Press Releases

The City of Topeka is kicking off its “Fix Our Streets” construction projects for the 2020 construction season, which are typically constructed from March through November. These projects are consistent with the City’s Pavement Management Program (PMP) and are essential to restoring and maintaining our streets.

“The City of Topeka’s Pavement Management Program is based on the philosophy of providing the right treatment to the right street at the right time,” said Jason Peek, PhD, Public Works Director. “It is a data-driven, systematic approach to improving and maintaining our roadways.”

The Pavement Management Program uses three components: 1.) Pavement Condition (evaluating the streets and creating a cost-effective treatment strategy), 2.) Four Treatment Strategies – Reconstruction (remove and replace), Rehabilitation (mill and overlay), Preventive Maintenance (crack sealing and micro surfacing), and Stop Gap Measures (pothole patching – keeping streets in serviceable condition); and 3.) Funding – Citywide Half Cent Sales Tax, General Fund, Motor Fuel Fund, and Federal and State aid.

Complete details for all street projects can be found on the City of Topeka’s Project Portal at https://projects.topeka.org/ . For County Road Project information, call 785 251-6101.

Major Street Widening and Reconstruction Projects starting in 2020

• SW 10^th Ave. – Fairlawn Rd. to Wanamaker Rd. Widening – #701015.00 (2020-2021); 2020 Construction: April 20 – November 12. 2021 Construction: March 1, 2021 – November 12, 2021.  Season 1: SW 10th Avenue from just east of Wanamaker to SW Morna Drive. Season 2:  SW 10th Avenue from SW Morna Drive to Fairlawn. This traffic way project will provide grading, pavement reconstruction, curb and gutter, storm sewer structures, and bridge modifications located on SW 10th Street from SW Fairlawn Road to SW Wanamaker Road. This will also include complete street features such as 10 foot multi-use paths, 5 foot sidewalks, and bus stop features. Budget: $6 million. Funding: County Half Cent Sales Tax.
• SW Gage – SW 37^th to SW 45^th St. – #701041.00 (2020). Construction: April 13 – November 20. This project consists of complete removal of concrete pavement, placement of treated subgrade, replacement of curb and gutter, placement of new curb & gutter, new asphaltic concrete pavement, replace inlet tops, replace deteriorated storm sewer, sidewalk ramps and pavement markings on SW Gage Blvd. from 215 feet south of SW 37th St to SW 45th St. Budget: $2.5 million. Funding: GO Bonds
• N Kansas Ave. – N. Curtis St. to N. Norris St. – #841017.91 (2020) Est. Start Date: June. This project includes full depth asphalt pavement reconstruction, sidewalk and ADA ramp replacement, and storm sewer and water line replacement on N Kansas Ave. between Curtis St. and Norris St. The new storm sewer and water line will be bored under the UP Railroad tracks. Construction is anticipated to begin in spring 2020. Budget for the street funding only: $500,000. Funding: City Half Cent Sales Tax
• N Kansas Ave. – N. Morse St. to N. Soldier Creek St. – #841017.85 (2020) Est. Start Date: May. This project consists of complete removal and replacement of street surface, a new water line, and some new sidewalk and storm water drain repair. Budget: $1.5 million. Funding: City Half Cent Sales Tax.
• SE Carnahan Rd. – Under I-70 Bridge, Mill and overlay on Deer Creek – 6^th to 10th – #841071.00 (2020) Start Date: July 6. This project consists of removal and replacement of concrete pavement SE Carnahan. Budget: $1.2 million. Funding: City Half Cent Sales Tax.
• Chesney Park Neighborhood Streets Phase II – #841017.88 (2020). Start Date: April 27 – December 4. This street maintenance project includes concrete pavement replacement/repair, curb & gutter replacement/repair, asphalt pavement patching, milling, and asphalt overlay for the Chesney Park Neighborhood located from SW Clay St to SW Western Ave and from SW 17th St to SW 21st St. Budget: $1.8 million. Funding Source: City Half Cent Sales Tax.

Utility Work during 2020 for the 12^th St. Project

• SW 12^th – SW Gage to S Kansas Ave. Project – #701016 (2021-2023). Private utilities (gas, electric, cable) will begin relocating this spring between S. Kansas and Washburn. All city water, wastewater and storm water work begins at the same time the street work begins for Phase I in 2021. Street work will be: 2021 – S. Kansas to Washburn; 2022 – Washburn to Oakley; 2023 – Oakley to Gage.

 

Ongoing Projects from 2019

• Bikeways Phase III – #861005.02. (2019-2020). 8^th – SW Topeka to College; Washburn and Lane – 6^th to 17^th. Construction restarts March 25. This project includes construction of bike lanes on SW 8th – Topeka Blvd. to College Ave. and on Washburn and Lane from SW 6th to SW 17th. It also includes pavement markings on all of Route 12; Route 19, Sections 6, 7 and 8; and Route 5, Section 23. Budget: $1 million. Funding Source: State Grant. The routes and other information regarding the progress of the master plan can be found at https://topekampo.org/bikeways-master-plan/.
• Quinton Heights-Steele Neighborhood Streets – #601075.04. (2019 – 2020). This project consists of street work on 24th Fillmore to Buchanan Central Park 24th to 26^th, alley work between Central Park/Fillmore, some infill sidewalk, and a pedestrian crossing at Buchanan and 24th. Budget: $1 million. Funding: GO Bonds (SORT Program)

2020 Mill & Overlay Projects, all funded by the City Half Cent Sales Tax

• Brown v. Board and Richie House Neighborhoods – #841056.09. SE 10^th to 17^th, Kansas to Madison.
• Sherwood Park Neighborhood – #841060.06. Addition northwest of SW 29th and SW Indian Hills. Bid opening is set for March 18^th. Start date will be set and announced within 30 days of opening.
• Saline, Watson, 3rd and 4th – #841060.13. North of 6^th between Oakley and Gage.
• Westdale/Bluewood Neighborhood – #841060.05. South of 10^th, west of Fairlawn.
• Westview Addition – #841060.07. west of Gage around SW 25^th.
• 11th St./Munson St. from SW Gage Blvd. to Topeka Ave. – #841060.08. Start date will be set and announced within 30 days of bid opening.

 

2020 Preventive Maintenance (Micro Surfacing)

• Projects will primarily be on neighborhood streets west of Fairlawn with a condition index between 50 and 80 (streets rated in “good”, “fair” and “satisfactory condition”). In 2019, 97 lane miles received crack sealing and a micro surfacing. A lane mile is one 1-mile long stretch of pavement 12 feet wide. The completed area is 682,458 square yards, which is about 106 football fields, including the end zones. The plan is to cover 92 lane miles in 2020.

 

Safety First

Do your part to keep work zones safe for drivers and workers!

Be alert and watch for workers.                                                                Be prepared to stop when necessary.

Follow all traffic control.                                                                Don’t take shortcuts through private property.

Give yourself extra time to get to your destination.         Don’t tailgate.

 

And remember, work zones are double fine areas!

The City of Topeka will be conducting its 2021 Citizen Survey from August 15^th through September 30^th. The survey will be administered digitally through the nationally recognized ETC Institute via phone, mail and the Internet.

ETC will mail the survey and a City-approved project description letter to a random sample of households. Residents will be provided two convenient opportunities to respond: an online link that will be included in the letter and a postage-paid return envelope.

Seven to 10 days after the surveys are mailed, ETC will follow-up with households that received the survey via e-mail and/or phone; the firm’s goal is to achieve a minimum of 400 completed surveys.  A sample of 400 will provide the City results that have a margin of error of +/-4.9 percent at the 95 percent level of confidence. ETC consultants will monitor the distribution of the sample to ensure that it reasonably reflects the demographic composition of the City with regard to age, geographic dispersion, gender, race/ethnicity and other factors.

The survey will compile resident feedback on a wide variety of City programs and services and gather respondent information.

“The City of Topeka Satisfaction Survey is a great tool to help staff identify what we are doing well, along with identifying opportunity for improvement and helping the city to identify budget priorities,” said City Manager Brent Trout. “Citizen engagement is incredibly important and has previously helped the city to strategically invest in our city and improve our quality of life.”

Survey findings will be presented to the Governing Body in November and posted on the City of Topeka website.

Established in 1982, ETC Institute is a Kansas-based company that has administered surveys in more than 700 cities and counties nationwide throughout the previous five years. The firm is a national leader in market research for local governmental organizations and, since its founding, has completed research projects for clients in 49 states, including surveys, focus groups and stakeholder meetings.

The point-in-time count of homeless persons in Topeka took place on January 26^th, 2021. This one day event produces a snapshot of the individuals in our community experiencing homelessness as defined by Housing and Urban Development. This data is used to support federal funding for the Continuum of Care Initiative. In 2020 the Topeka shelters saw 254 people experiencing homelessness. In 2021 that number decreased to 155 due to COVID restrictions at the shelters. 9% of the homeless population in Topeka was under 18, for a total of 28 persons under 18. Overall the numbers of homelessness in Topeka decreased from last year, however the number of homeless people living on the streets increased from 65 people in 2020 to 105 people this year

“The point-in-time count helps us to identify those people in need and to attain the resources that we need to help them,” said Corrie Wright, Division Director of Housing Services for the City of Topeka. “We want to thank all the volunteers who helped us with the count and who are helping to make our community better.”

The information gathered during the point-in-time count helps the City of Topeka understand the face of homelessness in the community so that services are meeting the needs of homeless persons. This count also helps to raise public awareness surrounding issues with homelessness and measures the community progress towards preventing and ending homelessness.

The City of Topeka’s Housing Services Division has totaled the numbers from this year’s point-in-time count. This one day event produced a snapshot of individuals in our community experiencing homelessness.

• 298 People experiencing homelessness.
• 123 Households experiencing homelessness.
• 16 individuals are veterans.
• 52% of people were in an emergency shelter, 13% were in transitional housing and 35% were unsheltered.

 

Thirty-five individuals helped with the point-in-time homeless count. Below is a chart that details and compares the numbers from 2020 and 2021.

 

2020                                                  2021

 

People	401	298
Households	306	123
% of veteran households	10	16
% in an emergency shelter	63	52
% in transitional housing	13	13
% unsheltered	24	35

 

 

 

The City of Topeka Finance Department has posted the 2021 Preliminary Budget on the City of Topeka website. The city-wide 2021 budget is $312.6 million and the seventh consecutive budget proposal that has not included an increase to the property tax mill rate. The ability to continue to provide the current service levels while not increasing the City’s largest revenue source becomes increasingly challenging. City-wide, the budget proposes to eliminate 32.5 full-time equivalent positions when compared to the 2020 Adopted Budget along with other non-personnel related expense reductions. The 2021 Preliminary Budget continues to support the budget priorities that were established by the Governing Body – investing in infrastructure, continuing commitment to public safety, continuing a commitment to developing neighborhoods, selected strategic investment toward quality of life and improving fiscal sustainability.

The General Fund budget is $96.2 million, a 0.3% decrease. The City began the 2021 budget process with an estimated operating deficit of more than $5 million in the General Fund. To close this gap, both personnel and non-personnel related reductions have been proposed. The 2021 Preliminary Budget can be viewed on the City of Topeka website, with the City Manager’s transmittal letter beginning on page 7: https://www.topeka.org/finance/budget/

Budget Highlights:

• Personnel related expenses represent the largest portion of the General Fund at $76.5 million, or approximately 79% of total expenditures. Personnel costs, including wages and benefits, increased $360,000, or 0.5%, over the 2020 Adopted Budget. Such personnel costs include finalized union contracts along with assumptions regarding negotiations in progress, as well as a 1% wage increase for non-union staff.
• Property and sales tax collectively make up 61% of the General Fund’s revenue, 30% and 31% respectively.
• Property tax is budgeted to increase over the 2020 Adopted Budget by $1.1 million, as the City has experienced strong assessed valuation growth ($33.76 million or 3%) compared to the prior year. The strong assessed valuation growth allows the City to capture additional revenue as more taxable value has been added to the tax rolls while keeping the mill levy rate the same.
• Sales tax projections reflect a 3% decline over the 2020 Adopted Budget as the long-term economic impact from the current public health emergency (COVID-19) is still being evaluated.
• A reduction in interest income of $536,000 has also been projected in the General Fund, reducing the budget to $268,000 as interest rates are expected to remain below historic averages.
• General Fund departments were asked to identify budget reduction options totaling at least $5 million while also providing feedback on any potential service reductions. Various reduction scenarios were presented to the City Manager for his review. The reductions that have been included in the budget were difficult decisions made after thoughtful consideration. These reductions are likely to place additional strain on staff as responsibilities are shifted and prioritized.

The City of Topeka is kicking off its “Fix Our Streets” construction projects for the 2021 construction season, which are typically constructed from March through November. These projects are consistent with the City’s Pavement Management Program (PMP) and are essential to restoring and maintaining our streets.

“This year will be a good construction season with many projects planned. We definitely appreciated the patience and understanding of the residents and the traveling public while we strive to improve the roadways in Topeka,” said Mark Schreiner, Interim City Engineer. “Our contractors have shown strong resolve and perseverance in 2020, some finishing jobs ahead of schedule and we fully expect another successful construction season in 2021.”

The Pavement Management Program consists of three components:

1.) Pavement Condition (evaluating the streets and creating a cost-effective treatment strategy)

2.) Four Treatment Strategies

• Reconstruction (remove and replace),
• Rehabilitation (mill and overlay),
• Preventive Maintenance (crack sealing and micro surfacing), and
• Stop Gap Measures (pothole patching, which is keeping streets in serviceable condition)

3.) Funding Sources – Citywide Half Cent Sales Tax, Countywide Half Cent Sales Tax, General Obligation Bonds, Motor Fuel Trust Fund, and other Federal and State aid.

Complete details for all street projects can be found on the City of Topeka’s Project Portal at https://projects.topeka.org/ . For County Road Project information, call 785 251-6101.

 

2021 Pavement Management Rehabilitation & Reconstruction Program

 

• SW 10^th – SW Fairlawn Rd. to west of SW Woodbridge Dr. SW Wanamaker Rd. Widening – Phase II (2^nd year of a two-year project) – #701015.00 March 1, 2021 – November 19, 2021. This trafficway project includes grading, pavement reconstruction, curb and gutter, and storm sewer structures. It also includes Complete Street features such as a 10-foot multi-use path on the north side, 5 foot sidewalks on the south, and bus stops. Combined 2020-2021 Budget: $6 million. Funding: City Half Cent Sales Tax and GO Bonds. Contractor: Bettis Asphalt.
• N Kansas Ave. – N. Curtis St. to N. Norris St. – #841017.91. 2021 Construction: Carried over from 2020. This project experienced scheduling delays due to Union Pacific Railroad right of way access requirements. It includes full depth asphalt pavement reconstruction, sidewalk and ADA ramp replacement, and storm sewer and water line replacement on N Kansas Ave. between Curtis St. and Norris St. The contractor placed the water and sewer line under the UP Railroad tracks in January 2021 after boring under them. Construction is anticipated to be completed this spring or early summer. Budget: $500,000 (street only). Funding: City Half Cent Sales Tax. Contractor: Amino Brothers Company, Inc.
• 12th St. – SW Gage Blvd. to S. Kansas Ave. – #701016.00; Construction: March 1 – November 23, 2021; Jan. 2 – Nov. 23, 2022. Season 1: S. Kansas to SW Washburn; Season 2: Washburn to SW Gage. The new roadway will include one traffic lane, one auxiliary lane for on-street parking, deliveries and bus pullouts, and a combination of shared use paths, on-street bike facilities, and a 5′ sidewalk. This project also includes improvements to the Water and Storm conveyance systems. Budget: $13.2 million. Funding Source: Countywide Sales Tax and Federal Fund Exchange dollars. Contractor: Bettis Asphalt, Inc.
• SW 8th Avenue Sidewalk Improvement Project – #241058.01. Construction: March 15, 2021 – April 30, 2021 (Contractual dates)

This project is part of the 2020 Infill Sidewalk / Pedestrian Master Plan.  The location of the select sidewalk replacements is SW 8th Street from Summit Avenue to Topeka Boulevard.  This project was on hold in 2020 until the SW 8th Street bikeways project was completed. Budget: $119,000. Funding: GO Bonds. Contractor: Sunflower Paving.

• N Kansas Ave. – N. Morse St. to N. Soldier Creek St. – #841017.85. Construction: March 22-Dec. 2. This project consists of complete removal and replacement of the street surface, a new water line, and some new sidewalk and storm water drain repairs. Two-way traffic will be maintained during the project except for about a month when the south leg of the N. Kansas and Morse intersection will be closed. Budget: $1.5 million (street only). Funding: City Half Cent Sales Tax. Construction Contractor: R.D. Johnson Excavating.
• SW Topeka Blvd. – 45^th to 49th Street Repair Project – #841077.00. Construction: April 5, 2021 – June 11, 2021. This street repair project for SW Topeka Blvd. from SW 45th St. to SW 49th St. includes the mill and overlay of the existing asphalt pavement, with limited full depth patching, pavement marking, and limited regrading of gravel shoulders. Budget: $483,000. Funding: City Half Cent Sales Tax. Construction Contractor: Sunflower Paving.

 

 

• Central Park Neighborhood SORT Project – #601106.01. Start Date: April 5 – October 29.

This project will reconstruct 37,826 square feet of sidewalk, repave 5 alleys, and select sanitary sewer sections. The work will be done in the area bordered by SW Polk/Central Park Ave./Huntoon St./16^th St. and SW Polk/SW Buchanan St./SW 16^th/SW 17^th St. Budget: $1.5 million. Funding Source: GO Bonds. Construction Contractor: Sunflower Paving.

• Deer Creek Trafficway – I-70 to SE 6^th Street – #841072.00. Construction: April 12 – July 16 This is a mill and overlay project with some full depth patching. Budget: $600,000. Funding: City Half Cent Sales Tax. Contractor: Bettis Asphalt.
• SE California – 6^th to 10^th (one block long) – #841060.09. Construction: April 12 – August 27 (Contractual dates). This project is a Storm Water Utility-driven project. The streets will be repaired following utility work. Budget: $280,000 (street only). Funding: City Half Cent Sales Tax. Contractor: Farmers Excavating.
• NW Furman Road – Lower Silver Lake Road (¼ mile from intersection) – #841060.04. Estimated Start Date: mid-June. This project includes removal and replacement of the existing asphalt roadway, an increase in the roadway elevation near the Lower Silver Lake Road intersection, and enlarging the ditch on the east side of the roadway. Budget: $380,000. Funding: City Half Cent Sales Tax.

 

City Half Cent Sales Tax – Mill & Overlay Projects

• SE 37th – Indiana to California #841060.20

Construction: Starts April 19

This project is a mill & overlay of the street and new curb and gutter on the south side. Estimated cost: $200,000. Construction Contractor: Hamm, Inc.

• SW 30th/SW Hillcrest/SW Twilight Dr./SW Eveningside Drive

This project includes removal of asphalt curbs and replacement with concrete ones, and a mill & overlay of the street. Estimated cost: $500,000

 

Various City Half Cent Sales Tax Funded Programs

2021 Curb and Gutter Replacement Program. Budget: $1,250,000

The curb and gutter replacement program pays for replacements associated with mill & overlay projects.

 

2021 Alley Program. Budget: $500,000

These three alley repairs in the NOTO district are scheduled for repairs in late summer/early fall:

• Between Quincy/Kansas from St. Johns to Paramore
• Between Kansas/Jackson from Norris to Laurent
• Between Kansas/Jackson from Laurent to Gordon

 

2021 ADA Sidewalk Ramp Program. Budget: $300,000

This program constructs accessible public sidewalk ramps at street intersections. Each year, funds are spent in a general area. This approach provides the greatest impact for improving overall accessibility. Work this year will be in the following areas:

• North Topeka West Neighborhood – (neighborhood west of NW Topeka Blvd. from the river to 24 Highway)
• Downtown/Monroe
• Topeka Blvd Corridor.

Specific, final locations are still to be determined.

 

Intersection pavement reconstruction projects

These two intersections will be completed in late summer/early fall:

• SW 6th and Jackson – Budget: $ 250,000
• SW 29th and Kansas Ave – Budget: $ 250,000 -$ 300,000

 

Sidewalk Repair Program. Budget: $100,000

• Sidewalk panel replacements associated with the 50/50 Sidewalk Program. This financial assistance program is mostly property-owner driven and funds are spent on a first-come, first-served basis.

 

City Half Cent Sales Tax Projects Less Than $250,000

• SE 6th – Norwood to Rice Road (multiple years). Panel and joint replacement; late summer/early fall.
• SW 29th – MacVicar to Burlingame. Failed partial-depth concrete patch replacement; late summer/early fall. MacVicar to Fairlawn is planned in 2022.
• Panel and Joint Replacement (concrete) Program – Various locations across Topeka.
• Asphalt Patching Program – Various locations across Topeka.

 

2021 Surface Preservation Program – Budget $2,000,000

• Crack seal and/or joint seal ‘arterials’ constructed in last 10 years+/- across Topeka
• Crack seal/micro-surface residential/collectors roadways.
  • Finish neighborhood streets in west Topeka that were not accomplished in 2020.

The City of Topeka Finance Department has posted the 2022 Proposed Budget on the City of Topeka website. The 2022 budget city-wide expense is $339 million. It is the ninth consecutive budget proposal that has not included an increase to the property tax mill rate. The ability to continue to provide the current service levels while not increasing the City’s largest revenue source becomes increasingly challenging. The 2022 Preliminary Budget supports the budget priorities established by the Governing Body: Investing in infrastructure, continuing commitment to public safety, continuing a commitment to developing neighborhoods, selected strategic investment toward quality of life, and improving fiscal sustainability.

The General Fund budget is $98.1 million, a 2% increase. The 2022 Preliminary Budget is available on the City of Topeka website, with the City Manager’s transmittal letter beginning on page 3: https://www.topeka.org/finance/budget/.

New this year is an interactive budget presentation which will debut to coincide with the Governing Body’s budget work session on Saturday, July 10 at 9 am. The site will be available at https://TopekaKS.opengov.com

Expenses exceed the revenue in the Stormwater Fund due to work delayed in 2020 because of the COVID-19 public health emergency. The expected $1.2 million revenue shortage is covered through the use of reserves.

The preparation for the proposed budget was made more challenging due to the quick interpretation and implementation of Kansas Senate Bill 13 and House Resolution 2104. These bills now require the Governing Body (GB) to provide an affirmative vote to exceed the Revenue Neutral Rate (RNR) amount from the prior year, regardless of tax base activity. Therefore, the GB must now vote to allow the City’s budgeted property tax revenue to capture tax base growth. In addition, the COVID19 public health emergency has made relying on historical comparisons less helpful.

Budget Highlights:

• The General Fund (GF) revenues included in the FY22 Proposed Budget assumes that the GB will vote on July 13 to hold a public hearing in September to consider surpassing the RNR. If the GB decides not to conduct a public hearing, the budget must be adopted and submitted to the County by August 20.
• Personnel-related expenses represent the largest portion of the General Fund at $76.8 million, or approximately 78% of total expenditures. Personnel costs, including wages and benefits, increased $454,000, or 0.6%, over the 2021 Adopted Budget. Personnel costs include finalized union contracts and assumptions regarding negotiations in progress and a 1% wage increase for non-union staff.
• Property and sales tax collectively make up 64% of the General Fund’s revenue, 30% and 34%, respectively.
• The total proposed revenue reflects 2% growth over the FY21 Adopted Budget. Property tax growth is due to the growth in the City’s tax base. Sales tax is budgeted to be 10% higher than the FY21 Adopted Budget and 5.3% higher than FY20 Actuals. The FY21 Adopted Budget was developed during the unprecedented period following the public health emergency declaration when significant uncertainties loomed over national and local economies. However, the local economy proved to be far more resilient than initially anticipated. As a result, the current FY21 sales tax projection reflects a higher year-over-year growth. The FY21 Proposed Budget assumes that FY21 will reflect a 3% drop compared to FY20 and that FY22 will grow 2.9% from the revised FY21 expectations. The largest growth area is expected to occur in the compensating use tax category due to more online transactions and more active collection of this revenue by the State.

The City of Topeka Utilities Department is currently in the process installing an Advanced Meter Infrastructure (AMI) system. This system provides the Utilities Department with the ability to read all 57,000 water meters in Topeka by radio, using 31 radio receiving locations. The AMI system will also provide the Utilities Department with more frequent and reliable information to better serve our Utility customers.
When selecting locations for the 31 radio receiving locations, many existing buildings and structures were considered. 27 locations have been selected and approved including several City of Topeka facilities, local schools and community centers. These locations allow for 80% of the meters to be read. The gaps in our coverage were due to not having existing buildings or structures to utilize. To resolve this issue 4 locations have been selected to house a 60 foot tall steel pole. The pole will have an electronics cabinet and electrical service. The 4 locations are 515 SW Horne Street, 4813 SW 17th St, 2350 SW Pepperwood and 1650 NW Fredith Lane. These will be installed in the public right of way along the street. Each location was reviewed in order to minimize the impact on the neighboring homes and businesses. There should not be any direct negative impact to the areas surrounding the 4 locations. However this new system will provide more beneficial data such as more accurate readings, leak detection and high water usage. The installation will start in June with the poles being fully functional in July.
If you have any questions regarding this project please call:
Ryan Woolaway
City of Topeka
785-409-8636

Staff at the Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center are heartbroken to report the loss of a female African painted dog named Annie. Annie came to the Topeka Zoo from the Bronx Zoo last week the day before Thanksgiving to be a mate for one of the Topeka Zoo’s male African painted dogs.

African painted dogs are a critically endangered species found in sub-Saharan Africa. Unlike hyenas that continue to do well, painted dogs have been challenged as human populations continue to grow in their range territories and have splintered populations of painted dogs into isolated areas.

The introduction and integration of Annie into the zoo’s pack of dogs began upon her arrival at the zoo last week. For successful integration of a new dog into a pack, it typically needs to be done within three to five days. “All appeared to be going well,” said Zoo Director Brendan Wiley. “We saw positive signs as they got to know each other through a visual and auditory introduction process.”

African painted dogs have an extremely complex social system unlike any other canid. “That is one of the reasons they are facing such a hard time in the wild,” said Wiley. As wild packs become more and more isolated, genetics become more and more related and because of their social system, it’s not just as simple as introducing new dogs into the wild groups.
That same challenge with the complex social system makes it difficult to build new groups in zoos with animals under human care. “You know the dynamics you are dealing with. You take every precaution. Yet it’s impossible to fully predict how the introduction will play out,” said Wiley.

After an introduction plan was developed in conjunction with the African Painted Dog Species Survival Plan, zoo staff began the introduction process in the painted dog outdoor habitat Saturday afternoon. Annie was first introduced to the alpha male. Things went very well. When things continued smoothly after the next subordinate male was added to the mix, it was time to include the last male. “That is when things went wrong for Annie,” said Wiley. “She was attacked by the beta male and sustained life threatening injuries.”

The introduction occurred under the watchful eye of zoo staff the entire time. In just two minutes, the fight was broken up and the males were separated inside. With the males secure, staff rushed in to save Annie. She immediately underwent surgery to repair the injuries. She was given a very guarded post-op prognosis and was monitored throughout the night. She succumbed to her injuries at about 10:00 Sunday morning.
“We aren’t sure why the attack to occurred,” said Wiley. “Over the next several weeks we will work with the Species Survival Plan to determine what the next step is for the group of male painted dogs that live here.”

   

Case #18-82281

On August 19, 2018 officers were dispatched to Cricket Wireless, located at 1104 SW 6th Ave., in regards to a robbery. An employee reported a black male armed with a handgun entered the store and stole an undisclosed amount of currency. The suspect was described to be around 5’05” tall, 150 lbs, with orange colored hair, wearing a dark colored Gap hooded sweatshirt, dark colored cargo pants, gray shoes with white soles, a black stocking cap, and a surgical mask on his face. The suspect is believed to have left in a silver passenger car. No one was injured during this incident.

If you recognize this suspect, or this vehicle, please contact Detective Strathman at jstrathman@topeka.org.

You can also call Crime Stoppers at (785) 234-0007 to report anonymously. If your tip leads to an arrest, you could be eligible for a cash reward.

 

Amanda Stanley has been hired as the City Attorney for the City of Topeka. Stanley was previously general counsel for the League of Kansas Municipalities. Stanley will start as the City Attorney on August 23^rd.

“I am excited to announce that Amanda Stanley has accepted the position of City Attorney. She has a tremendous amount of experience working with municipalities and will be a great asset to the city,” said City Manager Brent Trout.

Stanley has worked as a licensed attorney for seven years including for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Wichita and for the Kansas Court of Appeals. Stanley was named State League Counsel of the Year for the International Municipal Lawyers Association (IMLA) in 2020 and also received the Kansas Bar Association 2020 Outstanding Service Award. Stanley graduated from Newman University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology in 2008 and graduated from the University of Kansas School of Law in 2014.

“Topeka has been my home for more than a decade. I have a passion for local government and I am excited for the opportunity to serve my local community as City Attorney,” said Stanley.