Experience

City of Manhattan, Kansas

• United States
• Government Administration
• 1 - 100 Employee

• City Commissioner

  • Apr 2015 - Present

  Elected position. served as mayor in 2018 and will serve again in 2022.

• Candidate Jan-Apr 2015 / Manhattan City Commissioner Apr 2015-Jan 2020 / Mayor Sept 2017-Nov 2018

  • Jan 2015 - Present

  ~~~from the City of Manhattan website:"The governing and legislative body of the City is the City Commission, comprised of five Commissioners who are elected at-large on a non-partisan basis. The Commission determines all matters of policy, approves all City ordinances and resolutions, and adopts the annual City Budget and Capital Improvement Program. Every April, the Commission elects one of its members to serve as Mayor. The Mayor presides over Commission meetings and has full voting rights—as do other Commissioners—but has no veto power. Elections are held every other year in odd-numbered years. Three City Commission positions are chosen at each election. The two highest vote recipients receive four-year terms while the third highest vote recipient receives a two year term." Show less



North Central Flint Hills Area Agency on Aging

• 18 County Area - Headquarters in Manhattan, KS

• Member of the Board of Directors

  • Jan 2014 - Present

  Appointed by the Riley County Commissioners to represent Riley County on Board of Directors. The AAA is a private, non-profit that plans coordinates and sponsors services for seniors, caregivers and people with disabilities in 18 counties of the North Central-Flint Hills area of Kansas. The Board makes policy and financial decisions for this multi-service agency that includes Friendship Meals / Meals On Wheels, essential in-home services, Medicare counseling, Older Kansas Employment Program, public housing, volunteer programs and coordination, and also information, assistance and referral services for seniors and people with disabilities. The AAA works in partnership with local and county governments and senior center groups and is partially funded by the Older Americans Act through the Kansas Department on Aging, voluntary participant contributions and private contributions. As a Board member, I also serve on the Public Housing Committee to set policy for the unit that offers public housing vouchers. Show less



Riley County Council on Aging

• Riley County, Manhattan, KS

• Member of the Council - Volunteer

  • Jan 2014 - Present

  The County Council on Aging administers county tax money set aside for aging services not from the NCFH Area Agency on Aging. Role is to ensure that county mill levy funds to aging services providers, centers and community groups are spent appropriately. The council uses some of the money for the senior center meals program to bump wages above minimum wage for the cook and nutrition coordinator at the senior center. Some of it also pays for in-home services. The County Council on Aging administers county tax money set aside for aging services not from the NCFH Area Agency on Aging. Role is to ensure that county mill levy funds to aging services providers, centers and community groups are spent appropriately. The council uses some of the money for the senior center meals program to bump wages above minimum wage for the cook and nutrition coordinator at the senior center. Some of it also pays for in-home services.



Big Blue River Public Action Working Group

• Joint Manhattan/Riley County/Pottawatomie County Project

• Citizen Representative of Manhattan and the Northview area

  • Sep 2013 - Present

  Proposed higher standard floodplain regulations in reaction to FEMA’s revised Floodplain Maps which must be adopted by the Manhattan City Commission and the Riley County Commission by March, 2015. The intent of the one foot higher than FEMA standard floodplain regulation is to reduce the impact of flooding in the community in the future and improve citizen safety. Proposed higher standard floodplain regulations in reaction to FEMA’s revised Floodplain Maps which must be adopted by the Manhattan City Commission and the Riley County Commission by March, 2015. The intent of the one foot higher than FEMA standard floodplain regulation is to reduce the impact of flooding in the community in the future and improve citizen safety.



Kansas State University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• (Retired) Registrar/Continuing Education Liaison

  • Jun 2013 - Present

  Retired June, 2013 Retired June, 2013



Manhattan Urban Area Planning Board (two terms)

• Manhattan, KS

• Board Member, 5 years and Chair, 1 year

  • Apr 2009 - Present

  Purpose is to provide for coordinated planning within a jurisdictional area called the Manhattan Urban Area, which includes the Manhattan City limits and the surrounding urbanizing areas, through an inter-local agreement between the Manhattan City Commission and the Riley County Commission. The focus is to develop, adopt, and update the Comprehensive Land Use Plan and other policy documents for the Board’s jurisdictional area, and the formulation of Subdivision and Zoning Regulations for the area. The Board also reviews development applications and planning and zoning proposals and forwards recommendations to the City or County Commission for final action. Show less



Manhattan Martin Luther King Planning Committee

• Manhattan, Kansas

• Committee Member

  • 1994 - 2014

  Served on the committee at large to plan annual events surrounding the MLK Holiday From 2007 - 2014, served as Committee Chair of the Spirit of Martin Luther King Community Service Award Committee. Annually recognize individual community members for uniting our community for the greater good and demonstrating a history of bringing people together in a non-polarizing manner. Served on the committee at large to plan annual events surrounding the MLK Holiday From 2007 - 2014, served as Committee Chair of the Spirit of Martin Luther King Community Service Award Committee. Annually recognize individual community members for uniting our community for the greater good and demonstrating a history of bringing people together in a non-polarizing manner.



Manhattan/Riley County League of Women Voters

• Manhattan/Riley County, Kansas

• Board Member, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and served on numerous committees

  • 1994 - 2014

  From 2013-2015, I led the League’s effort to determine the status of health care in the Manhattan area and to identify gaps in local coverage. The League will consider revising it’s policy position statement in April, 2015. Resigned from the Board of Directors prior to filing for city commission. From 2013-2015, I led the League’s effort to determine the status of health care in the Manhattan area and to identify gaps in local coverage. The League will consider revising it’s policy position statement in April, 2015. Resigned from the Board of Directors prior to filing for city commission.



Kansas State University

• Retired Continuing Education Registrar

  • 1985 - 2013

• Retired Continuing Education Registrar

  • 1985 - 2013



K-177 Gateway to Manhattan Steering Committee

• Manhattan and Riley County, Kansas

• Citizen Representative

  • 2009 - 2010

  In anticipation of the city extending water and sewer south of the Kansas River Bridge, a city-county land use master plan for K-177 corridor entrance south of town was needed as a guide to future development. In anticipation of the city extending water and sewer south of the Kansas River Bridge, a city-county land use master plan for K-177 corridor entrance south of town was needed as a guide to future development.



VISION 2025 Riley County Land Use Plan

• Riley County, Kansas

• Member

  • 2006 - 2009

  Purpose was to develop a County Plan to preserve agricultural land while allowing rural land owners flexibility. Also developed recommendations for subdivision regulations for new development. Determined that subdivision growth in rural areas of the county should locate near established towns/cities in order to utilize modern utilities. Purpose was to develop a County Plan to preserve agricultural land while allowing rural land owners flexibility. Also developed recommendations for subdivision regulations for new development. Determined that subdivision growth in rural areas of the county should locate near established towns/cities in order to utilize modern utilities.



Joint City/County “Project Impact” Flood Mitigation Steering Committee

• Manhattan and Riley County, Kansas

• Representative Designated by the Manhattan Urban Area Planning Board

  • 1998 - 2002

  Following the Flood of 1993, Riley County was awarded and administered a $500,000 FEMA grant to make Manhattan and Riley County a more disaster-resistant community. As a resident of the Northview community (flooded in 1993), I was particularly interested in the work of this group. The project introduced the concept of building safe rooms in new home construction, purchased and installed tornado sirens, and provided weather radios to schools in Riley County. Following the Flood of 1993, Riley County was awarded and administered a $500,000 FEMA grant to make Manhattan and Riley County a more disaster-resistant community. As a resident of the Northview community (flooded in 1993), I was particularly interested in the work of this group. The project introduced the concept of building safe rooms in new home construction, purchased and installed tornado sirens, and provided weather radios to schools in Riley County.



Flint Hills Job Corps Center, Community Relations Council

• Manhattan, Kansas

• Member and Chair

  • 1996 - 2002

  Coordinated with the Job Corps Center Director to familiarize community leaders with the mission, facility and training programs via a monthly presentation and luncheon. The only Job Corps Center in Kansas is located in Manhattan. This Center is one of only six residential Child Development Centers within a Job Corps Center in the U.S. Coordinated with the Job Corps Center Director to familiarize community leaders with the mission, facility and training programs via a monthly presentation and luncheon. The only Job Corps Center in Kansas is located in Manhattan. This Center is one of only six residential Child Development Centers within a Job Corps Center in the U.S.



Manhattan Board of Zoning Appeals

• Manhattan, Kansas

• Member

  • 1984 - 1995

  Considers applications for variances, exceptions and conditional uses, such as a home business, fence placement, building addition placement. Board functions on a quasi-judicial basis. Considers applications for variances, exceptions and conditional uses, such as a home business, fence placement, building addition placement. Board functions on a quasi-judicial basis.