The City of Topeka announced today it’s successful bid for funding as part of the city’s participation in the City Inclusive Entrepreneurship (CIE) program, through the National League of Cities (NLC). The City of Topeka recently joined the CIE program, making commitments to anchor procurement as well as Hispanic and Latino businesses.

The city was awarded $30,000 from the NLC, with $15,000 to go towards each commitment. The first commitment is to encourage minority business owners to explore opportunities to contract with anchors, or large institutions like the city, state agencies, hospitals, and universities. The second is to encourage members of the Hispanic and Latin American community to explore entrepreneurship opportunities in Topeka.

The goal of the CIE program is to encourage cities to create the right policies, programs and practices that drive inclusive, entrepreneurship-led economic growth in their respective communities. By making these two public commitments, the City of Topeka is creating a shared vision for local stakeholders to rally around, positioning itself as an active leader in the innovation economy in Topeka, and highlighting the opportunity for partners to connect with us to help everyone reach a shared goal.

The CIE program is a network of over 250 municipalities across the country, which gives city staff access to hands-on assistance from NLC and program experts, peer learning opportunities, recognition of our work and financial support to implement new programs.

As part of the commitment to encourage anchor procurement amongst minority business owners, the city is planning to partner with community organizations which offer educational resources to small and diverse business owners and entrepreneurs about how to do business with the city. In order to encourage more Hispanic community members to explore entrepreneurship opportunities, the city will work towards reducing barriers and promoting opportunities to create a more vibrant and diverse business community in Topeka.

To learn more about the CIE program, visit www.nlc.org/initiative/city-inclusive-entrepreneurship/.

In recognition of Arbor Day, staff from the City of Topeka’s Forestry Division, will plant a tree at the statehouse grounds on Friday, April 26, 2024.

Arbor Day is an annual holiday dedicated to the planting, care, and preservation of trees, observed on the last Friday of April each year.

On Friday at around 10 a.m., city staff will plant a Black Cherry tree in the northeast corner of the Kansas State Capitol Building grounds.

“We’re proud to continue the tradition of Arbor Day by planting a tree on the capitol grounds and a proclamation signing,” said Travis Tenbrink, Forester at the City of Topeka. “Our hope is that by celebrating Arbor Day, we’ll inspire others to join us in planting trees for the benefit of our community.”

Following the tree planting, Governor Laura Kelly will sign a proclamation designating Friday, April 26 as Kansas Arbor Day. The Governor will be joined by city staff, members of the Kansas Arborist Association board, representatives from the Kansas Forest Service, and the winner of the Kansas Arbor Day Poster Contest.

In addition to Arbor Day festivities, the City of Topeka is celebrating its 38th year as a proud member of Tree City USA. This membership underscores the city’s dedication to urban forestry, and recognizes the significant role trees play in enhancing our community.

The City of Topeka is joining national efforts to better protect communities from exposure to lead in drinking water.

The City of Topeka’s Utilities Department will be conducting surveys to complete an inventory identifying the type of materials that make up all water service lines, including public and private lines. The city expects to roll out surveys in February of 2024.

Compiling data into a comprehensive service line inventory is a requirement created for all U.S. water utilities as part of the Lead and Copper Rule Revision (LCRR) and Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Utilities Director Sylvia Davis will present more information to the Governing Body at the February 6, 2024 Topeka City Council Meeting. Listen in person or watch live on Cox Local Channel 4, Facebook or the City4 Livestream. Community members are encouraged to tune in to learn more about the city’s survey plans.

About the LCRI

The EPA first established the Lead and Copper Rule in 1991 to reduce exposure to lead and copper in water. These contaminants primarily enter drinking water through corrosion of service lines, fixtures, or plumbing. EPA published Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) on January 15, 2021 and proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) in 2023 to strengthen key elements of the LCRR.

The proposed rule includes many new requirements for all water utilities, including expanding consumer awareness of lead, developing service line inventories, communicating about public health, and testing at schools and child-care facilities.

Under the proposed LCRI, water utilities must identify and make public whether they have lead service lines or not by October 16, 2024.

Water safety

The city publishes its Water Quality Report each year, which includes details about where our water comes from, what it contains and how it compares to EPA and state standards. While the city’s water mains do not contain lead, some connecting parts might. There are known lead service lines on both the city side and the private side. The City of Topeka’s water treatment system complies with the EPA’s drinking water regulations and the Safe Water Drinking Act.

As part of the LCRI proposals, the city may have to replace lead service lines over the course of the next several years. But before that could happen, the city must identify those lines.

Next steps

The next step in this process is to notify homeowners whose service line material is unknown. The City of Topeka plans to mail surveys in February to those homeowners along with instructions on how to determine their type of service line and how to report that information to the city.

In addition to the mailed survey, the city will be in contact with schools and child care providers to assist in identifying their service lines and to conduct water testing.

The information will be compiled, provided to the EPA and made publicly available. The EPA has not yet indicated when this must occur.

Resources

The City of Topeka will continue to update topeka.org/utilities with information regarding these efforts. Learn more about lead in drinking water and how to limit your exposure at, https://www.epa.gov/…/basic-information-about-lead… and in this short video, https://youtu.be/PqFHrae92OM?si=txpIH9q8MT4c63s3.

The City of Topeka is pleased to announce that Deputy Police Chief Jamey Haltom has been appointed as Interim Police Chief, effective June 25, following the retirement of Chief Bryan Wheeles.

Interim Chief Haltom brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having been with the Topeka Police Department (TPD) since June 1999. He has served as Deputy Chief since November of 2021, showcasing his dedication to the department and the community.

Throughout his extensive career in law enforcement, Interim Chief Haltom has held various leadership positions including roles as a corporal and sergeant in the field operations bureau and the support operations bureau. As a commander, he was promoted to lieutenant where he led teams in the support operations bureau. He was then promoted to captain where he made strategic decisions in the field operations bureau (patrol) and in the criminal investigations bureau, prior to assuming the position of deputy chief.

Haltom holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Washburn University and is a Certified Public Manager. He has also completed executive leadership training programs through the Northwestern Center for Public Safety School of Police Staff and Command as well as the Law Enforcement Leadership Academy Command School. He is rooted in the community, having previously served on the Boys & Girls Club Board of Directors. Haltom is from Pratt, Kansas, and he resides in Topeka with his wife and their three children.

“I am deeply honored to step into the role of Interim Police Chief for the Topeka Police Department,” said Haltom. “Over the past 25 years with this department, I have seen firsthand the dedication and hard work of our officers in keeping our community safe, and I look forward to leading the department as we search for a new police chief.”

“I am confident that Interim Chief Haltom will provide strong and steady leadership for TPD during this transition period,” said Interim City Manager Richard Nienstedt. “His experience and deep commitment to serving others makes him well-suited to guide the department as the city searches for a permanent police chief.”

Haltom will serve as Interim Chief until the governing body selects a permanent police chief.

The Topeka City Council will convene a Special Meeting on Friday, April 12, to conduct follow-up interviews and discuss two final candidates for Topeka’s next city manager.

On April 8, 2024, the City Council held a series of interviews with five finalists for the city manager position. That included an interview by a Community Panel selected by Mayor Padilla, which included Laura Burton, Susan Duffy, Kerry Pancoast, Daniellé Twemlow, and Keith Warta.

Subsequently, candidates participated in a public Meet and Greet event at Hotel Topeka, where citizens had an opportunity to interact with each candidate and provide feedback to the Council.

On Tuesday, April 9, after the City Council meeting, Councilmembers held an Executive Session to discuss the five finalists and their interviews the prior day. Following the Executive Session, Mayor Padilla called for a Special Meeting to take place on Friday, April 12, to further discuss and consider the two finalists for the city manager position.

Stay tuned for additional updates expected next week.