(MANHATTAN, KS – January 5, 2025) — City-operated buildings are closed Monday, January 6 due to winter weather and snow blizzard conditions.

This includes City Hall, Municipal Court, Flint Hills Discovery Center, Sunset Zoo, all three recreation centers, and the Ice Rink. A Blizzard Warning remains in effect until 9 p.m. today.

Heavy snow and potentially strong winds are expected today, with total snow accumulations of 10 to 14 inches possible. Winds gusting to as high as 35 mph will cause blizzard conditions and drifting snow.

Travel is expected to remain very difficult. Blowing snow will significantly reduce visibility. Snow drifts might make roads impassable. These hazardous conditions are expected to impact travel on Monday, as well.

Municipal Court will be closed Monday and any cases will be rescheduled to a future date. Payments may be made by deposit in the payment box outside the Courthouse or online.

For details about flight information out of Manhattan Regional Airport (MHK), please check the American Airlines website.

Essential operations staff, including street and utility crews, park and forestry crews, and the Manhattan Fire Department, remain available to respond for snow removal efforts and emergencies.

Online Utility Payments

City services will still be available online and by telephone. Please visit cityofmhk.com to find contact information. In order to make utility bill payments during City Hall closures, dial (785) 587-2480 and choose option #1 to use the automated system.

Customers also can dial this system directly by calling (833) 277-8694, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Payments also can be made online at any time through the City’s online payment system, Paymentus. Customers may contact Paymentus Customer Care at customercare@paymentus.com or by calling (800) 420-1663 for help during this closure or outside of business hours.

Winter Weather Response

The Public Works Department started its 24-hour snow operation schedule this weekend. Crews will work 24 hours, 12-hour shifts each, for the duration of this winter storm. They began de-icing operations as soon as moisture began to cover the road surfaces. The City began pretreating roads on Thursday, Jan. 2.

Crews will continue to monitor streets and perform snow removal operations as long as there is precipitation falling and until all roads are safe and passable.

The City will be treating and plowing major roadways first; residential clearing will not occur until all major arterials and collectors have been cleared first.

Blizzard conditions and low visibility are expected today. Please reduce speed and use extra caution if needing to travel today or Monday. If you can stay off the roads, please do so to help out our snow plow crews. Be safe, everyone!