Case # 18-88789
On September 1, 2018, these two subjects reportedly took a couple hundred dollars worth of merchandise from the Caseys gas station at 45th and SE California.
If you know who these two are or know their whereabouts, please contact Det. Wilson at (785) 368-9551 or email him at cdwilson@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.
Contractors have restarted one major street project and plan to restart two others on
March 12 as the road construction season gears up in Topeka.
The projects are:
SW 6th – Gage to Fairlawn
Work resumed Monday, February 26, on Phase 1, which is between Gage and the east
side of the entrance to the Chalet Apartments just east of Yorkshire Rd. The first layer of
asphalt was placed at the end of the construction season last year. That section is
expected to be completed by May or June.
On March 5, the contractor closed the section between Fairlawn to just west of the
Schendel Lawn and Landscape drive, about 600 feet east of Fairlawn. That section will be
closed until May or June. Access to the area will be Fairlawn or Gage to Westchester to
SW 6th during construction at the two ends of the project.
SW 10th and SW Wanamaker Intersection
Work is anticipated to begin March 12 on reconstruction of three quadrants of the SW 10th
and SW Wanamaker intersection. Construction was halted last year at the end of the
construction season after the northeast quadrant was completed. The city’s contractor will
finish the southeast quadrant first then move to the southwest corner. The last quadrant to
be completed will be the northwest quadrant on June 15.
Traffic will be allowed through the intersection in all directions but left turns will be
restricted at times depending on the phase under construction.
Completion of the intersection will mark the last portion of a project that began early last
fall from SW Wanamaker – SW 4th to 10th.
SW 21st and SW Wanamaker Stormwater Pipe Replacement Project
Additional stormwater pipe replacement work following last year’s road reconstruction
project in the SW 21st and Wanamaker vicinity will begin March 12 in two locations.
Both construction zones will be in the westbound lanes of SW 21st and will be done
simultaneously. One work zone will be about 50 feet east of the Wanamaker intersection
on the northeast corner. The other will be between the most westward entrance to
Westridge Mall and Arvonia Place.
On the northeast corner, all east and westbound traffic will be carried in the eastbound
lanes (south side) through the Wanamaker intersection. No left turns will be allowed. That
work is expected to take three weeks, weather permitting.
At the construction zone between the mall entrance and Arvonia Place, westbound traffic
will be carried in the eastbound lanes (south side) through the construction zone. A 30-foot
section of pavement will also be replaced. Work is anticipated to be completed in eight
weeks, weather permitting.
Last construction season, during demolition of the eastbound lanes (south side) of 21st,
pipes at both locations were discovered to be dilapidated. Enough time was available then
to replace them. Time did not allow for pipes in the westbound lanes and the other
roadwork to be completed.
“Due to approaching winter weather, the pending holiday season, and considering the high
volume of traffic at one of the busiest intersections in the City, a decision was made to
open both the intersection and SW 21st St. to the west and return in the spring to replace
the pipes under the westbound lanes and finish the other work,” said Robert Bidwell,
project manager.
Topeka City Council took action during Saturday’s Special Meeting to allocate American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars for two funding priorities, Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) and Social Service Programs.
The Council voted to approve setting aside $35,676,831 to be allocated for CIP, and $10 million to be allocated for Social Service Programs.
The Council’s Policy and Finance Committee will meet on March 1 to work on the application and process for funding Social Service Programs. The Policy and Finance Committee members include Deputy Mayor Spencer Duncan, Councilwoman Hannah Naeger, and Councilwoman Christina Valdivia-Alcalá.
The City received $45,676,831 in ARPA funds. No ARPA funds have been spent to date.
Additionally, the City encourages organizations to apply for the State of Kansas’ Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) funds to maximize our community’s potential for ARPA funds. The application for SPARK is due on Wednesday, February 16. A link to the application can be found here: https://covid.ks.gov/spark-submission-form/.
City of Topeka staff, the Topeka City Council and Key Staffing, the local Executive Recruitment Firm who’s assisting with the City Manager recruitment process, released a public input survey today.
“It’s important for the Governing Body to take citizen input as to what is important in the next City Manager into consideration as we begin our search,” said Topeka Mayor Mike Padilla.
Citizens are encouraged to take the survey at https://www.topeka.org/citymanager/city-manager-position-public-input/. At this link, community members can also view the position description for the City Manager.
Survey responses will be reviewed by the Governing Body beginning on Friday, May 6, 2022. The survey will close on Friday, May 13, 2022.
Representatives from each of the nine Topeka City Council districts met for the first time Thursday night to begin the redistricting process. Redistricting of the City’s Council district boundary lines occurs every 10 years following the Census.
The Redistricting Commissioners were each appointed by their respective Councilmember to participate in the process. The 2022 Redistricting Commission members are as follows:
At Thursday’s meeting, the Commissioners learned about the overall process, and viewed two draft proposal maps City of Topeka staff developed to help start the conversation. The current District Map, and the two draft proposal maps can be viewed online. Commissioners have the opportunity to develop their own maps, but must follow rules set forth by law.
The Commissioners will meet again on Thursday, August 11, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. at the City’s Holliday Building, which is located at 620 SE Madison Ave.
The Commissioners invite community members to provide input throughout this process. Public input can be provided by email to the City Clerk’s Office at cclerk@topeka.org. Community members are also invited to provide input during a Public Hearing, which is scheduled for Thursday, August 18 at 5:00 p.m. at the Holliday Building.
Additional meetings may be added at the direction of the Commission. Redistricting Commission Meetings are streamed live on Cox Local Channel 4, the City’s Facebook page, and the City’s livestream.
Learn more about City redistricting at https://www.topeka.org/citycouncil/redistricting-commission/.
The Topeka City Council’s Policy and Finance Committee will host a public input session on Wednesday, March 23 at 6:00 p.m. at the City’s Holliday Building located at 620 SE Madison St.
The purpose of the session is to solicit feedback from the community regarding what criteria and qualifications should be met, in order to be eligible to apply for the $10 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding the Council voted to allocate for social services.
“This will be a deliberative process with decisions made based on input we receive from Topekans,” said Topeka’s Deputy Mayor Spencer Duncan, and the Chair of the Policy and Finance Committee. “This is just one step in a layered process, and we look forward to hearing directly from citizens regarding their expectations of us during this process.”
The Policy and Finance Committee is currently working with City staff on the application and process for social services.
To sign up for public comment, visit https://www.topeka.org/cityclerk/sign-up-to-speak-at-a-governing-body-meeting/. The deadline to sign up for public comment is 5:00 p.m. the date of the meeting. Public comment can be made in person or by Zoom. Public comment is limited to four minutes per person. Time extensions will not be granted.
On February 12, the Council voted to approve setting aside $35,676,831 to be allocated for Capital Improvement Projects (CIP), and $10 million to be allocated for social services. The City received $45,676,831 in ARPA funds.
The Topeka City Council will convene a Special Meeting on Friday, April 12, to conduct follow-up interviews and discuss two final candidates for Topeka’s next city manager.
On April 8, 2024, the City Council held a series of interviews with five finalists for the city manager position. That included an interview by a Community Panel selected by Mayor Padilla, which included Laura Burton, Susan Duffy, Kerry Pancoast, Daniellé Twemlow, and Keith Warta.
Subsequently, candidates participated in a public Meet and Greet event at Hotel Topeka, where citizens had an opportunity to interact with each candidate and provide feedback to the Council.
On Tuesday, April 9, after the City Council meeting, Councilmembers held an Executive Session to discuss the five finalists and their interviews the prior day. Following the Executive Session, Mayor Padilla called for a Special Meeting to take place on Friday, April 12, to further discuss and consider the two finalists for the city manager position.
Stay tuned for additional updates expected next week.
The City of Topeka announced Friday that the Governing Body will vote during the City Council meeting on Tuesday, May 14 to formally name Dr. Robert Perez to serve as Topeka’s next city manager. Perez comes to the city after serving as an Assistant City Manager for the City of Dallas, Texas.
“The Governing Body invested considerable time and effort into their selection process, and we’re excited that Dr. Perez has been selected,” said Topeka Mayor Michael Padilla. “I have full confidence in his ability to lead the City of Topeka and guide us toward our strategic goals.”
With over 20 years of municipal government experience, Perez holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Education with a concentration in organizational leadership, a Master of Public Administration, and a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in political science.
His background is in Public Works, and he has published numerous academic articles covering diverse topics such as the nexus between data and infrastructure, as well as innovation in local government. During a vast majority of his most recent role, Perez provided executive leadership to the City of Dallas’ Department of Public Works, Transportation, Bond and Construction Management, Equipment and Fleet Services and Building Services. Through a reorganization, Perez was recently assigned to oversee the Department of Sanitation, Code Compliance, Animal Care Services, Homeless Solution, and 311 Customer Service.
“I’m extremely honored and excited to begin leading the City of Topeka as its next city manager,” Perez said. “Public service is important to me, and I look forward to getting to know and serving the community in the near future.”
Topeka’s Governing Body is expected to formally approve Perez’s contract during the May 14th City Council Meeting. The one-year contract includes Perez’s base salary, which will be $255,000.
While Perez’s start date is still being finalized, it is anticipated to be sometime between late June and early July. Perez will be moving to Topeka from Dallas with his wife, Harim Perez, and their miniature schnauzer, Sebastian.
On April 8, five City Manager finalists participated in interview panels with the Governing Body and community stakeholders. Following those interviews, the Governing Body conducted follow-up interviews with Perez and another candidate. Initially, more than 40 applicants applied for the position.
The Topeka City Council’s Police & Community Special Committee met Friday, June 3, and a draft document was presented, summarizing proposed recommendations pertaining to the Topeka Police Department.
The draft is a working document, and further revisions by the Committee are possible. Members of the community can view the draft document online at https://www.topeka.org/citycouncil/police-community/. The direct link can be found here.
The Policy & Community Special Committee will meet again on Friday, June 10 at 2:00 p.m. at the Holliday Building to review the draft document, and make any revisions as a group. Members of the public can listen to the meeting in person, or watch the meeting live on Facebook, the City4 Livestream, or on Cox Local Channel 4.
The Committee will then host a Public Input Session on Friday, June 17 at 2:00 p.m. at the Holliday Building. Members of the community wishing to make public comment can do so in person, via Zoom, or by submitting an email or letter in advance of the meeting. To sign up to speak, or to learn more about the public comment process, visit https://www.topeka.org/cityclerk/sign-up-to-speak-at-a-governing-body-meeting/.
To learn more about the Police & Community Special Committee, visit https://www.topeka.org/citycouncil/police-community/.
The City of Topeka’s Governing Body has selected four candidates to interview for the Topeka City Manager position.
About the candidates
Mike Harmon earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Northern Iowa and later earned a master’s degree in public administration from the University of South Dakota with a concentration in state and local government administration. After Mike’s formal education, he went on to pursue a career in public service and has over twenty-four years of combined governmental experience at the state and local level. During Mike’s career he served as a police officer in the capital city of Pierre, SD and later as a city administrator for Fairfield, IA and Spearfish, SD. Mike currently serves as the chief operating officer for an electric utility in Wyoming and is eager to return to public service and to be nearer to his extended family.
David Johnston has over 25 years of local government management experience. He served as the City Manager for Covington, Kentucky and Maple Valley, Washington. Covington is a rejuvenating historic Ohio River community located across from Cincinnati. He served as the village administrator for Rantoul, Illinois – home of the closed Chanute Air Force Base. David holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Public Affairs degree from Indiana University. He also earned a certificate of economic development from the University of Oklahoma. He is an International City Manager Association (ICMA) Credentialed Manager.
Stephen Wade is a Shawnee Heights graduate and a Topeka resident. He serves as the Director of Administrative and Financial Services for the City of Topeka. Stephen spent 30 years in the media industry and has extensive experience at the CEO level. He was formerly the publisher of The Topeka Capital-Journal and The Augusta Chronicle in Augusta, Georgia. Stephen holds a Masters in Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Kansas and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the Florida Institute of Technology. He is currently working on an academic research project that calls for a greater emphasis on equity in municipal budgeting. Stephen currently serves on the board of directors for the Topeka Community Foundation, and he previously held board seats on Go Topeka and the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce.
Abbe Yacoben is currently the Deputy Finance Director and City Treasurer for the City of Las Vegas,
Nevada where she has served for the past five and a half years. She has nearly 20 years of municipal
government leadership experience, and has held roles in Arizona, Illinois and her home state of Maine.
Abbe has a Master’s degree in Public Policy with a finance concentration from the University of Chicago,
and she is a Certified Public Finance Officer. Abbe is passionate about and skilled at leadership, teambuilding,
open communication, working with different public groups and ensuring the City’s initiatives
truly improve quality of life for all residents and stakeholders.
Interview process
The candidates will participate in two interview panels on Tuesday, August 30. One interview panel will
be with the Governing Body, and the other will be with community stakeholders.
Public meet and greet
In addition to the interview panels, the candidates will also attend a public meet and greet. Community
members are invited to attend the meet and greet, which will take place on Tuesday, August 30 from
5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Bishop Professional Development Center located at 3601 SW 31st St. Light
refreshments will be provided at the event.
Attendees will be able to provide feedback on the candidates to the Governing Body by filling out
comment cards at the meet and greet, or by emailing comments to cmsearch@premierks.com.
Recruitment process
Kansas Personnel Services, Inc., doing business as Premier Employment Solutions and Key Staffing, led
the recruitment campaign for the Topeka City Manager position.
40 candidates applied for the position. Of the 40 candidates, 13 had ties to Kansas. After review of all
candidates, the Governing Body selected the above four candidates to interview.