Weekly Report

April 24, 2023

Gretchen Spiker, Director of Communications

Domestic Violence Awareness with TPD and Mayor Padilla

City Staff Updates

  • In honor of Earth Day, city employees spent time volunteering to clean up an abandoned homeless camp near 37th and Kansas Ave. 225 trash bags, 62 shopping carts and 2 trailers full of miscellaneous items were collected totaling 4.67 tons. A huge thank you goes out to all of the employees who came out to volunteer!  Check out this video of the clean up event.  
  • The City of Topeka was awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the 2021 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, and the Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting, by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). A job well done, to staff with the city's Department of Administrative and Financial Services!
  • Gayle Fund was recognized by her peers this week for 30 years of dedication and service to the City of Topeka! Gayle started her career with the city with the Police Department in April 1993 and transferred to Water in December 1995. Gayle is a valuable team member to the billing section in Utilities.

Road Construction Updates

National Work Zone Awareness Week was April 17-21.  Check out this video  to learn more about how you can help keep workers safe!

SE California Ave. - SE 37th St. to SE 45th St.

On Thursday, April 20, the roadway fully opened to traffic! The project included widening the road surface from two lanes to three, new curb and gutter, a sidewalk, a shared use path, street lighting, and an underground stormwater drainage system. In the coming days, landscaping work will be completed, and remaining cones will be removed.

SW 12th St. - SW Gage Blvd. to SW Oakley Ave.

Work on the 12th St. project is progressing. Last week, concrete curb and gutter was placed on the north side of SW 12th between Oakley and SW Cambridge Ave. (left photo), and asphalt was placed at the 12th and Western intersection following a water valve installation (right photo).

SW Westport Dr. - SW 17th St. and SW Wanamaker Rd.

Work on this project is progressing. The project includes the complete removal and replacement of pavement, including concrete curb and gutter, on SW 17th St. from Wanamaker Rd. to the I-470 overpass, and on SW Westport Dr. from 17th St. to Wanamaker Rd.

NW Tyler St. - NW Paramore St. to NW Beverly St.

The first phase of the NW Tyler St. - NW Paramore St. to NW Beverly St. project began last week with the removal of the intersection of Tyler and Paramore. Once complete, there will be new curb and gutter, a sidewalk on the west side of the road, and an underground stormwater system.

Crack Sealing Operations

Crews have been hard at work crack sealing areas across the city, including on SW Gage - I-470 to SW 37th St., and SW Mission and SW Garden Ln. just west of Gage between SW 21st and SW 29th streets.

City Council Recap

City of Topeka Open Bid Opportunities

To view more information on each of the open bid opportunities listed below, visit the  City’s ePro website . For more information on City purchasing, visit the  procurement website .

Anticipated bid opportunities in the upcoming weeks include

  1. Informal bid for providing the Renewable Natural Gas Facility Spare Inventory Parts and Materials at the Oakland Wastewater Treatment Plant
  2. Informal bid for providing the Shaftless Screw Spiral Installation for Oakland Wastewater Treatment Plant Sludge Conveyor
  3. Formal Chiller and Cooling Tower Replacement for the Law Enforcement Center T-131074.03

Upcoming pre-bid meetings

  • Note: this meeting was rescheduled to Monday, May 1 at 10 a.m. CST. The meeting will take place at the Water Treatment Plant, located in the Tuttle Creek Conference Room for Event 2801 Water Systems Improvement project, Sherwood S 1MG Elevated Water Storage Tank T-281055.00.

Learn how to do business with the City of Topeka!

Materials and reference guide now available in   English   and   Spanish  .

Come learn how to do business with the City, learn about bidding opportunities and network with other business owners and City Staff. May 11, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Greater Topeka Partnership, 719 S. Kansas Ave.  Register here .

Recent Updates

  • City of Topeka crews filled 370 potholes last week. 17,851 potholes have been filled so far in 2023.
  • The Shawnee County/Topeka Nurse Navigation program launches this week. The program is a new emergency healthcare solution. Learn more at  http://www.snco.us/stnnp/ .
  •  The City of Topeka recognized Earth Day  by sharing information about e-billing, and ways you can make a positive environmental impact in Topeka.

Upcoming City of Topeka Events/Meetings

  • Tuesday, April 25 - 10:00 a.m. - Mayor and City Manager's Monthly Press Conference - City Hall - 3rd Floor Conference Room -   Watch live  
  • Thursday, April 27 - 6:00 p.m. - Spanish Vendor Workshop - Learn How to Do Business with the City of Topeka, in partnership with the city's DEI Office - Washburn Tech East - 2014 SE Washington St.
  • Sunday, April 30 - 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Topeka Way to Work Program Information Session - Fellowship Hi-Crest - 455 SE Golf Park Blvd.

Stephen Wade

The Weekly Report is presented to you from the office of City Manager Stephen Wade.

For other Weekly Reports, visit the  city's website .

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