Meeting Summary and Briefs: Manhattan Village Board for August 19, 2025

The Manhattan Village Board held a brief meeting on August 19, 2025, with the primary action being the approval to donate a surplus village truck to a local non-profit. The board unanimously passed a resolution to give a 2007 Ford F-150, formerly used by the Public Works and EMA departments, to Triple H Ranch, an organization that serves individuals with disabilities and rescues animals. You can read more about this in our full story.

In other business, the board approved its consent agenda, which included the minutes from the August 5 meeting and a bills list totaling $382,409.95. Reports from village staff highlighted ongoing roadwork, the hiring of a new finance employee, and a significant drop in crime during the month of July compared to the previous year. Trustees’ comments focused on the start of the new school year and recent community events.

Bills Totaling Over $382,000 Approved: The Village Board approved payments totaling $382,409.95. Major expenditures included $107,126 for the Round Barn water main project paid to JS Alberico Construction Co. and $59,886 to PT Ferro for the Eastern Avenue roadway reconstruction. Another significant payment was $105,932 to Waste Management Inc. for July refuse collection services. The village also paid $5,994 for Labor Day party attractions.

Police Report Shows Drop in Crime for July: According to the July 2025 monthly police report, calls for service and reported crimes were down significantly compared to July 2024. Calls for service dropped from 2,224 to 2,086. Crimes against persons fell from 90 to 60, and crimes against property decreased from 53 to 47. However, ordinance violations issued saw a large increase, rising from 95 in July 2024 to 268 in July 2025.

Public Works Awaits PFAS Test Results: The July Public Works report noted that staff took water samples from village wells #6 and #8 to test for PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals.” The village is still waiting for the results of the sampling. During the month, crews also treated nearly 30.8 million gallons of water, performed road and streetlight repairs, and completed construction and installation work at the new dog park.

Road Projects Nearing Completion: The Village Engineer reported that the Park Street roadway reconstruction project is expected to be completed this week, with the final layer of asphalt scheduled to be applied. Paving operations are also set to begin on Hanover Estates streets as part of the 2025 Pavement Management Program. Meanwhile, construction on the Eastern Avenue reconstruction project is ongoing.

Building Activity Noted for July: Manhattan’s building department issued 66 permits in July with a total construction value of over $2.08 million, according to its monthly report. The permits included three for new single-family homes and 63 for miscellaneous projects such as pools, decks, and fences. The village collected $79,724 in fees from these permits during the month.

Village Welcomes New Finance Employee: The board was informed that new finance employee Joe Paige began work on Monday, August 18. Village staff reported that he is doing very well in his new role. The hiring fills a key position within the village’s administrative department.

Community Events and Back-to-School: Trustees highlighted several community happenings, including a recent comprehensive plan open house and the final “Sips of Summer” event. With local schools starting the new academic year, several board members wished students, teachers, and staff a safe and successful year. Trustee Clint Boone noted that the St. Joe’s golf outing was a fun, though rainy, event.