Topeka local news summary

Domestic violence calls rising annually, task force reports

Council approves uniform change for off-duty police in 8-2 vote

Council alters capital plan, puts major road projects on hold

Council debates, fails to cut sidewalk program funding

Proposal to delay fire station replacement fails

$8 million fleet garage project removed from capital plan

City adds I70 expansion to long-range plans

County to launch $500,000 regional transportation study focused on Auburn interchange

Signalized intersection at SE 45th and Adams to be replaced with roundabout

Bettis sports complex to receive $717,600 turf replacement

Domestic violence calls rising annually, task force reports

TOPEKA, Kan. — Law enforcement agencies in Shawnee County are responding to an increasing number of domestic violence calls each year, according to a report presented to the City Council on Tuesday by the Mayor’s Task Force Against Domestic Violence. Becca Spielman, program director for the YWCA Northeast Kansas’s Center for Safety and Empowerment, reported that agencies responded to 2,195 domestic violence calls in the past year, resulting in 1,470 arrests. Of those, 993 victims were assessed as being at high risk of being killed by a partner. The report identified a lack of affordable housing and limited public transportation as significant barriers for survivors seeking to leave abusive relationships.

Council approves uniform change for off-duty police in 8-2 vote

TOPEKA, Kan. — The City Council approved a contentious ordinance change Tuesday that will allow off-duty Topeka Police Department officers to wear their official uniforms while working for private security companies. The measure passed 8-2, with Deputy Mayor Brett Kell and Councilwoman Christina Valdivia-Alcalá voting no. Proponents, including TPD Deputy Chief Jamey Haltom, argued the change increases police visibility, deters crime and ensures accountability through the use of body-worn cameras. Kell expressed concern that the city would incur costs for uniforms and training for the benefit of private businesses and that it could increase the city’s liability.

Council alters capital plan, puts major road projects on hold

TOPEKA, Kan. — After lengthy debate Tuesday, the City Council made significant amendments to the 10-year Capital Improvement Plan, removing several large-scale projects from the immediate bond schedule to seek alternative funding. The council voted 7-3 to remove the Polk Quincy Viaduct East project from the bond list, though it was later added back to the CIP with its funding source listed as “other.” A motion to similarly remove the Southeast 29th Street and Kansas Turnpike Authority interchange project failed after a rare motion to reconsider a tied 5-5 vote also failed to change the outcome. The changes reflect a desire by some on the council to reduce the city’s reliance on debt to fund major state and federal highway projects.

Council debates, fails to cut sidewalk program funding

TOPEKA, Kan. — A proposal to reduce funding for the citywide infill sidewalk program failed in a 6-4 vote after a debate over its reliance on a prospective federal grant. Councilwoman Karen Hiller proposed cutting the program’s budget in half for two years and eliminating it in the third, arguing the city should wait for a pending $25 million federal Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity grant. Council members Sylvia Ortiz and Brett Kell spoke against the reduction, stating it was unwise to cut guaranteed local funding for sidewalks in areas not covered by the grant before the federal money is secured. The motion’s failure keeps the program funded at its currently planned levels.

Proposal to delay fire station replacement fails

TOPEKA, Kan. — An amendment to remove the replacement of a fire station from the city’s 2026 and 2028 bond schedule was defeated in a 7-3 vote. The proposal, made by Councilwoman Karen Hiller, aimed to delay the bonding for the project while alternative funding sources were explored. Councilwoman Sylvia Ortiz argued against the delay, stating the need for a new station has been a city priority for nearly two decades to improve service and response times in underserved areas. The vote ensures the project remains a priority in the city’s short-term capital planning.

$8 million fleet garage project removed from capital plan

TOPEKA, Kan. — The City Council voted 8-2 to remove an $8 million placeholder for a new heavy-duty fleet garage from the Capital Improvement Plan. The project, scheduled for 2028, was intended to replace the city’s current street maintenance facility. During discussion, Assistant City Manager Braxton Copley described the current garage as being in “horrible condition” and “beyond the end of its useful life.” Despite the condition of the current facility, council members opted to remove the placeholder project from the bond schedule.

City adds I70 expansion to long-range plans

TOPEKA, Kan. — Following a recommendation from the Kansas Department of Transportation, the City Council voted unanimously to add a I70 project to its 10-year Capital Improvement Plan. The project would widen Interstate 70 from four to six lanes between the MacVicar Avenue interchange and Urish Road. Public Works Director Steve Groen noted the project’s estimated cost is $242 million. It was added to the city’s plan for the year 2030 with the funding source designated as KDOT, signaling the city’s support without committing local bond funds.

County to launch $500,000 regional transportation study focused on Auburn interchange

SHAWNEE COUNTY, Kan. — The Shawnee County Commission on Tuesday approved a request to seek professional engineering services for a half-million-dollar regional transportation study. The study’s primary focus will be to assess the traffic, safety and land-use impacts of a proposed new Kansas Turnpike Authority interchange near the city of Auburn. The Kansas Department of Transportation will fund about 35 percent of the study. Public Works Director Curt Niehaus explained that while a previous KTA study focused on the interchange’s financial benefit to the turnpike, the new study will analyze broader effects on the local and regional road network, including Auburn Road and Wakarusa Road. Officials say the study is a necessary step to secure future state and federal funding for road improvements. Auburn Mayor Mark Brown spoke in support, calling the study essential for “safety and future economic development.”

Signalized intersection at SE 45th and Adams to be replaced with roundabout

SHAWNEE COUNTY, Kan. — Commissioners authorized the Public Works Department to solicit designs for a modern roundabout to replace the current signalized intersection at Southeast 45th Street and Southeast Adams Street. The project aims to improve traffic safety and efficiency while reducing long-term signal maintenance costs. Public Works Director Curt Niehaus noted the existing concrete pavement is in “quite serious distress” and needs replacement. He advocated for a roundabout as a safer, more pedestrian-friendly alternative that would eliminate one of the county’s signal maintenance contracts. Commissioner Aaron Mays, who represents the district, supported the move, noting he has often sat at the traffic light with no cross-traffic. The new roundabout will be illuminated for safety.

Bettis sports complex to receive $717,600 turf replacement

SHAWNEE COUNTY, Kan. — Four infields at the Bettis Family Sports Complex will receive new synthetic turf after commissioners approved a $717,600 contract with Mammoth Sports Construction LLC. The project is funded through a public-private partnership, with the Parks for All Foundation contributing $467,600 and the county providing the remaining $250,000 from its 2026 Capital Improvement Program funds. Parks and Recreation Director Tim Laurent said the existing turf is 16 years old and due for replacement. The project, which will begin in January 2026, also includes alternates for running electricity to the pitcher’s mounds for pitching machines and a $30,000 contingency for aggregate base repairs.

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