR Manager) and Eric Norris (Director) from the Manhattan Public Library celebrated over $700,000 in lifetime savings among nine honorees. The mayor noted over $26,000 in personal savings.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Tyshell Jones (Deputy Director, Crisis Center) provided statistics from 2025 including 17,386 services provided, 746 unduplicated clients, 8,703 shelter bed nights, and 489 domestic violence calls handled by the police response advocate program. Events include Purple Thursdays and an October 13th community reception.
Physician Assistant Week: Christine Hazlitt (Clinic Director) noted the K-State PA program has graduated 118 PAs since 2000, with approximately 30% remaining in Kansas. Riley Gagan (VP of RPA Student Society) highlighted local fundraising for the Homestead and a fundraiser at Texas Roadhouse.
VFW Buddy Poppy Day: Clay Rose (Post Commander, VFW Post 1786) promoted the October 17th Buddy Poppy Drive. Funds support a local grant relief fund for veterans in need.

Public Comments

Gary Oles: Commented on the upcoming sales tax ballot initiative. He argued the initiative is NOT a "pay-as-you-go" plan and will require bonding for large projects, contrasting it with the Quality of Life sales tax. He cautioned that bonding doubles the total cost of projects and noted the city's current debt burden, asserting the public should understand the sales tax will not immediately pay for all road improvements.
Melbourne: Commented on the replat for 300 North 11th Street (Item D2), noting the East Park neighborhood historic district nomination had been submitted to SHPO and urging caution pending that review.

Commissioner Updates & Comments

Commissioner McCullough thanked the streets department for their flood response.
Commissioner Fox stated his understanding that the proposed sales tax is a "pay-as-you-go" model that will not be bonded, in contrast to Gary Oles' interpretation.
Commissioner Von Lintel reported on the Manhattan Free Clinic's relocation, a $100,000 Heritage Trust Fund grant for Black Entrepreneurs of the Flint Hills/Yuma Street Cultural Center, and the completion of a city-wide free Wi-Fi project funded by a nearly $1 million grant managed by WTC.

Discussion Items

Edge 3.0 Development District (CID, TIF, STAR Bonds)

Action: Setting a public hearing for the Community Improvement District (CID) petition, Tax Increment Finance (TIF) district redevelopment plan, and STAR bond redevelopment plan for the Edge 3.0 development at Kansas State University.
Debate:
- Commissioner Morrison expressed strong opposition, citing unfulfilled promises from past projects (e.g., NBAF accreditation), the risk of speculation with taxpayer money, and the dispersal of commercial activity away from downtown and Aggieville. She requested financial assurances and contractual benchmarks.
- Commissioner McCullough argued the city must support the university and that commercial development inherently carries risk. He noted negotiations with the foundation were ongoing regarding benchmarks for a development agreement.
- Commissioner Fox supported setting the hearing but insisted the development agreement must be finalized and available for review at least two weeks prior to the November 17th hearing date, or he would move to delay.
Outcome: Motion to set the public hearing for November 17, 2026, and accept the CID petition passed 5-0.

Sunset Cemetery & Sexton's House Historic Nomination (Item G1)

Action: Authorizing staff to finalize and submit nominations for the Sunset Cemetery Historic District and the Sexton's House to the State and National Register of Historic Places, and authorizing legal action to quiet title on the Sexton's House property.
Debate:
- Commissioner Morrison initially attempted to separate the Sexton's House nomination from the vote until the title was established. This motion failed for lack of a second.
- Public comment from Mick Charney raised concerns that the nomination form was being prepared solely from an eight-year-old city survey, lacking recent research and omitting key details such as architect Henry Winter. He urged collaboration with the preservation community. The City Manager agreed to facilitate this collaboration.
Outcome: Motion passed 4-1 (Commissioner Morrison dissenting).

Historic Preservation Plan

Action: Accepting the Manhattan Historic Preservation Plan.
Debate:
- Commissioner Morrison moved to table the plan to the December 8th work session, detailing approximately 30 to 40 concerns regarding potential liabilities, staffing requirements, and specific guardrails in the 233-page document.
- Commissioner Fox seconded the motion, stating he needed more information on the plan's implications and responsibilities before adoption.
- Commissioner Von Lintel advocated for passing the plan, describing it as a "tool" and "economic development." She cited the 2024 historic preservation annual report showing nearly $700,000 in private improvements and $500,000 in tax credits. She argued the plan commits the city to nothing but provides valuable resources for citizens and staff.
- Public comment from Colleen Lynde and Mick Charney urged the commission to pass the plan, emphasizing it is a non-binding resource critical to catching up with national preservation standards.
Outcome: Motion to continue the item to the December 8th work session passed 3-2 (Commissioners Von Lintel, Fox, and Morrison in favor; Mayor Adam Chak and Commissioner McCullough opposed).

Casement Road & Hayes Drive Signalization

Action: Authorizing a city-state agreement with KDOT for a traffic signal at Casement Road and Hayes Drive.
Details: Brian Johnson (Director of Public Works) presented the project. The intersection now meets four of eight warranting criteria for a traffic signal. The grant is approximately $500,000 with a 90% federal / 10% local split. The project was paused during levee construction. Benefits include improved pedestrian safety and rerouting semi-truck traffic. KDOT will not pay for pavement replacement on existing pavement, so that will be completed separately.
Outcome: Motion approved 5-0.

Key Outcomes

Consent Agenda: Approved (excluding Items E2 and G1) by a vote of 5-0.
Edge 3.0: Public hearing set for November 17, 2026. CID petition accepted. Vote: 5-0.
Historic Nominations: Authorized staff to submit nominations for Sunset Cemetery and Sexton's House, and to petition for quiet title. Vote: 4-1.
Historic Preservation Plan: Tabled to December 8, 2026 work session. Vote: 3-2.
Traffic Signal: City-state agreement with KDOT for Casement & Hayes signalization approved. Vote: 5-0.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. It is now six o'clock. Welcome to the October sixth, twenty twenty-six meeting of the Manhattan City Commission. Chelsea, will you please call the role? Mayor Adam Chak. I'm here. Commissioner McCullough here. Commissioner Fox. Here. Commissioner Morrison. Here. Commissioner Von Lintel. Here. Mayor, we have five commissioners present. The quorum of three is met. Thank you. Will you please rise and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the plan of the United States of America and to Republic for which we understand individual with liberty and we have several proclamations this evening. We will start with Library Savings Day. If representatives from the library will come forward, please. In witness whereof, I have a fixed my hand and caused the seal of Manhattan to be affixed the 6th of October. Thank you very much. Hello, everybody. My name is Bree. I'm the PR manager at the Manhattan Public Library, and here tonight, Eric, our director, joins us as well. We just wanted to take an opportunity to thank everyone who participated in our campaign that took the last three months where we celebrated those savings. And of course, as Susan had stated, we had a celebration where we honored nine honorees. Their total savings equated to over 700,000 in their lifetime savings. And that is something that is truly exciting and something worth celebrating. So whether you come and join us in the future on September 30th to celebrate this momentous day, or just come and see us next week or any other time. We're very excited to have you at our local library. And I just wanted to take again Eric Norris, I'm the director of the Manhattan Public Library. Just wanted to take a minute to thank the Manhattan Library Association for their support in this project and their continued support throughout the year. I'd also like to thank our board for their dedication to our mission and also for their ongoing leadership. And once again to thank every community member out there for their community or for their curiosity and their commitment to lifelong learning and understanding the value of shared resources. Thank you. Okay, just want to humble brag. Your mayor had over $26,000 worth of savings in the last nine years. There was a teacher in our community who was at 106,000 one person over the eight and a half, nine years that this has been recorded. Pretty amazing. I suspect that at least one commissioner is pretty up there as well. Moving on to a slightly more serious topic, we will talk about domestic violence in our community. And I'm joined by Brandon Peebles and Tyshell Jones, who are from the Manhattan crisis. Domestic violence is a widespread public health problem impacting all demographics of Manhattan, Kansas, and perpetrators of domestic violence use illegal and legal behaviors and tactics that undermine a victim's sense of self, free will, and safety.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI

TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com