Staff Photo: Austin Barnes
Thanksgiving didn’t slow them down. The Manhattan City Commission was ready to get back to work Tuesday night.
With two items on the general agenda, commissioners heard the first reading of an ordinance that would allow for the construction of a new pylon sign at the entrance to the Stonecreek Commercial Business Development.
Assistant Director for planning, Eric Cattell gave the presentation, describing the Stonecreek Business Center Association’s desire to construct a 14 foot pylon sign that would identify the businesses within the area and include their addresses and phone numbers.
Following the discussion, all signs pointed toward a desire for community wellness – as Public Works Director Robb Ott shared that City of Manhattan and Kansas Department of Health standards are not being met in one little apple neighborhood.
In 2009, the Public Works Department learned of a multi-lot sanitary sewer lateral in the 1700 block of Houston Street that was damaged and leaking. The lateral that collapsed was connected to several other sanitary sewer laterals.
Upon testing, the public works department discovered that seven sanitary sewer laterals were connected outside of an easement – all converging into a public main located under a single-family home.
A petition to move forward with correction of the issue was submitted with four out of seven property owners’ signatures, but the commission chose to reject it due to incorrect notary statements.
Two homeowners came forward to express their views on the situation, during a public comment session.
Both men shared opposite perspectives on the issue, agreeing that they both want whats best.
You can hear homeowner Kevin Cook address commissioners below.
The commission has set January 5th, 2016 for a public hearing and the creation of a benefit district that will help to move the project forward.
In addition to general agenda items, the commissioners briefly revisited the downzoning of the area east of City Park – a tense subject for some in attendance at a meeting held two weeks ago.
Commissioner Wynn Buttler promised that a solution would be found, that will work for everyone involved.
Commissioners chose to schedule a work session to further discuss the issue on January 12th, 2016.
For more from the Manhattan City Commission, you can follow Austin on Twitter @ABarnesKMAN
