County initiates renovation process for Maner Conference Center

County seeks independent engineering firm for data center review

County approves $13.75 million in bonds for senior housing expansion

Commission approves $437,000 for Gage Park Playland surfacing

Health department secures over $1 million in state grants

Jail's new behavioral health unit set for August grand opening

Early voting surpasses 5,000 as Election Day approaches

County initiates renovation process for Maner Conference Center

TOPEKA, Kan. — Recognizing the need to modernize a facility untouched since its construction in 1988, a request for qualifications for a design-build team to renovate the Maner Conference Center was unanimously approved. The project will address major structural needs, including updated HVAC and electrical systems, the installation of a fire sprinkler system and modernized IT infrastructure. Pre-construction consulting is expected to take six to eight months before any significant physical changes or disruptions to currently booked events occur.

County seeks independent engineering firm for data center review

TOPEKA, Kan. — A request for qualifications to hire an independent engineering firm to review zoning, land use and development applications for proposed data centers was approved. County Counselor Rich Eckert noted the firm will report directly to the county, but the applicant — such as Compass Data Centers, which filed a land-use application July 24 — will foot the bill. To avoid conflicts of interest, the selected firm cannot have current data center clients. The move follows significant public concern and hours of public comment regarding the potential environmental and infrastructure effects of a proposed Compass Data Centers facility in the county.

County approves $13.75 million in bonds for senior housing expansion

TOPEKA, Kan. — A resolution authorizing the issuance of an estimated $13.75 million in taxable senior housing revenue bonds for phase two of the senior housing project was approved. Located northeast of Southwest 17th Street and Urish Road, the expansion will include 39 buildings featuring 34 independent senior living units. The bonds are entirely self-financed by the project developer, meaning the county bears no financial responsibility for the debt.

Commission approves $437,000 for Gage Park Playland surfacing

TOPEKA, Kan. — Safety surfacing for the new Gage Park Playland is moving forward after a $437,238.61 contract with a playground surfacing contractor was approved. Paid for by Gage Park sales tax funds, the project will cover more than 25,000 square feet with a mixture of poured-in-place rubber, bonded rubber and artificial turf. Parks and Recreation Director Tim Laurent said this is the final major step for the play area, which the county hopes to open to the public by Labor Day weekend.

Health department secures over $1 million in state grants

TOPEKA, Kan. — The Shawnee County Health Department received approval to accept more than $1 million in grant funding from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment for state fiscal year 2027. The approvals include $752,349 in general Aid to Local grants, $262,782 for the Maternal Child Health Program and $28,764 for an Immunization Action Plan. Department officials confirmed the funding levels are firmly set, providing concrete figures for the county's upcoming budget discussions.

Jail's new behavioral health unit set for August grand opening

TOPEKA, Kan. — Shawnee County Department of Corrections Director Brian Cole announced that a new 60-bed behavioral health unit will hold its grand opening on Aug. 24. Cole called the facility a "game-changer" that will increase safety and security for both staff and the community by providing structured programming for inmates dealing with mental illness. The unit will also introduce innovative management strategies for inmates on suicide watch, capping off a year and a half of planning and construction.

Early voting surpasses 5,000 as Election Day approaches

TOPEKA, Kan. — Shawnee County Election Commissioner Andrew Howell reported that more than 5,095 citizens have cast early in-person ballots ahead of the upcoming Aug. 4 primary election. While in-person early voting has seen a slight increase in recent years, the county has currently received a 36 percent return rate on requested mail ballots. Howell urged voters with mail ballots to return them immediately via mail or at the election office drop box and reminded the public that the election office does not communicate with voters via text or email.

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