Who is going to win the big game on Sunday? The Topeka Zoo’s orangutans know the answer. The media is invited to the Topeka Zoo Friday, February 5, 2021 at 10:00 AM to watch the orangutans unveil their answer. Interested members of the media should arrive at the zoo about 10 minutes before 10:00 and make their way to the Lianas Forest where the zoo’s orangutans live. The orangutans will reveal the winner promptly at 10:00.
The Topeka Zoo is home to a family group of three Bornean orangutans ranging in age from 7 to 35. Orangutans are the only great ape native to Asia. The wild population of orangutans has decreased by 50% over the last sixty years mainly due to habitat loss. We can help protect orangutans by making sure we utilize products made with sustainable palm oil.
The City of Topeka City Council meetings will continue to be online for the near future as the spread of the COVID-19 virus continues in the community. Public comment for City Council meetings is available on zoom. Anyone interested in providing public comment on an item can contact the City Clerk’s office to sign up before 5 p.m. the day of the council meeting and will be provided with a zoom link. Once on zoom, public comment participants will be required to have their camera off and their microphone on mute until they are called for public comment. The time limit for public comment is four minutes. To sign up for public comment contact the city clerk’s office at cclerk@topeka.org or by calling 785-368-3940.
The Municipal Court will resume in-person court dockets on Monday February 1, 2021. All patrons entering the courthouse will be subject to a temperature check and must be properly wearing a face mask. Other safety measures include plexiglass in both courtrooms, strict social distancing requirements, UV lighting, and hand sanitizer stations.
Defendants are encouraged to check the status of their case on the Court’s online public access portal at https://www.topeka.org/municipalcourt/. Parties may also visit the Court’s website to determine if their matter qualifies for resolution via video conference hearing.
Anyone exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 or other related illnesses should contact the Prosecutor’s Office to discuss a continuance of their scheduled court date.
Municipal Court Clerk’s Office: 785-368-3776
City Prosecutor’s Office: 785-368-3910
The Point-in-Time (PIT) Count is a count/report required by the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as part of our local Topeka/Shawnee County Continuum of Care (CoC) funding. It provides the data needed to understand the number and characteristics of people experiencing homelessness in our community to obtain a snapshot on one single night in January. Surveys are given to people who are unsheltered, in emergency shelters and transitional housing.
Homelessness in Kansas and across the country is on the rise. In the past year, the Topeka Rescue Mission has seen record numbers of guests in the shelter with the biggest increase being in persons with mental health challenges especially during the COVID period.
This year’s Point-In-Time Count will be held on Wednesday, January 27th from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
“During this pandemic, it is important to continue with the homeless count to ensure we are putting our resources in initiatives that help the most vulnerable.” said Corrie Wright, Division Director of Housing Services for the City of Topeka. The information gathered will help Topeka to:
- Understand the face of homelessness within the community;
- Make sure services are meeting the needs of homeless persons;
- Raise public awareness about the issues surrounding homelessness; and
- Measure community progress towards preventing and ending homelessness.
Help us make sure that everyone is counted! Persons who are experiencing homelessness or if you know someone who is that wish to take the survey, please call (785) 368-0168 between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Wednesday, January 27h. Interviewers will also be available at the City Offices – Holliday Building. 620 SE Madison, Holliday Conference Room from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, January 27th.
Media who would like to follow an outreach team on the day of the count, please call Theresa Douthart at (785) 274-7359 in advance of the actual day to schedule a time.
Due to health and safety concerns related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Topeka Municipal Court will continue to keep in-person dockets suspended through Friday, January 29, 2021.
During this time, the Court will continue to conduct daily video conference hearings. The Court will remain open for walk-in business Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 4:30 pm, for defendants to set court dates, resolve non-appearance required cases, recall warrants, file documents, make payments, and reset payment plans. Defendants are strongly encouraged to conduct their business by telephone, email, or facsimile whenever possible. Payments may be made online, over the phone, or by mail.
All cases during this time will be rescheduled and notices of hearing will be sent by mail to defendants and defense counsel. Defendants should call the Court Clerk’s office at 785-368-3776 to update contact information during normal business hours. Defendants are also encouraged to check the status of their case on the Court’s online public access portal at www.topeka.org/municpalcourt.org. Parties may also visit the Court’s website to determine if their matter qualifies for resolution via video conference hearing.
Clerk’s Office: 785-368-3776
Clerk’s Office Fax: 785-368-3782
Email: Motions@topeka.org (MOTIONS ONLY)
Mail: 214 SE 8th Avenue, Topeka, Kansas 66603
Anyone directed to report to the Probation Division should continue to report as scheduled. Probationers who are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 of other related illnesses should contact the Probation Division at 785-368-3783.
In an effort to assist in curving the spread of COVID-19 in our community, the City of Topeka Division of Community Engagement will be distributing 1,000 bottles of 20 ounce hand sanitizer into the community at Stormont Vail Event Center on Wednesday, December 9th from 9:00 a.m. to noon. The hand sanitizer can be picked up in the Heritage Hall parking lot on SW 17th Street. Participants will receive one free bottle of hand sanitizer per household on a first-come, first-serve basis. In addition, everyone will receive a resource bag containing COVID-19 information and community resources.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Photo I.D. with current address (must reside within the City limits)
- 18 years or older
“Taking precautions and practicing healthy habits is extremely important with the prevalence of COVID-19 in our community. Thanks to a generous donor the City of Topeka is working to help our community by providing hand sanitizer to our community,” said Monique Glaudeˊ, Division Director of Community Engagement.
14,500 bottles of FABER 20 ounce bottles of hand sanitizer was donated by an anonymous community partner. Various pop-up events hosted by the City of Topeka Division of Community Engagement will take place through April 2021.
Administrative Judge Karan M. Thadani, in conjunction with City Manager Brent Trout, has made the decision to cancel court dockets, including trials, for an additional two weeks beginning December 7, 2020, and lasting through December 18, 2020. The decision was made after careful consideration of the Shawnee County COVID-19 Community Transmission Index and reports from local hospitals that occupancy rates and community spread of COVID-19 remain high.
During this time, the Topeka Municipal Court will continue to conduct its jail hearings via video conferencing on Mondays and Wednesdays. The Court will remain open for walk-in business Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 4:30 pm. Anyone with court business are strongly encouraged to conduct their business by telephone, email, or facsimile whenever possible. Payments may be made online, over the phone, or by mail.
All cases during this time will be rescheduled and notices of hearing will be sent by mail to defendants and defense counsel. Defendants should call the Court Clerk’s office at 785-368-3776 to update contact information during normal business hours. Defendants are also encouraged to check the status of their case on the Court’s online public access portal at https://www.topeka.org/municipalcourt/. Parties may also visit the Court’s website to determine if their matter qualifies for resolution via video conference hearing.
Clerk’s Office: 785-368-3776
Clerk’s Office Fax: 785-368-3782
Email: Motions@topeka.org (MOTIONS ONLY)
Mail: 214 SE 8th Avenue, Topeka, Kansas 66603
Anyone directed to report to the Probation Division should continue to report as scheduled. Probationers who are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 of other related illnesses should contact the Probation Division at 785-368-3783.
The presence of COVID-19 in the community will be reevaluated over the next two weeks and a decision will be made at that time in the best interests of its patrons and staff as to when dockets will resume.
Operation COVID-19 Basic Needs Assistance Program is a foreclosure/eviction mitigation and utility prevention shut-off program created by the City of Topeka and administered by the Community Resources Council (CRC). $1.5 million in CARES Act funds will be available to qualified applicants to help cover expenses and help keep people housed and with utilities in Topeka.
“Community Resources Council, is pleased to again partner with the City of Topeka on a social service program. CRC will be providing management over-site of this essential COVID Basic Needs Assistance Program. For almost a century, CRC has been serving the Topeka/Shawnee County community in ‘minding the gap’ of social service programing and the unmet needs within our community,” said Mary Thomas the Community Resources Council Executive Officer.
“The City of Topeka knows how much our neighbors are struggling during these difficult times. The Operation COVID-19 Basic Needs Assistance program is designed to keep our neighbors housed and with their utilities on so they can focus on other needs this year,” said City Manager Brent Trout.
The Operation COVID-19 Basic Needs Assistance program is by appointment only Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and on Wednesday from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Appointments should take between forty-five minutes and one hour. Walk-in appointments will be scheduled for the next available appointment or what works best for them with no exceptions. Applicants must bring all required documents (as stated on the application) at the time of the appointment to proceed. If the applicant is lacking information/documentation the appointment will be rescheduled. Applicants must be on time, after 5 minutes of grace period the appointment will be rescheduled. c
Required documents participants must bring to the appointment include:
- ID or driver’s license,
- Social security number for all household members,
- Rent lease/mortgage statement,
- Past 30 days pay stubs or SSI/SSDI or Unemployment statement
- Current Utility Bills
Appointments can be scheduled over the phone from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday by calling (785) 233-1365. If the line is busy, leave your name and phone number and CRC staff will call back to schedule an appointment.
The City of Topeka Utilities Department has implemented a new, secure, convenient, and user-friendly online payment system for our customers. The new and improved interface provides multiple benefits to customers such as paying bills faster, improved user experience, one-time payments without having to register, view and pay multiple accounts at once, as well as text-to-pay capabilities. Our new system accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and electronic checks.
“We are excited about these changes and they reflect our continued commitment to providing a superior customer service experience,” said Nicole Malott, City of Topeka Utilities, Director of Business and Customer Services. “We recognize that customers want flexibility, accessibility, convenience, and user-friendly experience without sacrificing security. We believe these new features deliver all of these things.”
Informative inserts will accompany all of our customer’s physical bills for the next 4 weeks. They contain additional information about the transition, as well as instructions on how to register with the new system. We are encouraging all of our customers to register with the new system so that they can take advantage of the many new features. To register, customers simply need to go to Topeka.org and click on the blue banner at the top of the home page. This will take them to the new payment portal where they can quickly register or make a one-time payment.
Customers should know that if they signed up online for the AutoPay function in our previous system, they will need to cancel that service once they have registered with the new system.
Any customers that have questions regarding this transition or how to register can call the City of Topeka Customer Service Call Center at (785) 368-3111.
Due to the high number of COVID-19 cases in our community, and in an effort to reduce community transmission, the Topeka Municipal Court is cancelling all dockets, including trials, from Wednesday, November 18, 2020 through Friday, December 4, 2020. During that time, the Court will continue to conduct its jail hearings via video conferencing on Mondays and Wednesdays.
All cases during that time will be rescheduled and notices of hearing will be sent by mail to defendants and defense counsel. Defendants should call the Court Clerk’s office at 785-368-3776 to update contact information during normal business hours. Defendants are also encouraged to check the status of their case on the Court’s online public access portal at https://www.topeka.org/municipalcourt/ .
The Topeka Municipal Court will remain open for walk-in business Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 4:30 p.m. However, persons with court business are strongly encouraged to conduct their business by telephone, email, or facsimile wherever possible. Payments may be made online, over the phone, or by mail.
Clerk’s Office: 785-368-3776
Clerk’s Office Fax: 785-368-3782
Email: Motions@topeka.org (MOTIONS ONLY)
Mail: 214 SE 8th Avenue, Topeka, Kansas 66603
Anyone directed to report to the Probation Division should continue to report as scheduled. Probationers who are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 of other related illnesses should contact the Probation Division at 785-368-3783.
The Municipal Court will reevaluate the presence of COVID-19 in the community during the week of December 1, 2020 and make a decision as to whether dockets will resume on Monday, December 7, 2020.