Press Releases

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.

Topeka, KS- On Friday, August 30, 2019, the Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center will observe one of the last wishes of its Director Emeritus Gary K. Clarke by opening the zoo for free to the Northeast Kansas community. The wish penned by Gary reads as follows:

“I DO NOT, however, wish to have a public memorial service of any type.  If anything, I would prefer a CELEBRATION OF LIFE symbolized by a Free Day at the Topeka Zoological Park with – and this is important – NO speeches, NO tributes, NO eulogy of any kind!  This is to be an enjoyable day for families (especially children) at Topeka’s living treasure.”

“This Friday marks the first anniversary of the grand opening of Camp Cowabunga here at the zoo,” said Zoo Director Brendan Wiley.  “It’s the perfect day to grant Gary’s wish.” Camp Cowabunga is a safari themed animal exhibit at the Topeka Zoo. “It’s almost an autobiographical story of Gary’s professional life.”

The entire zoo will be open Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.  Admission will be free for all.  A seven minute documentary video will be playing throughout the day in Gary’s Tent at Camp Cowabunga.  The video can also be found at www.topekazoo.org . The video describes Gary’s professional careers of a zoo director and safari leader and how those two careers intersected resulting in the Camp Cowabunga experience.

The Metropolitan Topeka Planning Organization (MTPO) is pleased to announce the completion of the Futures2045 Metropolitan Transportation Plan draft document.

The draft document is available for review and public comment May 13, 2022, through June 12, 2022. The draft document can be viewed online at https://arcg.is/0jHOqX1. The Topeka community and surrounding residents are encouraged to review the document and provide feedback on the site.

The City of Topeka and JEO Consulting Group will host a public open house event to solicit community feedback and comments regarding the Futures2045 draft plan document. The event will take place Wednesday, May 25, 2022, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the rotunda of the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library located at 1515 SW 10^th Ave. All are invited to attend. No formal presentation is planned, and attendees may drop in at any time.

The Futures2045 update is a continuation of the Futures2040 Metropolitan Transportation Plan and will expand on the evolution of the plan’s goals and objectives, with a focus on active transportation projects and preservation of existing systems. The goals of the plan update include maintaining existing infrastructure, improving mobility and access, increasing safety for all modes of transportation, enhancing quality of life, and promoting economic development.

To learn more about MTPO or the Futures2045 MTP draft, visit https://topekampo.org/ or contact Carlton Scroggins, Transportation Planning Manager/MTPO at cscroggins@topeka.org or 785-368-3728.

Our Dear Citizens,

Your City of Topeka Governing Body wants to issue a joint statement of support for the work City of Topeka, State and Shawnee County teams are doing to keep our community safe.  On our behalf, our Mayor and City Manager are in constant communication with the Shawnee County Health Department and Emergency Management.

The COVID-19/Coronavirus situation is of critical concern for our community. Your joint governing bodies are working to mitigate and predict every need of our community, such as ensuring your water is not disconnected during this situation.  Each of us wants to ensure your safety and comfort at home as we ask all individuals to self-quarantine and stay in place and everyone to constantly wash hands.  We ask for your grace as this is an unprecedented time with new challenges.

Through this pandemic, know that your city will not stop working for you. Essential personnel are active and departments are taking measures to work from home securely and effectively. Road crews, water treatment staff and public safety officials are all working to take care of you and will continue to do so until this is behind us.

This is a time of difficult decisions. What we consider normal and routine will not be so for some time. We are all going through the same concerns, discomfort and adjustments you are.

Now, more than ever, it is the time for us to come together and support each other. This is a time we all must adhere to what our local and state officials are asking of us.

Stay home and practice social distancing to protect others.

Did you travel and recently returned?   Call SNCO Health at 785-806-6297.

Do you have COVID-19 Symptoms?   CALL BEFORE YOU GO to any hospital or care provider.

If you go out?  Keep social distance – stay at least 6 feet from others, no touching.

Best ways to not transfer germs?   Wash hands frequently, don’t touch your face, catch coughs with tissues and throw them away.

Need ideas for educating kids or communicating with people who are in isolation?  Check social media and with education and nursing home sources.  Great ideas are emerging daily.

Have questions? – Watch local media for updates.

We are working to ensure that through this time your needs are met. There are so many questions. We understand.  We will work to provide on time, accurate information as more information becomes available.

We look forward to the day this is all behind us. In the meantime, rest assured we are here, we are together and we are supporting the needs of our community during this difficult time.

Thank you for the privilege of serving you,

Your Governing Body

Mayor Michelle De La Isla

Karen Hiller- District 1

Christina Valdivia-Alcala- District 2

Sylvia Ortiz- District 3

Tony Emerson- District 4

Michael Padilla- District 5

Hannah Naeger- District 6

Neil Dobler- District 7

Spencer Duncan- District 8

Michael Lesser- District 9