City Wants to Add to Convention Center Editorial by Jon A
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3100 ANDERSON AVE, MANHATTAN, KS 66503 SALES: (888) 421-1388 SERVICE: (888) 475-5608 PARTS: (366) 931-0437 THE AMERICAN FLAG IS NOT JUST A SYMBOL 30 VOLUME 26, NUMBER 21 An Award Winning Weekly Newspaper Thursday, October 19, 2017 City Wants To Add To Convention Center Editorial By Jon A. Brake At Tuesday night’s Manhat- tan City Commission Meeting the Convention and Visitors Bureau gave a report to the Commission that recommends adding to the Manhattan Con- vention Center on 4th Street in Downtown Manhattan. As reported in the Free Press the City of Manhattan does not own the Convention Center. They deeded the property over to the Hilton Garden Inn Hold- ing Company several years ago. Hilton Garden Inn or the Holding pays $100,000 a year for 20-years. The City built the Center in 2009 - 10 for a little more than $10 million. Without owning the property, the City is still making payments of $700,000 Hilton Garden Inn per year and will until 2034. Manhattan Here is what a Memo from February 11, 2014 said: “On January 19, 2010, the City Commission approved Or- dinance No. 6810 issuing gen- Manhattan eral obligation home rule Convention economic development bonds Center in an amount of $9.5 million in budgeted construction costs, not including additional interest costs and costs of issuance. (Note: Final bond issuance was City of Manhattan in the amount of $10,055,000).” Parking Garage The Memo went on to say: “In addition, the agreement with HCW Development in- cluded an annual repayment of $100,000 which also would be used to reduce the annual pay- ment of principal and interest once the conference center gen- eral obligation bonds had been “The City, CVB, and HCW pitality Group to evaluate the They build a $10 million Con- sity (see story below. They want $20 million for the land and issued.” Development recently hired potential to expand the Manhat- ference Center and then give it the voters to approve two buildings in the North Down- A Memo given to the City Tony Peterman, Executive Vice tan Conference Center. Ques- away. They build the Kansas Recreation Centers costing mil- town Redevelopment Area and Commission members Tuesday President, of Jones Lang tion to the City: Entrepreneurial Center and then lions and millions on USD 383 then gave that land to the De- night reported: LaSalle (JLL) | Hotels & Hos- What is going on at the City? finance the sale to the Univer- land. And remember they paid veloper. Kansas State University wants to purchase the KSU-IC building (Editor’s Note: Kansas State Deputy City Manager City leased from Kansas State erator of the incubator facility, $5,562,281 in bonds for con- University wants to purchase MEETING: October 17, BACKGROUND University (the “KSU Land known as the Manhattan/K- struction and architectural serv- the Cities Entrepreneurial Cen- 2017 In September 2004, the City Lease”). In December 2004, the State Innovation Center. This ices and fees. An additional ter for $5.645 million. Here is a SUBJECT: KSU-IC Commission approved an in- City executed an Economic De- arrangement was consistent $82,719 in cost of issuance re- Memo given to the City Com- Building – Agreements with vestment from the Economic velopment Agreement (the with a previous model whereby sulted in a total bond amount of mission at Tuesday’s meeting:) K-State PRESENTERS: Development Fund to construct “Operation Agreement”) with NISTAC operated the City- $5,645,000. Jason Hilgers, Deputy City a new 30,000 sq. ft. the National Institute for Strate- owned Kansas Entrepreneurial CITY COMMISSION Manager business/technology incubator gic Technology Acquisition and Center (KEC) facility on Hayes NISTAC has assigned its in- AGENDA MEMO Kent Glasscock, President, facility to be located in the K- Commercialization (NISTAC) Drive. FROM: Jason Hilgers, KSU-IC State Research Park, on land the to serve as the manager and op- The City issued a total of See KSU page 14 Briggs Briggs New Cars Used Cars 785-565-5530 NewsNews Manhattan Free Press Thursday, October 19, 2017 22 Kansas governor's Manhattan Shoe Repair Repaairing Shoes race draws record field Boots Luggage Purses Backpacks TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) _ though Miller said he doesn't chita oil company owner; for- Kansas has a record number of see a clear reason, other than Since Kansas started holding mer state Rep. Mark Hutton, of Hours 8 - 5:30 Monday - Friday candidates for the early stages ``just an accident of individual primaries in 1908, the gover- Wichita; former state Sen. Jim of a 2018 governor's race with decisions.'' nor's race has averaged seven Barnett, a Topeka doctor, and GARY E. GORDON 216 S. 4th St. even high school students join- candidates total on primary and the party's 2006 nominee for 776-1193 Local Manhattan, Ks ing the elected officials and Candidates can raise money general election ballots. The governor; Former state Rep. Ed 66502-6003 prominent business figures vot- and campaign for months be- number exceeded 10 in 1994, O'Malley, CEO of the nonprofit ers would normally expect. fore submitting papers for a 1964 and 1922. Both major par- Kansas Leadership Center in guaranteed spot on the ballot. ties saw their biggest primary Wichita; and Patrick Kucera, a Eighteen candidates _ 11 Re- The filing deadline for the fields in 1964: eight Republi- Leawood businessman and publicans, six Democrats and Democratic and Republican pri- cans and six Democrats, though evangelist. an independent _ have ap- maries is June 1, and other can- Democrats also had six in 1934. pointed treasurers or commit- didates must file by Aug. 6. Democratic candidates in- tees for a campaign next year, a Republicans are split now clude Kansas House Minority requirement to raise money. The fee for governor-lieu- over Brownback's policies, par- Leader Jim Ward, of Wichita; More could be coming: The tenant governor teams is $2,207 ticularly aggressive individual former state Agriculture Secre- Libertarian Party is expected to but it drops to $670 if candi- income tax cuts that were rolled tary Joshua Svaty, of Ellsworth, have a nominee, and another in- dates gather signatures from back by bipartisan legislative ex-Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer dependent candidate may get 5,000 registered voters. Inde- majorities earlier this year fol- and Arden Andersen, an Olathe into the race. pendent candidates must gather lowing persistent budget prob- physician. Robert Klingenberg, the signatures. lems. a 27-year-old Salina salesman, The current number tops the entered the race last week. previous record of 16 on the ``That's when we know Brownback's expected depar- primary and general election who's serious,'' said Kansas Re- ture this fall will automatically ``There's a high level interest ballots in 1964. Republican publican Party Chairman Kelly elevate Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer to in politics, of getting involved, Gov. Sam Brownback is term- Arnold, who nevertheless ex- governor, and he is seeking a on both sides,'' said Kansas limited but is expected to step pects five or six ``good options'' full, four-year term in 2018. But Senate Minority Leader An- down this fall anyway to be- for GOP voters. Bob Beatty, a Washburn Uni- thony Hensley, a Topeka Demo- come U.S. ambassador-at-large versity political scientist, said crat. for international religious free- The field includes four high Brownback is unpopular dom. school students, when one enough that having an heir ap- A Topeka-area minister, would be unusual. Jack Berge- parent isn't enough to discour- Richard Kloos, is running as an ``There are people who see son, a Wichita Democrat, was age other Republicans. independent. And Olathe busi- this as a very wide open race,'' first in, and stories about him nessman Greg Orman, an inde- said Patrick Miller, a University this summer highlighted the The Republicans include pendent candidate for the U.S. of Kansas assistant political sci- lack of a minimum age to run Secretary of State Kris Kobach; Senate in 2014, is considering ence professor. ``There's not a for governor in Kansas. Three Insurance Commissioner Ken an independent run for gover- lot of cost, so why not stick Republican teenagers later Selzer; Wink Hartman, a Wi- nor. your name out there, see how formed committees: Tyler you are perceived by voters and Ruzich, of Prairie Village; how you do with fundraising?'' Ethan Randleas, of Wichita, and Dominic Scavuzzo, of Lea- No women are running yet, wood. Is your Group Health Insurance giving you the Blues? maybe we should look at a change. Dwitht Johnson Kansas Financial Services 785-537-1305 Optical Perspectives 930 Hayes Drive, Suite E. Manhattan, Kansas (785)539-5105 Fax (785)539-2324 Manhattan Free Press Thursday, October 19, 2017 33 City Commission Meets To Spend Money (Editor’s Note: Remember, if COMMENTS 21, 2017, as the date to sell the amount of $36,707.00; and O. Authorize the Mayor and (CVB) 2017 THIRD QUAR- it is on the Manhattan City This meeting is being held in $10,170,000.00 in general obli- 2. Award and authorize the City Clerk to execute agree- TER REPORT Commission Agenda, the decis- the City Commission Room at gation bonds; and Mayor and City Clerk to exe- ments with Well Landing, LLC, sion has already been made. ) City Hall, 1101 Poyntz Avenue. 2. Approve first reading of an cute a construction contract in an outside city limits for the C. CONSIDER FIRST In accordance with provisions ordinance issuing the amount of $32,758.00 with outside city limits sanitary READING OF ORDI- AGENDA MANHATTAN of the ADA, every attempt will $10,170,000.00 in general obli- Larson Construction, Inc., Man- sewer service connections for NANCES LEVYING BUSI- CITY COMMISSION be made to accommodate the gation bonds.