03/17/26 City Commission Meeting

The City Commission meeting of Manhattan, Kansas, held on March 17, 2026, included several procurement and contracting discussions. The commission approved the rejection of a bid from BHS Construction for the Blue Earth Water Plaza renovation project due to high costs and authorized city administration to negotiate directly with the contractor. They also approved two ordinances vacating certain easements and setback lines to facilitate development projects. A significant agenda item was the approval of ordinance 7818, authorizing the issuance of industrial revenue bonds (IRBs) for BBX LLC's Press Project, which provides a sales tax exemption to the developer without actual bond funds exchanging hands. Additionally, the commission approved ordinance 7819 amending the KState Credit Union planned unit development to update signage regulations. The meeting also included approval of a $54,000 city fund commitment and a professional services agreement with the Kansas Department of Transportation and Olsen Inc. for construction inspection services on the Fort Riley Boulevard sidewalk gap project. Lastly, the commission authorized an increased construction contract with BHS Construction for the Steel and Pipe Supply Ballpark improvements, including playground fencing and safety netting, for $96,166. Motions related to these procurement activities were passed unanimously, reflecting ongoing capital improvement and development efforts in the city.