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Commission approves ordinance clearing legal path for Fort Riley Boulevard sidewalk gap project
Summary
The Manhattan City Commission voted 5-0 to adopt Ordinance No. 7771 authorizing condemnation if needed to acquire easements for the Fort Riley Boulevard sidewalk gap project, a federally funded $1.25 million grant to fill a key pedestrian connection.
The Manhattan City Commission on Sept. 2 adopted Ordinance No. 7771 authorizing the city to acquire property interests by condemnation if necessary to complete the Fort Riley Boulevard (K-18) sidewalk gap project.
Brian Johnson, director of public works and city engineer, told commissioners the project will connect sidewalks from Martin Luther King Drive and Yuma to Westwood and Fort Riley Boulevard and that the city received a $1,250,000 federal grant in 2022 to build it. "With passage of this ordinance, we'll continue to work with the affected owners to secure the needed easements. However, if negotiations fail to finalize, this ordinance will allow us to then move towards the final court date for condemnation," Johnson said.
The city reported it has secured five of seven necessary easements and has verbal agreements on the two remaining parcels. Johnson described one temporary five-foot easement and a permanent easement shown in project maps; temporary easements are to be restored after construction. He said federal grant conditions require the Uniform Relocation and Acquisition Act procedures; "these are federal grants, so they're Uniform Act," he told the commission.
Commissioners asked procedural and design questions about temporary impacts — including replacement of landscaping and whether retaining walls or driveway changes would be involved. Johnson said disturbed areas would be replaced "in kind" and confirmed that part of the project design could close a driveway if required for safety and traffic flow; that driveway closure is reflected in appraisal work and negotiations.
No public comment was offered on the item. Commissioner motion and roll call produced a unanimous vote. Chelsea (city clerk) recorded votes in favor and the chair announced "Motion carries 5 to 0." The ordinance provides the city authority to move to condemnation proceedings only if required after negotiations and appraisal steps are exhausted.
The project is scheduled to go to bid in January; staff said acquisitions should be complete by November to allow the Kansas Department of Transportation to issue an easement release.
The commission did not discuss construction timelines or contractor selection at the meeting; those details were deferred to future staff updates.
