Press Releases

The City of Topeka’s Public Works and Utilities Departments recently received full accreditation by the American Public Works Association (APWA) for the 5^th time.

Through a five step process, the accreditation formally verifies and recognizes that Topeka’s Public Works and Utilities Departments are in full compliance with the recommended management practices set forth in APWA’s Public Works Management Practices Manual.

“The awarding of the APWA Accreditation reflects the dedication from all the staff toward continuous improvement and excellence. We are extremely proud to receive this honor. The staff of Public Works and Utilities are the reason we have received this prestigious APWA award. They demonstrate daily that their mission is to provide services and programs that contribute to making Topeka a great place to live, work and play,” said Utilities Director Braxton Copley.

The accreditation will last four years, with semi-annual updates required to demonstrate continuing compliance. Topeka’s Public Works and Utilities Departments were first awarded APWA accreditation in 2005.

In addition to Topeka, the accredited agencies in Kansas include Fairway, Lenexa, Olathe, Overland Park, and Shawnee, according to the APWA.

For more information about APWA Accreditation, please contact APWA Sr. Accreditation Manager, Jeanette Klamm at jklamm@apwa.net or 816-595-5295. To learn more about the APWA, visit https://www.apwa.net/.

 

The City of Topeka will be closing all buildings to the public effective immediately, including the Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center, due to the Emergency Public Health Order issued on March 18^th by the Shawnee County Health Department. The City is still open for business but asks that the public conduct such business by telephone or email. Citizens also have the option of submitting issues through the SeeClickFix app. Bid openings will be done electronically and bid results will be posted on the City’s website within one business day. You can find the link to the bid tabulations and supplier portal on the City of Topeka website here: https://www.topeka.org/procurement/.

The City Express Payment Center at the Cyrus K Holliday Building will be closed. Payments may be made online at https://www.topeka.org/payonline/ or by calling the customer service call center at 785-368-3111.  To make a cash payment, customers can bring their utility account payment stub and visit the following U.S. Bank branches:

• Crosby Place, 719 S. Kansas Avenue
• 5^th & Jackson, 434 SW Jackson St.
• Fleming Place, 1017 SW Gage Blvd
• White Lakes, 3600 SW Topeka Blvd.
• 21^st Street, 5730 SW 21^st
• Wanamaker, 1064 SW Wanamaker Rd.
• Pioneer Square, 3625 NW 46^th

Members of the public will only be admitted to City buildings for the limited purpose of delivering items to security personnel. However, the lobby of the Topeka Police Department will remain open to the public for non-emergency reports. Please refer to their social media accounts for the related media release and further information.

Please know that City of Topeka staff is continuing to work for the community and ensure the safety of our staff and citizens. Throughout this public health emergency, water will continue to be treated, potholes will continue to be filled, and the Police and Fire departments will continue to respond to calls.

The City of Topeka encourages our citizens to stay safe during this uncertain time, by practicing social distancing and staying home when possible.

List of City of Topeka phone numbers:

City Manager’s Office: 785-368-3725

Mayor’s Office: 785-368-3895

City Council Office: 785-368-3710

City Clerk’s Office: 785-368-3940 or 785-368-3941   cclerk@topeka.org

Customer Service Call Center: 785-368-3111

City Communications: 785-368-0991

Prosecutor’s Office: 785-368-3910

Police Department non-emergency reporting: 785-368-9551

Municipal Court Clerk’s Office: 785-368-3776

Finance Office: 785-368-3970

Fire Department Administration Office: 785-368-4000

Human Resources: 785-368-3867

Neighborhood Relations: 785-368-3711

Parking: 785-368-3916

Planning and Development: 785-368-3728

Licensing & Inspections: 785-368-3905

Permits: 785-368-3704

Public Works: 785-368-3111

Utilities: 785-368-3111

Zoo and Conservation Center 785-368-9180

The City of Topeka announced Tuesday that it is parting ways with former Chief Financial Officer Freddy Mawyin.

Mawyin had been on administrative leave since December 11, 2023 following his arrest for domestic battery.

As this relates to a personnel matter, the city will not be commenting further.

Rachelle Mathews has been named Acting Finance Director and will serve in the role until further notice.

 

This order is being issued in response to the outbreak of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The City Prosecutor’s Office will remain open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. However, in the interest of both public safety and public health during the COVID-19 public health crisis, the office will limit contact with the public by no longer allowing walk-in visitors into the office located at City Hall. Effective, Tuesday. March 17th, 2020, all business with the Prosecutor’s Office will be handled via telephone at (785) 368-3910 or fax at (785) 368-3104. If you send a fax, please reference your case number and follow up with a phone call to ensure that there were no issues with your transmission. As always, forms are accessible on the Municipal Court’s website located at www.topeka.org/municipalcourt, and no appearance can be excused without approval from a Municipal Court Judge. If you need to pick-up discovery, you can enter the City Hall building and let security know that you are here for that purpose. Security will then contact us and we will bring down the requested information to you. We will continue to assess how to respond to the ongoing changes in the health of the community and our employees. The City of Topeka Prosecutor’s Office will review this order no later than March 27, 2020, for possible extension or termination based upon public health recommendations about the current pandemic.

The City of Topeka is taking steps to identify conference hotel industry experts to help the city determine how to best re-develop Hotel Topeka at City Center. The city won the auction bid to purchase the hotel early June.

The City of Topeka recently released two requests for proposals (RFP) related to the hotel. The first RFP seeks to contract with an asset manager who would oversee the hotel and any future hotel operator, while the second RFP looks to identify a vendor to evaluate the existing hotel facilities and systems.

“Our research tells us that successful hotel properties, particularly ones owned by public entities, even on a temporary basis, contract with hotel experts to assist them with strategic and operational decisions regarding their hotel properties,” said Acting City Manager Richard Nienstedt.

“These are the first steps by the city to help us understand the current status of the hotel, and help us find a company to manage the asset. Purchasing the hotel allowed the city to take the future of the hotel into our own hands, in order to ensure we’ll have a successful hotel and convention center for many years to come,” said Topeka Mayor Michael Padilla.

The city expects to rely on the guidance of the asset manager to identify an appropriate brand for the hotel and to help select a private operator.

The purchase of Hotel Topeka at City Center is not yet final. Because the hotel is in receivership, the purchase has to be approved by the court. The case is scheduled to be heard in Shawnee County District Court in late-July. The sale of the hotel will not be final until it is court approved.

The RFPs can be viewed at the city’s online bid portal. The asset manager RFP closes on July 19, 2023, while the assessment RFP closes on July 7, 2023. To learn how to do business with the City of Topeka, visit https://www.topeka.org/procurement/vendor-guide/.

 

Topeka’s drinking water is currently experiencing an issue with taste and odor. Recent rainfall and releases from reservoirs have caused a river flow and turbidity increase in the Kansas River. Topeka’s water comes from the Kansas River and occasionally the river has unusually high levels of organic matter which can cause taste and odor issues. The water continues to meet all of the drinking water standards established by EPA and KDHE and is safe to drink.

The water is currently being treated by the City of Topeka’s multiple barrier water treatment process. The City of Topeka will continue to monitor levels of taste and odor in the drinking water. Questions can be directed to the City of Topeka call center at 368-3111.

Topeka’s drinking water is currently experiencing an issue with taste, odor and color.

All of Topeka’s water comes from the Kansas River and occasionally the river has unusually high levels of organic matter which can cause taste, odor and color issues. These organic substances are not harmful to health and the tap water remains safe to drink.

The Utilities department has tested for algal toxins which resulted in a non-detect level at multiple sites throughout the distribution system.

The water is currently being treated by the City of Topeka’s multiple barrier water treatment process. The City of Topeka will continue to monitor levels of taste, odor and color in the drinking water and will post an update if there are any changes to the condition of this issue.

In the last five days the Utilities Department has had thirteen complaints on taste, odor and color. Historically these taste, odor and color issues last for several days and then dissipate.

Anyone wanting additional information about this event is encouraged to contact the Utilities Water Systems General Manager Jack Mason 785-368-1966.

Clean Slate Day will take place on Friday, September 21st from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Topeka Municipal Court. Clean Slate Day is an opportunity for a fresh start for people with Topeka Municipal Court offenses. This allows them to begin payment plans for outstanding fines and fees, setting new court dates for outstanding warrants and getting old violations expunged all without the fear of arrest.

The Topeka Community Foundation has provided a $3,500 grant to help those who income qualify to pay their outstanding fees and fines. The funds are available on a first come first serve basis.

“I am glad to have the opportunity to continue offering Clean Slate Day to Municipal Court defendants,” said Municipal Court Judge Lori Dougherty-Bichsel. “This could be their chance to obtain a driver’s license after being suspended for years. This could be their chance to have a case expunged which has kept them from pursuing an employment opportunity in our community. We have the ability to help our community members and I am grateful for all our partners that help make this day possible through donations of time, resources, and money.”

Several other services will also be provided during Clean Slate Day including, free legal advice, employment opportunities, options for drivers’ licenses, housing, financial, education, city services, food resources and other social service needs.
Participants in Clean Slate Day need to bring a driver’s license or government issued photo I.D., information about Topeka Municipal Court offenses, proof of household income and a social security card.

Clean Slate Day will take place on Friday, September 20th from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Topeka Municipal Court. Clean Slate Day is an opportunity for a fresh start for people with Topeka Municipal Court offenses. This allows them to begin payment plans for outstanding fines and fees, setting new court dates for outstanding warrants and getting old violations expunged all without the fear of arrest.
The Topeka Community Foundation has provided a $5,000 grant to help those who income qualify to pay their outstanding fees and fines. The funds are available on a first come first serve basis.
“Clean Slate Day was a success last year and I’m excited to continue the program and see it grow,” said Municipal Court Judge Lori Dougherty-Bichsel. “This is a chance to obtain a driver’s license after being suspended for years. This could be someone’s chance to have a case expunged which has kept them from pursuing an employment opportunity in our community. We have the ability to help our community members and I am grateful for all our partners that help make this day possible through donations of time, resources, and money.”
Several other services will also be provided during Clean Slate Day including, free legal advice, employment opportunities, options for drivers’ licenses, housing, financial, education, city services, food resources and other social service needs.
Participants in Clean Slate Day need to bring a driver’s license or government issued photo I.D., information about Topeka Municipal Court offenses, proof of household income and a social security card.

When staff at the Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center confirmed with ultrasound that Cleo, an eleven year old black and white ruffed lemur, was pregnant, they were excited. The pregnancy was Cleo’s first. Cleo was pregnant with multiple babies. The excitement turned to sadness late Saturday evening as Cleo gave birth to a motionless baby.
As her due date approached, Cleo began spending more and more time in a nest box last Tuesday. A camera was placed near the box and staff began making periodic night time checks. Around 8:00 Saturday evening, Cleo gave birth to the first baby. When the baby appeared to be motionless, staff began to intervene.
Once it was determined that the baby monkey was stillborn, attention was focused on Cleo. Ultrasound confirmed that there was at least one more heartbeat in Cleo’s uterus. A radiograph confirmed three remaining babies inside Cleo.
Cleo was given a medication to help stimulate labor. After 90 minutes had passed with no further delivery progress, the decision was made to do an emergency caesarian section. Two of the remaining three had died in utero. One was born with a heartbeat but never took a breath. Each baby had some sort of abnormality.
Cleo continues to recover from her surgery and is doing well. She is getting extra of her favorite fruits. She will continue to stay at the Zoo’s hospital for another five to seven days so that her incision and medication intake can be monitored.
“It was a very sad night Saturday for the staff that were here taking care of Cleo and for our entire team as the news spread,” said Zoo Director Brendan Wiley. “We were all really looking forward to this birth. I am always amazed at what our staff accomplishes and the efforts they give to the animals that live here. The compassion that they displayed during this event was incredible.”