Commissioners approve Manor Conference Center management contract; extension office retains meeting space

The Shawnee County Board of County Commissioners on Aug. 6 approved a facility management agreement (C2026276) with YBR Properties/WG Topeka LLC to manage the Manor Conference Center. County councilor Rich Hecker said the board had rewritten a new section 6 that retains county possession and "the extension office may continue to occupy and use the space for its governmental purposes." The motion to approve was made by Commissioner Aaron Mays and seconded by Commissioner Bill Rippon; it passed 3–0.

Hecker said the new paragraph was transmitted to all parties and had generated follow-up emails and conversations but that parties were "relatively okay with it." Commissioners clarified that the agreement allows the extension council to continue using the meeting room and to bring in food for classes; Hecker said the new lessee cannot charge the extension space a fee. Commissioners also noted the contract does not include a schedule for relocation of the extension office and that staff has been "already started looking" for alternative space. The approval was recorded as carried 3–0.