Press Releases

Beginning on Monday, April 29, 21st Street will be fully closed to vehicular traffic and open to pedestrians and bike on the north sidewalk. There will be a signed detour using 17th Street. I-470 off and on ramps will be fully closed on the east side of the bridge, the west side ramps will both be open. Although through traffic will be prohibited, local access to the businesses between Belle Avenue and I-470 will be maintained. This section of roadway carries about 27,000 vehicles a day.

The complete “emergency” closure is being done for several reasons:
• The concrete pavement was already showing signs of significant deterioration at the joints, and the situation was made noticeably worse by the harsh winter.
• KDOT will be starting their project to overlay I-470 northbound on or before June 15. The City’s project must be completed prior to the beginning of that overlay work or wait until it is finished. It is our opinion that 21st Street cannot be adequately and safely maintained until after the I-470 work, so we have to act immediately.
• Worker and driver safety. This is a high traffic location. In order to protect construction workers and drivers, full closure is a safer alternative than a complicated, ever changing maze of signs, cones and barricades.
• The full closure will allow the work to be finished in a much shorter time period. The Contractor is required to be finished on or before June 1st or they will face financial penalties.
• A full closure costs significantly less. The cost of maintaining through traffic while constructing roads is expensive.
• There are several construction projects already underway on the west side of Topeka. But there are more projects scheduled to start later in the summer. It is important that the 21st work be completed before these other projects begin to help with the inevitable inconvenience of multiple projects.

Sunflower Paving is the contractor for this project. The project will be completed by June 1^st.

Beginning Monday, December 5, Topeka’s Municipal Court will be implementing a face mask requirement for all employees and visitors of the court.

The policy is being implemented to ensure the court can remain open, and serve its function of carrying out the administration of justice.

Influenza, RSV, and other viruses are currently being monitored by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Earlier this month, Stormont Vail Health reported community transmission of COVID-19 was steadily increasing, and considered to be at the “high” level.

Mask-wearing is currently optional for all other City of Topeka buildings. The city encourages social distancing, regular handwashing, and other practices.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the City of Topeka are joining forces to host a listening session for stakeholder agencies on the topic of broadband access on Thursday.

The listening session is part of the FCC’s efforts to gain additional information and understanding from affected communities, state, local, and Tribal governments, public interest advocates, and providers about challenges, barriers and experiences in ensuring all people of the United States benefit from equal access to broadband.

The FCC has made similar stops in Baltimore, Los Angeles, New York City, and Washington D.C.

The event, which coincides with Digital Inclusion Week, will be held on Thursday, October 5 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Sunflower Foundation located 5820 SW 6^th Ave.

During the listening session, a proclamation on behalf of Mayor Michael Padilla’s Office will be read by Deputy Mayor Neil Dobler in recognition of Digital Inclusion Week. Deputy Mayor Dobler has been a champion for digital equity initiatives locally.

Around 40 representatives from federal, state and local government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and other interested stakeholders are expected to be in attendance, including the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the Kansas Office of Broadband Development and the TSC – Get Digital Coalition, among others.

While the listening session is intended to be for stakeholders, members of the public are welcome to attend. Those who wish to attend are asked to RSVP to Monique Glaudeˊ, Director of Community Engagement at mglaude@topeka.org by noon on Wednesday. Members of the media are also invited to attend and audit the session. Media representatives who wish to attend are asked to RSVP to Gretchen Spiker at gspiker@topeka.org no later than noon on Wednesday. Lunch is being provided to attendees.

Learn more about the listening session on the FCC’s website.

City of Topeka Fire Station #6 is the second oldest fire station in Topeka, built in 1935, and is an integral part of the Oakland neighborhood. When the road around Fire Station #6 was redone the fire hydrant was put out of commission and replaced. The Firefighters at station #6 saw an opportunity repurpose the decommissioned fire hydrant and turn it into public art to honor the Oakland neighborhood. The Firefighter union donated funds to sandblast and prime the fire hydrant and local artist Andy Valdivia painted the hydrant to reflect the rich cultural heritage in Oakland. The fire hydrant is painted to show the Hispanic and German cultures in the neighborhood along with the historic fire station building.
“The firefighters who work in Station #6 love the Oakland neighborhood and its rich culture. We are so excited to repurpose this decommissioned fire hydrant into public art for all our neighbors in Oakland to enjoy,” said Fire Marshal Mike Martin. “We hope that this fire hydrant will remind people of fire safety in their homes and help be a reminder to check your smoke detector to make sure it is working.”
The fire hydrant will be unveiled to the public on Saturday, January 26th at noon at Fire Department #6 located at 1419 SE Seward. At the unveiling the Fire Department will be handing out applications for free smoke detectors. The American Red Cross will also be in attendance to talk about their Sound the Alarm campaign that will be in the Oakland neighborhood on April 27th to install free smoke detectors in homes in the area.
The City of Topeka Fire Department is committed to making sure that our citizens have working smoke detectors in their home in case of a fire and fire safety knowledge. In 2018 there were 7 fires in Oakland that resulted in one death, two injuries, one firefighter injury and approximately $210,000 in damages.

The Topeka Police Department received 60 calls relating to fireworks this weekend. The City of Topeka would like to remind everyone of the fireworks ordinance and encourage them to celebrate safely on July 3rd and 4th.

It is not legal to discharge fireworks within the city limits of Topeka except for the hours between 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on July 3rd and from 10:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on July 4th. If you would like to report a fireworks violation please call (785) 368-9551 or 911. Enhance the joy of this holiday period by practicing Safe Sane and Sober fireworks life-safety habits. For more information regarding the rules and regulations regarding fireworks consult Municipal Code 8.35.070 https://www.codepublishing.com/KS/Topeka/

The following Fireworks Safety Tips are shared to enhance your awareness:

Keep a ready source of water available i.e. a connected hose; a fire extinguisher or bucket of water should suffice.

Alcohol and fireworks do not mix. Appoint an adult or responsible person to be your designated igniter and to be on the lookout for sparks which may start unintended fires elsewhere. The adult can also activate emergency response (911), if a fire cannot be readily extinguished.

Adult Supervision Required. A person under the age of 18 years must be under adult supervision and in the physical presence of the adult to possess and discharge permitted consumer fireworks

.Wet down all ignition and fallout areas before lighting any fireworks. This way if a sparks does hit the ground then, chances of that spark igniting a fire will be minimal.

Always ignite fireworks on paved surfaces i.e. concrete or asphalt whenever possible; if not, select a dirt area where there is no grass or vegetation growth present.

Never ignite or discharge fireworks into, under, or from a car or vehicle, whether moving or standing still, or on a public roadway or the right-of-way adjoining a public roadway.

Be aware of wind conditions when preparing to enjoy your fireworks; if it is too windy then wait until such conditions subside.

Never park your vehicle on dry grass or close to where fireworks are being discharged.

Never attempt to relight a “dud” firework. Wait 10 – 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.

The City of Topeka Municipal Court will start a Food for Fines program during the month of October. Any person with a payment due to the Municipal Court between October 1st and October 31st will receive a $25 credit towards their fine with a donation of ten cans of non-perishable canned goods.
All the non-perishable food items that are collected will be donated to Project Topeka.
“I’m pleased that the Topeka Municipal Court is able to help people pay off their fines and help those in need at the same time. The Topeka Community donated over 2,000 pounds of food to Project Topeka last year,” said Municipal Court Judge Lori Dougherty-Bichsel. “We are excited to partner again with Project Topeka, who will distribute the food drive items to food pantries all over our community.”
The food donations allow for a one-time max credit of $25 for each case. The Food for Fines program only allows for credit in cases with payments being made with the court and not in collections. The program cannot be used for court costs, diversion fees, reinstatement fees, restitution or seatbelt tickets.
“Project Topeka is glad that the City of Topeka Municipal Court is working with us to help give back and help the members of our community who need it the most,” said Dan Woodard, President of Project Topeka. “Thirteen percent of people in Shawnee County struggle with food insecurity. Food drives go a long way to help out the 1 in 8 people struggling with hunger in our community.”
Project Topeka is a volunteer organization that distributes non-perishable food items to seven food banks in Topeka and Shawnee County. Since 1986, Project Topeka has collected over 58,000 food items and distributes nearly 200 tons of food annually.
Cans must be taken to the Municipal Court Clerk’s office to receive credit. Dented, rusted, non-labeled, or expired food items will not be accepted. Food must be sealed in its original packaging.
For more information, please call the Municipal Court at (785) 368-3776.

The Topeka Municipal Court designated the month of October as Food for Fines month. During the entirety of October, anyone with an outstanding fine at the Municipal Court could bring in 10 non-perishable food items and receive a $25 credit toward their fines.
The Topeka Municipal Court collected 2,048 pound of food and credited defendants $4,274.00 on their cases in exchange for the food donation. Additionally, the City of Topeka Finance Department held a department food drive and donated 128 pounds of food. In total, 2,176 pounds of food was donated to Project Topeka.
“I’m incredibly appreciative of the generosity shown by the citizens of Topeka. Food for Fines has allowed us to help so many people with their court fines and in turn they were able to help others in need,” said Municipal Court Judge Lori Dougherty-Bichsel. “The first year of Food for Fines has been a success and I hope that next year this program can bring in even more food donations.”
Fourteen percent of people in Shawnee County struggle with food insecurity. Food drives go a long way to help out the 25,000 people struggling with hunger in our community. All food items were donated to Project Topeka, which is a non-profit organization that distributes items to seven food banks in Topeka and Shawnee County. Since 1986, Project Topeka has collected over 58,000 food items and distributes nearly 200 tons of food annually.
For more information on the Topeka Municipal Court, visit: www.topeka.org/municipalcourt

What can I do/not do during a Boil Water Advisory?

The KDHE and CDC both have guidance regarding a boil water advisory. Some questions you can find answers to in the below links include:

• What if I have a water filtration system?

• How do I safely wash my hands or brush my teeth during the advisory?

• Can I wash dishes or do laundry?

KDHE: https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2599/Boil-WaterAdvisory-Consumer-Information-PDF 

CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/emergency/drinking/drinking-wateradvisories/boil-water-advisory.html

If you still have additional questions, please contact KDHE at 785-296-5514.

I am a Rural Water District (RWD) customer, how do I know if I’m affected?

If you are a Rural Water District customer, please contact your district directly to find out if you are under the advisory. If you’re unsure which RWD you are in, please visit: https://krwa.net/ONLINE-RESOURCES/RWD-Maps/Shawnee

What should I do if I think I consumed possibly contaminated water?

If you believe you consumed possibly contaminated water, please contact your primary care physician for guidance.

When will the Boil Water Advisory be lifted?

The Boil Water Advisory is anticipated to be in effect until at least Friday, January 19, 2024.

Why will it take so long to lift the advisory?

We need to allow time for the fresh water to flush the system before we begin the sampling process. We have several data stations around the city, and we are monitoring those to verify that the fresh water is making its way through the distribution system. Once we are confident that has happened, we will begin our sampling regimen. With more than 60 million gallons of water flowing throughout our system, it will take time to flush that out.

What caused this issue?

Low water in the river causes strain on the system for a variety of reasons, such as an increase in turbidity. When combined with extremely low temperatures, it puts even more strain on the system, the pipes and equipment. After going through the entire system, staff discovered a broken PVC gas pipe on our chlorine gas system. We expect it cracked due to the extreme cold temperatures.

Does the Boil Water Advisory apply to pets?

The same precautions should be taken for pets as they are humans. Boil water or use bottled water for pets.

Will the city be providing any bottled water assistance?

Currently, we are not planning for any bottled water assistance. We want to clarify that we do not have a shortage of water in our distribution system. We are simply asking consumers to boil water as a precaution prior to drinking or food preparation.

I own a restaurant or food establishment; how does this impact me?

Restaurants and other food establishments that have questions about the impact of the boil water advisory on their business can contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s food safety & lodging program at kda.fsl@ks.gov or call 785- 5646767.

Click here to download the FAQ sheet.