Amanda Webb, Riley County planning director, told commissioners Dec. 4 that the county received an executed contract from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment for a Local Environmental Protection Program (LEPP) grant of $50,000 to assist low‑to‑moderate income property owners with wastewater system repair or replacement. Webb said the county is awaiting fund disbursement from KDHE to begin work with applicants from a prior round and to accept updated applications for the current round.

Webb also said the Manhattan Urban Area Planning Board held a public hearing on the county comprehensive plan and recommended forwarding a favorable recommendation to the county; the Riley County Planning Board will hold a public hearing next Monday at 7 p.m. If approved by the county commission on Dec. 18, Webb said the county anticipates adoption and a community celebration to follow.

On workforce and economic development, Webb said the Home and Heartland program website is live and three applicants have received preapproval; each preapproved applicant brings remote jobs that meet eligibility criteria. She said partners — including the chamber and K‑State connections — are assembling non‑cash incentives to complement the county cash incentive.

Webb said permanent easements for a referenced KEATS project have been received and that USDA advised construction can proceed without every temporary easement in place, allowing work to move forward while remaining easements are obtained.