Commissioners vacate southeast county road citing quarry safety concerns

County prepares for massive Rochester Road project real estate needs

Design phase approved for potential county golf course clubhouse

Crestview Community Center gym floors slated for refinishing

County announces first employee appreciation night at Gage Park in years

New general manager takes the helm at Stormont Vail Events Center

County approves nearly $80,000 for 911 backup center equipment

County adjusts industrial revenue bond fees, rejects geographic restrictions

Commissioners vacate southeast county road citing quarry safety concerns

TOPEKA, Kan. - The Shawnee County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously Thursday to vacate a portion of a southeast county road, effectively closing it to public access. The decision followed a contentious public hearing between representatives of a nearby landowner, who argued the road was necessary for farming equipment access, and a quarry operator, which runs an adjacent quarry. Quarry representatives cited severe safety risks, noting the site features steep drop-offs of up to 200 feet and has become an attractive nuisance for trespassing ATV riders. The commission determined the road served no broad public utility and that the cost of maintaining a hazardous road for a single property owner outweighed any public benefit.

County prepares for massive Rochester Road project real estate needs

TOPEKA, Kan. - The commission approved two requests for qualifications for on-call real property appraisal and acquisition services starting Jan. 1, 2027. Shawnee County Public Works Director Curt Niehaus requested the early start to secure vendors, citing historical difficulties in finding contractors willing to perform the highly specialized work. The services will be heavily utilized for upcoming large-scale infrastructure projects, most notably the Rochester Road project, which will require the county to navigate complex property acquisitions across approximately 140 individual parcels.

Design phase approved for potential county golf course clubhouse

TOPEKA, Kan. - The commission authorized a request for proposals for architectural and engineering design services for a new clubhouse at Cypress Ridge Golf Course. Shawnee County Parks + Recreation Director Tim Laurent noted the proposed location would move the clubhouse near the current maintenance facility, requiring minor reconfigurations to the course but offering improved views and a consolidated driving range. While the design phase will be partially funded by private donations, the commission emphasized that Thursday's vote only authorizes the creation of bid-ready construction documents, not the actual construction or taxpayer funding of a new facility.

Crestview Community Center gym floors slated for refinishing

TOPEKA, Kan. - The commission unanimously approved a request to seek bids for the restoration and refinishing of the two full-size gym floors at the Crestview Community Center. Shawnee County Parks + Recreation Director Tim Laurent told the commission the floors suffered damage from a roof leak approximately two years ago, which has since been fully repaired. The upcoming project will involve sanding the floors down to the bare wood, repainting the graphics and applying a new surface finish.

County announces first employee appreciation night at Gage Park in years

TOPEKA, Kan. - For the first time in recent memory, Shawnee County will host a countywide employee and family appreciation night at Gage Park. Scheduled for June 19 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., the event will feature a cookout, prize drawings and exclusive access to the park's swimming pool and train. It was noted that the event is being funded through outside sources rather than taxpayer dollars, with various county departments collaborating to organize the celebration.

New general manager takes the helm at Stormont Vail Events Center

TOPEKA, Kan. - Kasey Hanney was formally introduced Thursday as the new general manager at the Stormont Vail Events Center. Hanney joins the Oak View Group team in Shawnee County after several years with the company, previously working on major startup and renovation projects at the University of Kansas, including Memorial Stadium and Allen Fieldhouse. Hanney told the commission she intends to use her programming experience to elevate the venue's profile, highlighting an upcoming youth wrestling tournament and a high-production concert by the tribute band Hairball.

County approves nearly $80,000 for 911 backup center equipment

TOPEKA, Kan. - As part of a $2.87 million overall voucher payment package, the commission unanimously approved $79,740 for radio consoles and installation at the county's 911 backup center. The contract with a communications vendor will provide critical communication infrastructure for the emergency response facility. The expenditure is fully funded by dedicated 911 center and telephone funds rather than the county's general operating budget.

County adjusts industrial revenue bond fees, rejects geographic restrictions

TOPEKA, Kan. - The commission approved an update to the fee structure for Industrial Revenue Bonds but stripped proposed geographic restrictions from the measure after substantial debate. The approved resolution sets a non-refundable $4,000 application fee and a $1,000 annual maintenance fee for the bonds. However, the commission pushed back against language that would have restricted multi-family housing bonds to the city of Topeka's Neighborhood Revitalization Act map, arguing it would unfairly exclude economic development in areas like Rossville and Silver Lake. The commission will hold a future work session to establish comprehensive guidelines and tax abatement metrics for future bond applications.

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