Press Releases

Topeka City Manager Stephen Wade announced Tuesday that he is taking an extended leave of absence for an undisclosed amount of time.

At Tuesday’s City Council Meeting, the City of Topeka’s Governing Body took action to temporarily name Richard U. Nienstedt of Ottawa as acting City Manager. Nienstedt, a tenured City Manager and City Administrator, retired from the City of Ottawa in March.

“I want to assure the Topeka community and the city’s dedicated staff, that I will honorably serve the city during this time. It is my priority to ensure the continuity of operations of the city, and I’m honored the Governing Body selected me for this temporary role,” said Nienstedt.

Nienstedt is married to his wife Rita, and together they have three grown children who live in Olpe, Garnett, and Columbia, Missouri. They are proud grandparents to nine grandchildren.

Nienstedt assumed the role as Acting City Manager Tuesday night, and will begin working in Topeka later this week.

The Governing Body wants to assure the community that the business of the city will not be interrupted during this time. As this relates to a personnel matter, the city will not be commenting further.

The City of Topeka Utilities Department employees have taken water samples from the Shunganunga Creek on 6/24/19 to test for elevated levels of bacteria. Test results will not be available until 6/25/19. However, as a precaution The City of Topeka Utility Department is advising Topeka area residents to avoid contact with the Shunganunga Creek flowing from SW Washburn Ave., throughout the City to the point of confluence with the Kansas River until further notice.

This issue is due to recent heavy rain events and a mechanical issue at one of our pump stations in Central Park. The stormwater infrastructure has been struggling to handle the excess water from recent rain events and saturated soils, known as inflow and infiltration, in the sanitary sewer system. This excess stormwater combined with sanitary flows may be causing areas of the system to overflow into the Shunganunga Creek.

As a precaution residents are advised to avoid contact with the impacted waterway and to keep pets out of the stream.

Topeka staff will continue to monitor the water in local creeks and waterways and provide notification when the advisory can be lifted.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has been notified.

The City of Topeka Utility Department is advising Topeka area residents to avoid contact with Butcher Creek from SE 29^th St to SE 21^st & Lakewood and Shunganunga Creek from 21^st & Lakewood to the point of confluence with the Kansas River, as well as a tributary flowing west from 29^th & Freemont to Butcher Creek.

Field crews discovered a sanitary sewer overflow in a heavily wooded area stemming from a blocked sewer main.  The overflow discharged to a local tributary and eventually into Butcher Creek. The blockage has been removed to stop the overflow, but bacteria levels in the water bodies could remain high.

As a precaution residents are advised to avoid contact with the impacted waterways and to keep pets out of the streams.

Topeka staff will continue to monitor the impacted water bodies and provide notification when the advisory can be lifted.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has been notified.

The test results from recent samples taken from the Shunganunga Creek have come back with acceptable levels of bacteria. These results allow us to lift the stream advisory that was put in effect on June 6th. If you have any questions regarding this incident please call:
Ryan Woolaway
City of Topeka
785-409-8636

At about 9:15 this morning, a Zoo Keeper found herself in the same outdoor space with a seven year old Sumatran tiger. The Keeper sustained injuries but is being treated at a local hospital and remains in stable condition.
Zoo personnel responded immediately. In less than ten minutes, the tiger was called into an adjoining indoor holding space. The tiger was never out of its enclosure.
While the zoo briefly closed during the time of the incident, it reopened shortly after.
“The male Sumatran tiger, Sanjiv, simply reacted the way that is normal for a tiger to do,” said Zoo Director Brendan Wiley. “There is absolutely no consideration of euthanizing the tiger.”
Over the next several days, a complete investigation will be conducted that will also review all policies and procedures around tiger management at the zoo. “If we need to make updates to our current procedures, we will most certainly do that,” said Wiley.
The zoo staff is highly trained and experienced in working with tigers. Safety is always in the forefront. The entire zoo team routinely trains for emergency situations like this.
The Topeka Zoo considers its Sumatran Tiger Program to be one of its best well rounded animal programs. “For this critically endangered species we have an active breeding program, we make regular contributions to the science of caring for this species and our community financially supports a ranger on the ground in Sumatra,” said Wiley. “Right now, our focus is on our injured team member. Our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family.”

For just over a week, Sunda the Asian elephant has been dealing with an illness that took a serious turn Sunday morning. “Last Monday, Sunda started blowing a discharge from her trunk,” said Zoo Director Brendan Wiley. “Sunday morning, the illness took a turn for the worse. She became very lethargic; almost unresponsive. She was very pale. By early afternoon on Sunday, she began to stabilize.”

Initially, the illness presented as an upper respiratory infection. When the symptoms  began, Sunda was started on broad spectrum antibiotic and anti-inflammatory medications. So far, cytology performed on mucus from the elephant’s truck last week has not shown any abnormal pathogens but the sample will continue to be cultured over the next two to three weeks. Radiographs of the trunk were also taken to rule out sinus blockages and potential tooth problems. She has also received additional hydrating fluids regularly.

“Although she is more stable now, until we can pinpoint exactly what is going on her prognosis is guarded,” said Staff veterinarian Dr. Shirley Llizo. “While it could just be a nasty upper respiratory infection, we can’t rule out pneumonia, lung cancer, or other systemic diseases.”

Sunda is 58 years old and came to the Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center in 1966. She has been the matriarch since the day she arrived. She has been a favorite of the community and a mainstay for over 50 years. At 58 years old, she is a geriatric elephant. It is estimated that there are only twelve other female Asian elephants in North America that are older than Sunda.

Like people, some illnesses are harder to fight off particularly for elderly individuals or animals. “Sunda is one of those animals that just steals your heart,” said Wiley. “You hope they live forever but time has a way of catching up to all of us. We all hope Sunda will pull through this.”

As Sunda’s condition changes, the Zoo will post updates on their Facebook page.

All northbound lanes on SW Fairlawn from SW 25th Street to SW 28th Street closed this afternoon due unstable subgrade near a manhole that is about to be removed and replaced.
“The contractor will begin removing the existing manhole tomorrow morning,” said Robert Bidwell, project manager for the City. “Once we know the extent of the sand backfill and the pavement undercutting, we can determine repair options and a timeline for restoring northbound traffic.” Southbound traffic will be continue to be allowed in the outside lane.
The problem was found when the City’s contractor began excavating for replacement of a 48-inch stormwater pipe and three manholes in that stretch. The project started Monday and is expected to be completed by January 28.

On June 28, 2019, the Kansas Supreme Court upheld the validity of Topeka’s “T-21” Ordinance No. 20099 which prohibits the sale of cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, tobacco products, and liquid nicotine to anyone under the age of 21. The ordinance also prohibits buying any of those products for a person under the age of 21. View the ordinance online.

The Kansas Supreme Court issued its mandate on 7/26/2019, which means that the ordinance is now enforceable.
For retailers, the Kansas Department of Revenue has designed a sign that complies with state law and can be used in cities that have passed T-21 ordinances.

Download the sign.