1.14.25 City Commission Meeting Highlights
On January 15, 2025, public comments were made concerning the lack of support in running warming shelters, with the volunteer-run Center of Hope Ministry Warming Shelter being the sole shelter in the city during a historical snow storm. Rezoning issues were disagreed upon but ultimately approved. Mayor Adamchak declined to be nominated for Mayor again. Unanimously, McCulloh was elected Mayor and Adamchak was elected Mayor Pro Tem.
City Proclamation, Noteworthy Public Comments, and City/Commissioner Comments
Proclamation: Mayor Adamchak declared January 18th and 25th of 2025 to be the Dr. Martin Luther King Community Celebration and Day of Service.
Public Comments: Watch the comments regarding the Warming Shelter here
Jeremy Harmon, the Community Relations Director at the Center of Hope Ministry Warming Shelter:
Applauded the city’s proclamation of MLK day and underscored the city’s message that “each of us can and must make our communities better with increased opportunity for all citizens.”
Offered thanks and an abundance of praise for the city workers, first-responders, and contractors who worked throughout the snow storm.
Timeline on the 2025 winter storm:
January 2nd: The county and emergency management issued alerts about the incoming winter storm.
January 3rd: City and county announced early closures of parks, recreation, and public facilities planned for the 4th.
January 4th: Conditions worsened rapidly, leading more facilities to close earlier than expected.
By 1 PM, worsening road conditions were reported, and emergency measures began. At 1:10 PM, a Be Able employee called Jeremy to inform him that the public library announced that it would close at 2 PM.
No other agencies or organizations were able to offer daytime shelter after 2pm. The Warming Shelter recognized that there were no emergency shelters, and quickly coordinated volunteers to open the shelter at 3PM that day, 4 hours earlier than usual, and on short notice.
Six regular guests of the Warming Shelter were unaware that the Shelter was able to open that day, so they were on their own for the first night. Harmon stated that the information chain broke, failing to reach those who were in need.
January 4th - January 6th: The Warming Shelter remained open for 41 hours straight, thanks to volunteers. The First Congregational Church allowed the Warming Shelter to operate outside their agreed upon hours
January 7th: Be Able, a daytime warming shelter and community center, was able to open once again. Regular evening operations at the Warming Shelter resumed.
Statistics and Challenges:
Over six weeks of operation, the shelter has served 51 unique individuals, including a mother and child.
Peak capacity was 22 guests, but the shelter lacks a plan for overflow situations.
February, historically the coldest month, presents a pressing need for better planning and collaboration to ensure no vulnerable individuals are left without shelter during extreme weather.
Pastor Caela Simmons Wood, serving the First Congregational Church (FCC):
followed up on Jeremy’s comments by urging the City to take a more active role in serving the unhoused community, especially during extreme winter weather or summer heat waves. She spoke regarding this issue at the County Commission meeting as well.
The Riley County Emergency Management is the primary agency responsible for disaster preparedness and response, with the City as a partner. However, neither entities offered any coordination, planning, or communication with Center of Hope Ministry Warming Shelter this winter.
Organizing and coordinating safe shelters should be a responsibility of the local government, not solely charged by nonprofits and volunteer-led organizations with insufficient resources.
Volunteers had to take extreme measures, including walking through the snow to assist, cook meals, and search for unhoused individuals in public park bathrooms.
Emergency management requires trained, compensated, and insured first responders—not uncompensated volunteers.
A public citizen
Questioned a $1.2M discrepancy in property tax projections and the inclusion of a "default rate" in tax calculations, urging the commission to review these practices.
Noteworthy City/Commissioners Comments:
Wyatt Thompson, interim director of Public Works, gave updates and statistics on the snow blitz. The snow plows will eventually be named by the community.
Commissioner McCulloh: Expressed concern about climate-related disasters and mentioned previous tabletop exercises regarding emergency management, delegation of responsibilities, and communications with the Red Cross, which may need to be revisited. Previously, the local government had a warming shelter at Pottorf Hall.
Commissioner Oppelt, Matta, and Minton: Applauded mutual aid by community members, and noted the compliments received from folks in large cities regarding Manhattan’s storm response. Winter weather will inevitably cause more potholes in the spring.
3 rezoning issues (West 4th Sub-Area, West Poyntz Sub-Area, and 330 + 326 Vattier St.):
Outcome: The rezonings were approved by Commissioners Matta and Minton. Commissioner McCulloh noted her disapproval of the non-contiguous spot zoning and lack of collaboration with the impacted neighborhoods.
During public comment, at least two citizens expressed concerns regarding rezoning. The developer for 330 + 326 Vattier St. made a public comment demonstrating the project’s open collaboration with the community, and noting that the 5 townhomes to be created will be workforce housing.