Junction City Commissioner Mike Ryan has informed his fellow commissioners site preparation dirt work for the NBAF project in Manhattan is scheduled to begin May 27.

Ryan attended the recent Flint Hills Regional Council meeting where he learned it will take approximately 4-5 years to build the facility, and then probably two more years to earn accreditation.

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On a separate subject Ryan touched on Fort Riley as the post relates to the budget sequestration process in which the U.S. Army is being required to downsize from 490,000 to 450,000 troops. He  noted the Deputy Garrison Commander at Fort Riley provided a positive report to the Council on the condition of Fort Riley. “The people who have been coming in to restudy the issues on Fort Riley, and it sounds like they’ve been getting enough reevaluations that they’re feeling pretty positive about the potential outcome.

Fort Riley officials are expected to learn what impact there might be on the post on this issue in the late June to early July time frame.