[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6295837,"mediaKeyId","2519457-789abc8ded2ce4071b352b3e40184078","parentId",2519457,"title","Manhattan commissioners approve resolution allowing Meadowlark Hills to pursue roughly $50 million in industrial revenue bonds","audioSeconds",2210,"startMs",1033000,"endMs",3243000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2519457-789abc8ded2ce4071b352b3e40184078&start=1033&end=3243","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2519457-789abc8ded2ce4071b352b3e40184078/thumbnail_1033000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6295837/Manhattan/Riley/Kansas/Manhattan-commissioners-approve-resolution-allowing-Meadowlark-Hills-to-pursue-roughly-50-million-in-industrial-revenue-bonds","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6295837-e451c3a830e75832a8c181b35751ded0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188923&Signature=iayAMjUMQBzqXXi6AxvFClt5y8BgLEZz3bijeSH0zJig5in3MEvltz65J0vfrY3HVGlE7m1U5td1LUZpWpBFe4yi0PzkaFm44CxTQO0911HNmdzwREDtzAYgRDA-EVQkQHnPPG6XKMHUyCEoyyIX4kR~m20OkzVEGxWk70b42x4A1CYT0i-LCY6Ap4-AlIdUUD90R9mSuSbmHuu1-EJlrTHrkQlA33uyCiKJnL-H9t7mbVKfhRDEPCSZcv4wf8l2a2c~AizZhUc~khsz8bXOv4UL3G7D4yyBIuXPaYgfjY69xaQAVl0uQSD7Xm6HH3JeVSgtRVPi6bAgl0dvhqzBLg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Manhattan, Kansas","date","2025-03-04T00:00:00Z","article","The Manhattan City Commission on March 4 voted 3-0 to adopt a resolution expressing support for a future issuance of industrial revenue bonds (IRBs) to finance a new independent-living building and related campus improvements at Meadowlark Hills.

The resolution, described by staff as an \"intent to issue\" measure, also authorizes the release of a Meadowlark-owned Riley County facility previously financed with IRBs and directs the mayor and city clerk to execute documents needed for that release. Mayor McCullough and Commissioners Opelt and Mota voted in favor; one commissioner recused. Bond counsel and city staff said the full bond issuance and an accompanying request for a sales-tax exemption would come back to the commission for later approval.

The measure matters because IRBs can allow nonprofits and other applicants to receive sales-tax exemptions on construction materials and, in some cases, property-tax abatements. Jason (city staff) told the commission the city acts as a conduit for IRBs and that the bonds are not debt of the city. Chris Nelson, chief financial officer for Meadowlark Hills, told the commission the new building would provide 43 independent-living units (most about 1,400 square feet, some starting at about 1,200 square feet), under-building parking, a clubhouse and community space and a wellness center that would house fitness classes, Parkinson’s and memory-program space and a certified \"rock steady boxing\" program.

\"The new project that we wanna issue the new debt for, will be independent living units along with a wellness, portion of the building,\" Chris Nelson said during the presentation.

Public commenters pressed the commission on the fiscal tradeoffs of IRBs. Resident Joe Knop of 104 Oakwood Circle noted the potential sales-tax savings on construction and asked the commission to seek a payment back to the community. \"10% of that is $2,700,000 savings,\" Knop said, illustrating his calculation of one component of the benefit. Gary Oles, another resident, urged the commission to consider a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) arrangement under the state IRB statute so Meadowlark would contribute toward local services it uses. City staff explained that any negotiated PILOT tied to property taxes would be routed through the county and distributed under the existing mill levy, meaning the city receives a portion (staff estimated around 12% of property-tax dollars) while schools and county entities receive the remainder.

Commission discussion also addressed quorum and voting thresholds. A commissioner asked whether a 2-1 vote would legally carry; city staff and bond counsel said they would confirm the applicable statute. The commission proceeded under the city’s rule that resolutions and other non-ordinance actions may be adopted by a majority of those present.

The resolution on the agenda identifies two distinct elements: (1) retaining tax-exempt status for two properties from a prior 2021 IRB action while releasing a third property, and (2) authorizing the process to issue roughly $50,000,000 in IRBs to finance the new 43-unit improvement on the Meadowlark campus. Staff said a request for a sales-tax exemption on construction materials would be filed separately when the bond issuance is taken up.

The commission approved the motion to adopt \"Resolution No. 030425 determining the advisability of issuing industrial revenue bonds for a new Meadowlark Hills independent living facility and authorizing the release of the Riley County facility previously financed by industrial revenue bonds\"; roll-call votes were recorded as Mayor McCullough — yes; Commissioner Opelt — yes; Commissioner Mota — yes. The motion carried 3-0 with one commissioner recused.

Next steps identified in the meeting: Meadowlark will return with a formal sales-tax-exemption request and the city will process the supplemental documents to release the identified Riley County property from the earlier IRB arrangement. The commission did not adopt final bond documents at this meeting; the resolution expresses intent and initiates the required public-hearing and documentation steps for a future issuance.

Details recorded at the hearing: the project description presented by Meadowlark; public comments urging negotiation of a PILOT payment; staff advisories on the allocation of any PILOT receipts through county mill-levy distribution; and city staff confirmation that IRBs are a conduit financing tool and not a direct city obligation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Manhattan City Commission Meeting 03/04/2025 ","oneSentenceSummary","The Manhattan City Commission on March 4 voted 3-0 to adopt a resolution expressing support for a future issuance of industrial revenue bonds (IRBs) to finance a new independent-living building and related campus improvements at Meadowlark Hills.","taxTitle","Manhattan, Riley, Kansas","taxId",4219,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6295826,"Manhattan commission approves consent agenda 4-0",109,1002000,1111000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2519457-789abc8ded2ce4071b352b3e40184078&start=1002&end=1111","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2519457-789abc8ded2ce4071b352b3e40184078/thumbnail_1002000.jpg","/articles/6295826/Manhattan/Riley/Kansas/Manhattan-commission-approves-consent-agenda-4-0","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6295826-7780d1003a0fddaf1b5636d9fa0565ca/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188923&Signature=IXE9TThj-H1JT~xGtat7E1hdRnspx3bkJprH7xGS3YPpzeqYnra7znikK0pQ18TTsUvYNUW52gQgujoM1imlmjuYKeNMfZFbiAQbQqHCHOFxbKNUi9CSIJDNYz4MKh6io3YEqGCzuNLYPRT2txM7GwUPmvwS5JCfsE81FoFiP9l28vmqF63xaeMCvlbsyoKJm~jXHqad1W661jGa~W8GmThqngBO2I9u9YN5qVkfvrFAFRoHCoafzZGWHLcrRW1JIM1wE1DMOqb34QXW-pf5tYNQyQX5RYBcc2U8tjYNEiLsiaAMj2rmffLN8tpzTCVTfFTwRJ2MnqlddhlfmE7v1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Manhattan City Commission on March 4 approved the consent agenda by a single motion and voice/roll-call vote, with no public comment on consent items.

A commissioner moved to approve the consent agenda, a second followed, and the city clerk called the roll. Commissioners Opelt, Mota, Minton and Mayor McCullough voted yes; the motion carried 4-0. The items on the consent agenda were described by the mayor as routine or housekeeping in nature and items previously reviewed by commission staff. The commission took no separate action on any individual consent item at the meeting.","At its March 4 meeting the Manhattan City Commission approved the consent agenda in a single motion; no public comments were made on the consent items and the roll-call vote was unanimous 4-0.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6295831,"Manhattan commission receives 2023 audit; auditors issue unmodified opinion with one finding on subrecipient reporting",0,3778000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2519457-789abc8ded2ce4071b352b3e40184078&start=3778&end=3778","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2519457-789abc8ded2ce4071b352b3e40184078/thumbnail_3778000.jpg","/articles/6295831/Manhattan/Riley/Kansas/Manhattan-commission-receives-2023-audit-auditors-issue-unmodified-opinion-with-one-finding-on-subrecipient-reporting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6295831-02bc505437ffef2d5afda4c96e5e9bb2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188923&Signature=GwZxIhQixiKQDfzQ9OjJOAbWyseS4prQ3jdY0lfKAftbP6YvGh1EhZFJZaQpavl1aXCp1V9iI8k9kQkWiU0PGXOhgdJYnr95OPl4ED~dc0KI6-IKpg3deNeH5gw4Ad~2aNakQBL0yqHFgNYkrUoC3-gDiPfqcB6HuejFxUjDjupkOtDqIJ9v~oPf7A3ugb0OTgnRYppNcLZnR9CF79z3fS8sfxLvvlJ9rF6ir~ttNP1IPwqbAfbNC0H6y0OF8vfY~BUBtu7RSdsdv-mfPYIvvLL9JA634dOwULFPjPvz4wZ684YzB2OvIdT~hAmfp6PQ6H3oCt6ljIAUNwHa-SawRw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Manhattan City Commission on March 4 received the city’s 2023 audit after a presentation by the director of finance and the municipal audit board. The independent auditors issued an unmodified (clean) opinion for the city’s financial statements and identified one finding related to timely reporting of subrecipient information to federal authorities.

Irina Grama Veil, identified in the meeting as the city’s director of finance, presented the audit materials prepared with external accountants and auditors. The report includes the independent auditor’s report and the schedule of federal expenditures; Grama Veil told the commission that auditors from BT and Co. of Topeka issued the unmodified opinion and that the city provided a corrective-action plan addressing the single finding. The finding — similar to an item in the 2022 audit — concerned the timely filing of reports related to grants where the city contracts with subrecipients. The finance director said the city is back on track with filings and provided a management response and corrective action plan.

The audit presentation noted major federal programs that accounted for most federal spending in the audit year, including an airport improvement program tied to a runway extension. Grama Veil said the city is preparing for the 2024 audit and expects auditors to begin fieldwork in July with a goal of completing the audit by September. The city also briefed the commission on an upcoming enterprise-resource-planning (ERP) system implementation; staff said user-acceptance testing is underway and targeted \"go-live\" is July 1.

Eric Higgins, chair of the Municipal Audit Board, reviewed the board’s work with finance staff and auditors and said changes to the city’s internal checklists and the new ERP system should reduce the chance of repeat findings. \"We're confident, feel confident we're back on track,\" Higgins said, noting the board’s suggestions to tighten the subrecipient acknowledgement and tracking process.

The commission voted 4-0 to receive the 2023 audit results. The motion to receive the audit was moved and seconded; roll-call votes were recorded as Commissioner Minton — yes; Mayor McCullough — yes; Commissioner Opelt — yes; Commissioner Mota — yes. No additional action was taken at the meeting beyond receipt of the audit.

The audit packet included schedules of federal expenditures and the independent auditor’s management letter. City staff noted that a new accounting pronouncement related to leave accrual reporting will be implemented as part of ongoing audit preparations.","City finance staff and the municipal audit board presented the 2023 audit on March 4; auditors issued an unmodified (clean) opinion while identifying one repeat finding about the timely reporting of subrecipient grant information.","actionData","errors"]

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Manhattan commissioners approve resolution allowing Meadowlark Hills to pursue roughly $50 million in industrial revenue bonds

Manhattan commission approves consent agenda 4-0

Manhattan commission receives 2023 audit; auditors issue unmodified opinion with one finding on subrecipient reporting