Shawnee County Newsletter

Now that we’ve “sprung forward” and adjusted our clocks, it’s beginning to feel like Spring has arrived! That means our Parks & Recreation employees are in full gear preparing for the busy summer months ahead. Baseball and softball seasons have begun and once again we are hiring seasonal staff for most of our summer programs. Camp Counselors, Lifeguards, Concessions, Maintenance,  and Mini-Train Drivers are a few examples of our seasonal openings with Parks & Recreation. The opportunities require a wide range of skills, but some are perfect for retirees or students on their summer break. If you know of anyone that might be looking for a summer job, consider sending them to Parks & Recreation. More information about our openings is available  here.   Lastly, May is National Bike Month which is another opportunity to get out and enjoy our amazing trail system! Commissioner Mays

The First Territorial Assembly established the Shawnee County Recorders Office in 1855, for the recording of deeds, mortgages, conveyances, commissions and bonds. It was later to become the Register of Deeds Office in 1858. Since that time the Kansas Statutes have provided for the duty of the Register of Deeds for each county to include having the custody of and solely keep and preserve all the books, records, deeds, maps and papers deposited or kept in the office.

Today the duly elected Register of Deeds is responsible for the preservation of those same records along with the electronic images of those records that are being recorded today. Technological advancements have been rapid and sweeping in the past couple of years and total electronic recordings are on the horizon. No matter what form those records take the Register of Deeds will be the office in which preservation is paramount. A public records office with retrieval of records for the asking, come in and see history and current technology at work in Shawnee County!

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Shawnee County Health Department’s new Family Planning program was held on April 6, 2022, during National Public Health Week. Residents of Shawnee County and neighboring communities who are of low income or lack health insurance now have more options when it comes to family planning.

The health department’s new Family Planning program, located at 211 SW 10 ^th  Ave, began accepting appointments March 7, 2022. This variety of services aimed at achieving or preventing pregnancy and planning for patients’ desired number and spacing of children. Funding for the program is provided by the KDHE Title X Family Planning Program, a state and federal collaboration that has sought to provide access to reproductive health services for low-income and uninsured individuals for 50 years. Services are by appointment only and are available to all, regardless of income, insurance status, sex, or residence. Free language interpretation services are available.

The morning on April 7, 2022, Sheriff Hill hosted a press conference with multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), regarding the Northeast Kansas One Pill Can Kill Initiative. The Northeast Kansas One Pill Can Kill Initiative is aimed at disrupting the drug trafficking behind the counterfeit pills and fentanyl investigations and overdoses. This initiative will hopefully save lives.

Each year the Kansas Association of Counties (KAC) sends out a call for service award information so we can help our member counties recognize their employees and elected officials for their years of service. 

Awards are given for the completion of 8, 16, 24, 32, 40, 44 and 48 years of service. The required period of service must be completed by January 1 each year, to receive credit for the previous county service award.

April 10, 2022 began National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. The Sheriff's Office recognized the heroes behind the phones and radios. If you are interested in joining our team, apply today at  www.snco.us/jobs/  to become an Emergency 911 Dispatcher! There is a $1,500 hiring/referral bonus offered too.

The tulips bloomed beautifully for this year’s Jerold Binkley Tulip Time as visitors from Topeka, multiple cities in Kansas and other states came to visit Ted Ensley Gardens/Lake Shawnee and Old Prairie Town/Ward-Meade Botanical Garden.

Tulips at Twilight ran concurrently with Tulip Time. The event at Old Prairie Town/Ward-Meade Botanical Garden featured 100 lighted displays. Despite a very windy day, Tulip Festival at the Lake took place April 23, 2022 with food trucks and a performance by the Topeka High Drumline to entertain visitors.

Employees from the Shawnee County Health Department and their families joined together on Saturday, April 23, 2022 to be part of the almost 350 volunteers to help clean-up Topeka for Earth day. The event was held by the Keep America Beautiful Topeka organization.

$16.17/hr  $Referral Bonus Offered! Under the direction of the Aquatics Supervisor, the Aquatics Manager serves as a member of the Park Services Division. This position hires, schedules, and supervises seasonal staff in the aquatics facilities in the Shawnee County Parks and Recreation system. Controls inventory, orders and stocks concession items, and develops aquatic fitness classes. Performs basic mechanical tasks and troubleshoots concession issues. Monitors KDHE food handling regulations, customer satisfaction, and staff performance. Assists the Aquatics Supervisor in general pool operations, bid sheets, and requests for proposals (RFPs). Performs other duties as required. (SEE POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS)

$12.66/hr $Referral Bonus Offered! Under general supervision, this position performs a variety of clerical work in the appraisal of real estate and personal property and general office duties for the County Appraiser’s office. Performs other duties as required. This position is supervised by the Support Services Manager. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS High School Diploma or GED Certificate. One (1) year of clerical experience or one (1) year of experience in the Office Assistant I classification. Three (3) semester hours of college course work or ninety (90) clock hours from an accredited vocational school in business, office administration or closely related field may be substituted for the required experience. Required to type thirty-five (35) words per minute. Valid Driver’s License and eligible to operate a County-owned vehicle (HR-2013-2).

$23.42/hr  $Referral Bonus Offered! Under general supervision, this position provides case management services to pregnant and postpartum women, infants, toddlers, and their families in homes and community settings This includes counseling, client/patient education, and referral for health care and social services. Performs other duties as required. This position is supervised by the Maternal Child Health Outreach Health Services Team Leader. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS • License to practice as a Social Worker at the Masters level in the State of Kansas. • CPR Certification. • Valid Driver’s License and able to operate a County-owned vehicle (HR 2013-2). SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS • Required to complete National Incident Management System (NIMS) 700 and Incident Command System (ICS) 100 within six (6) months of employment. • Required to pass a pre-employment physical and drug screen. • Required to lift thirty (30) pounds.

Apply online:   https://www.snco.us/oasys 

Recruitment of Election Workers has begun! Poll worker recruitment is extremely important to our office. Supervising Judges and Election Workers play an essential role in administering elections and ensuring Election Day runs smoothly. If you're interested in working at the polls for the Primary Election in August, the General Election in November or both, please click on the link and fill out the  application .

The application can be emailed to us at electionoffice@snco.us or by mailing it to 3420 SW Van Buren St, Topeka, Kansas 66611. If you have any questions on completing the application or would like us to mail you one, you can call our office at (785) 251-5900.