City Commission - workshop

2:43 – 2:54•SASusan E. Adamchak

Good evening, and welcome to the September 22nd, 2026 meeting of the Manhattan City Commission. Jared, will you call roll, please?

3:08 – 8:15•SASusan E. Adamchak

Will you please rise and join me for the Pledge of Allegiance? Thank you. As we begin, is there anyone who would like to make public comment on any item not on tonight's agenda? All right. We will close public comments. Commissioners, anything to report? Quiet today. Well, I've got a long list myself. It's time sensitive. I wanted to acknowledge the efforts of the planning committee for this week's Chautauqua that was held over the weekend as part of the America 250 celebrations. Some very interesting sessions were held Saturday and Sunday afternoon at the city park. I've attended myself and f

12:48•ALAndrew Von Lintel

So Jared, we talked about, are we gonna have the same amount of money for next year as we did this year?

13:22 – 13:34•SASusan E. Adamchak

Jared, I just want to say thank you, and I hope that once you look deeper into that DUI data, you find that you are being successful.

14:21 – 14:45•ALAndrew Von Lintel

Have enough to go to the end one other thing that we kind of mentioned was the right now it's captain and below as far as the who can use the service and so I think I'm kind of on the camp of maybe having it be enlisted you know instead of having officers being able to use the ride share but it just I mean something we might we'll have to talk about more on the mpo board

15:06•ALAndrew Von Lintel

Okay. I wish it was set up so that we wouldn't have a point where we run out of money. That's my concern.

15:30 – 15:49•SASusan E. Adamchak

Thank you. Thanks, Jared. Is there anyone who would like to make public comment on this item? All right, thank you. We will move on to discussing the Sunset Cemetery historic designation.

23:21•SASusan E. Adamchak

And can you describe what would be required or what is the process for quieting the title?

24:58•SASusan E. Adamchak

Have any conversations been had with any descendants of the original donors of the property?

28:58 – 29:27•SASusan E. Adamchak

We've been talking for two and a half years at least about doing some repairs, renovations, changes to the cemetery. We're still waiting to finalize those plans. Would work be able to proceed on any of the cemetery improvement projects during the period under which a historical designation was under review?

30:31 – 30:57•SASusan E. Adamchak

So I'm not aware, but of the contributing resources that are listed for Sunset Cemetery, are any of those particular, those individual items requiring repair remediation such that that work would be impeded if this were to be designated?

31:36 – 36:31•JMJim Morrison

The issue with the house is one of those that I think is a stop on everything. One, if we don't know that we don't have ability, in my opinion, to get permission to put it in the district. If we do own it, we won't know until we have a judge tell us. A quiet title action is what it's called. Those are done. every year, multiple times. The biggest problem we're going to have legally, from my point of view, is who are the owners and who are the family heirs? And the family has been dead a long time, and there could be one, none, or a thousand. And so the law becomes really a challenge for our at

36:33 – 38:11•KMKaren McCulloh

How does this change? We already own Sunset Cemetery, right? And so it doesn't make any difference if it's put on the historic preservation list. We still have to fix the mausoleum if it falls in, that kind of thing. So I don't see that that's an issue at all. I do see a number of people in the audience and other places who have worked diligently to make this happen I see approval of all the boards that need approval the cemetery board people talk to me the historic resources board the park and ricks board I don't see that this could be anything but a positive if you want to take the Kimbell h

41:48 – 42:13•ALAndrew Von Lintel

the graveyard so we don't see a lot of changes very rapidly so there's also not a huge threat so just quickly going back to Jim's question about the so if like the the mausoleum roof did collapse would the city be responsible to putting to fixing it or is it somebody else I'm not positive Larry's not here is he

42:43 – 42:55•JMJim Morrison

I don't know how long ago, when you get to my age, time passes quickly, but there was a major effort by the cemetery folks who rehabbed the bell tower, what, 30 years ago? Yeah, that was Dean Rathbone.

42:57 – 43:36•JMJim Morrison

So the question of it is, if it falls down, are we gonna be required to put it back? I would say the community would probably say yes if the bell tower worked, but it didn't work for 30 years until they fixed it. And I don't live in that neighborhood anymore, so I don't know if it now is functioning as it was designed to or not. But I think those are some things we ought to make sure. And just because we may not have a direct liability, there may be some moral or other community liability we'd look at at the time. But I think we need to answer some of those questions personally.

44:30•JMJim Morrison

So a question on the map. The proposal is to take the house out on Sunset, right? Of that district?

44:52•JMJim Morrison

And according to the map that was presented, the Girl Scout Park was originally in that map. Is that still requested to be within this zone?

45:18•ALAndrew Von Lintel

I'm interested in pursuing the nomination excluding the Sexton's house, but I definitely want to talk to some people, too, before I finalize that.

45:28 – 45:48•SASusan E. Adamchak

Ben, I think this might be an opportune time for us. I know several people in the room would like to make public comment, so perhaps they may have some responses to some of the commissioner's concerns. So don't go anywhere, but we will take some public comment on this issue now.

49:09 – 50:02•SASusan E. Adamchak

Thank you. Actually, may I ask, make a question? Absolutely that is your prerogative mayor and then if his responsible per policy add two minutes for your response hopefully she doesn't give you that tough of one okay you're proposing to include the Sexton house as part of the nomination rachel indicated that it may take as long as a year or possibly more to determine the possession of that so are you proposing to delay the nomination at this time or would it be the preference of the Historic Resources Board to, or the Historical Society to proceed with the nomination of the cemetery and at th

54:59•SASusan E. Adamchak

Linda, you have the abstract or what do you have available?

1:03:55 – 1:04:09•SASusan E. Adamchak

Thank you. Is there anyone else who would like to come forward? Ben and Manager Doolin, do you What additional input do you need from us?

1:05:28 – 1:06:14•JMJim Morrison

Well, my comment to the staff is that we add cemetery excluding the Sexton House. And if we have to bring it up at a legislative meeting and we can direct you to commence a legal action to take care of the house, if you require that as having authority to proceed with a lawsuit, I think you may have to have the commission authorized and direct that you do that. So put it on the next one. It may even be a consent item. That's up to your handling of your agenda. But then and when and if that is resolved, It seems to me a community issue and the interest to have it added, if and when we can add i

1:08:58 – 1:09:11•SASusan E. Adamchak

And to follow up on the suggestion that one of the speakers made about pursuing two nominations simultaneously, What does that imply in terms of workload and cost?

1:09:53 – 1:10:11•SASusan E. Adamchak

So one action might be to pursue both simultaneously but as separate applications such that should issues arise with the ownership, one could be withdrawn while the other one still would proceed. Is that correct?

1:10:13 – 1:10:57•KMKaren McCulloh

I think it's very wise to figure out who owns this section of the house. We've talked about this for years and everybody has different opinions and I think proceeding with two separate ones will help us a lot. I do hope that all the commissioners here will understand that When our boards look at things, they look at things very thoroughly. And when they vote on something, we really should pay attention to what they've talked about for months and months. And it's very difficult for commissioners who have to have some knowledge on all kinds of things. But when I have a recommendation from three

1:11:05•ALAndrew Von Lintel

So I like the idea of having the two nominations and trying to quiet the title.

1:11:55 – 1:12:17•SASusan E. Adamchak

Thank you, Ben, and thank you to members of the public here this evening who have spoken very eloquently about actions they would advise. We'll move on to our final item on tonight's agenda, discussing EDGE 3.0 and the various funding mechanisms for that project.

1:47:25•SASusan E. Adamchak

Is there anyone who would like to approach and make public comment?

1:52:16•SASusan E. Adamchak

Gary, would you sign in, please? Oh, thanks.

1:55:48 – 1:56:07•SASusan E. Adamchak

Thank you, Matt. Welcome. Is there anyone else who would like to make a comment? Greg and Trent, would you perhaps return to the front for questions? Commissioners?

1:56:08 – 1:57:54•JMJim Morrison

Well, I'll start the questions. I have three while I think are serious and one that's somewhat frivolous. The serious one, in my opinion, was earlier this year, a good number of our community faculty went to Clemson to see what their similar concept of this economic development. But one of the things I got, I didn't go. My oldest granddaughter graduated there a year ago in engineering with 900 engineering graduates. But Clemson took those contacts in that economic development and have convinced companies to be there to enjoy it. And nothing in these presentations is that appear to be an emphas

2:01:10 – 2:02:48•KMKaren McCulloh

Yeah, I have two questions. I think the idea of the horse arena and the track is fantastic, and I would back you. I'm concerned, though, that you're building some of this on the idea that we're gonna have 30,000 students here soon or in five years. And I don't think that's anywhere near possible. The demographics for Kansas are awful. And furthermore, the alpha generation, which just joined us a few years ago, is having, is much, much smaller than the Gen Z or whoever came before them. So the idea that, I just think that's real, really should change your equation I don't see that happening I w

2:02:50•KMKaren McCulloh

He mentioned it the transient guest tax.

2:03:00 – 2:03:17•KMKaren McCulloh

Oh okay well you know as I said We've got to respond. These three guys would really like to cut the mill levy. And anyway, that's where I am.

2:04:19 – 2:04:39•KMKaren McCulloh

But sadly, those thousanders are not going to be buying things and getting the sales tax off of them. They're not going to be eating at restaurants. And all of that's been understood in the studies. They're someplace out there in space. So I think it would be... better to say, to not throw that $30,000 out there.

2:04:43•KMKaren McCulloh

But the people here who are going to go get a burger is what you're hoping for, $23,000, right?

2:07:06•SASusan E. Adamchak

Greg. No, sorry. This Greg. No, the other Greg. Greg Lorenz. Greg Lorenz.

2:07:19 – 2:07:34•SASusan E. Adamchak

Greg, when this was, when I was first surprised at this project, discussions were being held with local restaurateurs. Is that still the case? Is it likely that some of those properties will be locally owned?

2:08:19 – 2:09:00•SASusan E. Adamchak

Thank you. I have a question also regarding sales tax. So right now, the three special sales taxes that we do have are not being captured. They're excluded from my understanding however one of those is set to sunset at the end of this year another one will be sunsetting at the end of next year we do not yet know if another sales tax will be passed this November should Are any special sales taxes excluded for the duration of any of these agreements?

2:09:22 – 2:09:51•SASusan E. Adamchak

Because in the table that I understand that the numbers that you've presented are based on realistic assumptions, but they are still assumptions. So the notion that we're not capturing $7.5 million in sales tax is illustrative but not definitive. That's correct.

2:10:12•KMKaren McCulloh

So basically that land is just sitting there and it belongs to the K-State, right?

2:10:36•KMKaren McCulloh

Why doesn't the foundation donate that land?

2:10:44•KMKaren McCulloh

They've already purchased it. There was a cost of acquiring that land, wasn't there?

2:10:59 – 2:11:16•KMKaren McCulloh

140 beds. Our hotels are at 62% occupancy right now, average. And throwing 140 beds in there, it can't do anything but sort of lower that number.

2:11:20 – 2:11:56•KMKaren McCulloh

We hope so. We do too. Just like your 30,000 students, there's optimal people coming here, and then there's some people coming here. And while K-State's a wonderful place, there are other ag programs throughout the Midwest that are also cutting edge and doing very well. So severe competition. I do think you're going to see more people with the track and the horse. I just don't understand, why does the hotel have to be part of this? Is that, Starbonds has to have a hotel?

2:12:41•KMKaren McCulloh

So the city's buy-in is basically helping you fund this hotel?

2:13:43 – 2:16:48•SASusan E. Adamchak

I just wanted to clarify for Commissioner McCullough that I was actually curious about this as well from sitting on the Convention and Visitors Bureau for the last year and I did some research on hotel management practices and 60% occupancy throughout the year is actually considered a reasonable number and I thought the analysis included in The Starbond report regarding competition with existing facilities was fairly persuasive based on the number of visitors that are projected, and we know it's a projection. The number of bed nights for any particular event was 200, and so at least 40 to 60 o

2:16:49 – 2:19:10•KMKaren McCulloh

Yeah I would only say that I sit on the tourism board now as Mayor Pro Tem and we had a report from the woman who is working to the outside people that have been hired and she pointed out that people coming to horse shows usually are pulling their horse behind their thing and sleep in their cab and don't go to a hotel many of them are in rodeos and that kind of thing and they don't put that now obviously if little girls in their pony club come their mom probably comes with her and three friends but you know the idea that all these people that are coming to the bilby center are going to be usin

2:19:23 – 2:19:37•KMKaren McCulloh

and working it and that's a 15 minute walk I'm sure that if I'm here for a week I'd probably walk you know it's but it's just a mile from the city center in Aggieville so you know anyway okay

2:21:28 – 2:21:52•ALAndrew Von Lintel

to the base and have other assets contributing to that so I was wanting to jump in with so the the TIF district is expecting right now we're talking 80% to the foundation and 20% to the city I'm wondering if you know as good partners if we'd be better off being 50-50 on the TIF district having

2:23:40 – 2:24:12•JMJim Morrison

57 years ago, I had a contract Professor law school say the devil's in the details Sure is before you come back. Well, we have a an agreement drafted between your lawyers or you and our city staff that we can actually say here is the Proposal so we know what you are going to give and we know what we can expect and we know what we can ask for Because I don't want to talk about this again until we have that agreement that we know what it's hard and ready to go and

2:25:26•JMJim Morrison

Well, if we don't, I'll be moving that we continue the matter until January, February of whatever year it takes.

2:25:56 – 2:26:59•ALAndrew Von Lintel

I this is what I was wanting yeah several months ago and I would say that you guys have brought the numbers and I think that it's realistic but I mean I also represent the city and you know we're we've we've invested a lot of money in this North Campus corridor also and The fire station, we're probably moving a fire training facility before too long. There's things that we're spending money on. It's a significant investment. It's an important investment. But I also echo some concerns about when we did the Hy-Vee, we'll call it the Hy-Vee development, but you know that you know some some busine

2:27:39 – 2:28:04•SASusan E. Adamchak

Yes, I think we would like that, but I do have one other question for Greg before you come before us, Danielle. Several times in your presentation, you had an architectural rendition of Edge Tech, Is that another separate building, or is that what you're referring to? Are you using that term to refer to the existing office space that's there now?

2:28:16•SASusan E. Adamchak

So that's not the building that's next to...

2:35:58•SASusan E. Adamchak

Thank you, Jason. Commissioners, any other questions or comments for city staff or for the Greggs?

2:36:08•KMKaren McCulloh

Does Bond Council have any words of wisdom?

2:36:17•SASusan E. Adamchak

Let the record show that Bond Council is shaking his head. No, he does not.

2:36:46 – 2:37:44•SASusan E. Adamchak

Thank you, gentlemen, for your presentations yet again. And each one gives us a little bit more clarity. I know we were all happy to finally get the state reports, as I'm sure you were. Glad to, I thought those analyses were, thoughtful and well done. I get teased for my editorial eye, so the notion of this being a museum before it has even been built. Clearly there was some boilerplate that got cut and pasted into the document, but they were both very helpful for us. Thank you to the citizens who chose to remain and listen to this presentation. I hope you learned enough that you'll be able to