County secures increased state transportation funds for bridge projects

Southwest Jordan Road bridge replacement completed under budget

Public works announces upcoming closures on county roads

County approves $6.58 million in expenditures

Land records fund disperses $159,000 for 2027 technology upgrades

County awards park power washing contract to local vendor based on reliability

Targeted HVAC repair will save county jail hundreds of thousands

County expects 'astronomical' costs from new noxious weed designations

Industrial rezoning approved for auto business despite water concerns

County secures increased state transportation funds for bridge projects

TOPEKA, Kan. - Shawnee County approved a Federal Aid Fund Exchange Master Agreement that will trade approximately $1.05 million in 2026 federal fiscal year funds for $948,000 in state transportation funds. Shawnee County Public Works Director Curt Niehaus noted the county will receive substantially more money this year compared to the $600,000 received last year, as a 10-year state program that previously diverted some of these funds to pay for bridge inspections has concluded.

Southwest Jordan Road bridge replacement completed under budget

TOPEKA, Kan. - A bridge replacement project on Southwest Jordan Road over a Wakarusa River tributary has been completed for $32,000 less than initially estimated. Shawnee County Public Works Director Curt Niehaus reported that final construction costs by King Construction Co. came in approximately $9,000 lower than the initial letting, resulting in an overall budget surplus for the county infrastructure project.

Public works announces upcoming closures on county roads

TOPEKA, Kan. - Motorists will face new detours in the coming weeks as the Shawnee County Public Works department prepares for a series of bridge replacements. NW Valencia Road will close just north of U.S. Highway 24 beginning Monday, April 20, for a state project to replace two bridges over the Silver Lake Drainage Ditch and its tributary. Meanwhile, SE 37th Street is scheduled to close the following week for a project to replace an aging bridge with a smaller culvert over a Whetstone Creek tributary.

County approves $6.58 million in expenditures

TOPEKA, Kan. - Shawnee County unanimously approved more than $6.58 million in voucher payments, covering significant infrastructure, medical and operational costs. The expenditures included a $613,000 final payment for a pump station project, more than $670,000 in progress payments to Bettis Asphalt for road projects, $787,000 for social service agencies and a $275,000 purchase of a Peterbilt front-load truck for the solid waste department.

Land records fund disperses $159,000 for 2027 technology upgrades

TOPEKA, Kan. - Shawnee County approved $159,030 in expenditures from the land records fund to finance 2027 technology purchases for the county appraiser, land use, public works and mapping departments. It was noted during the meeting that the fund, which utilizes excess technology monies to relieve the general fund, will have a remaining balance of roughly $43,000, along with a warning that difficult allocation decisions may be necessary next year.

County awards park power washing contract to local vendor based on reliability

TOPEKA, Kan. - Curb Appeal Power Wash was awarded a contract to provide pressure washing services for county parks and recreation facilities at a rate of $97 per hour. Shawnee County Parks and Recreation Director Tim Laurent noted that while a Wichita-based company submitted a slightly lower bid, the county opted for the local vendor based on established local references and confirmed business experience.

Targeted HVAC repair will save county jail hundreds of thousands

TOPEKA, Kan. - Shawnee County authorized the Department of Corrections to seek bids for a $30,000 repair to a rooftop heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit at the adult detention center, a move that will prevent the need for a total unit replacement. Department director Brian Cole explained that replacing three failing coils will restore the system to full operation, saving taxpayers the estimated $300,000 cost of purchasing an entirely new heating and cooling unit.

County expects 'astronomical' costs from new noxious weed designations

TOPEKA, Kan. - The Shawnee County Weed Department warned at the April 16 meeting that the state's plan to add five new plants, including Amur honeysuckle, to the noxious weed list will have an "astronomical" financial impact on the county. Department director John Landon presented the 2026 management plan, noting that eradicating honeysuckle across county parks and rights of way will heavily burden his three-person staff and require serious financial and logistical coordination with the parks and recreation department.

Industrial rezoning approved for auto business despite water concerns

TOPEKA, Kan. - Rezoning was unanimously approved for a property in southeast Topeka from residential-rural to light industrial to allow an auto restoration business to eventually expand its storage capacity for commercial vehicles, boats and campers. The Topeka Planning Commission previously passed the measure in a split 3-2 vote, with opposition primarily centered on the property's reliance on a cistern rather than city or rural water, though county officials confirmed the current water setup meets environmental health standards.

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