Commission asks staff to draft membership changes for rural development advisory board

RILEY COUNTY — Riley County commissioners on March 2 discussed proposed changes to the Rural Economic Development Advisory Board to address two citizen-member vacancies and broaden the applicant pool while retaining county-focused representation.

Planning Director Amanda Webb told the commission the board was created in late 2021 and includes nine members, six of whom are citizen members subject to residency and three-year term requirements. Webb said two citizen seats are currently vacant and that a suggested candidate, Jeff Wicks, was ineligible because he did not meet the county residency rule.

Webb proposed considering one of two changes: allow a regional residency (an adjacent-county member with relevant economic ties) or permit one member from the City of Manhattan. Commissioners discussed limiting city or regional representation so the board remains rural-focused and suggested drafting a preference-based resolution that would prioritize county residents but allow limited flexibility.

"We could allow for one member from Manhattan and one regional member, but keep preference for county residents," one commissioner said during the discussion. Commissioners said preference language, not an unrestricted waiver, would help fill vacancies without changing the board's rural mission.

The commission asked staff to draft language reflecting those preferences and return the proposal for a future meeting; no ordinance or formal rule change was adopted at the session.