Topeka Mayor, City Manager hold monthly news conference on Tuesday
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - Topeka Mayor Mike Padilla and City Manager Robert Perez held their monthly news conference on Tuesday morning and discussed a wide range of issues including street projects, efforts to bring soldiers who are entering the civilian workforce to the capital city and the ongoing success of the Washburn University men’s basketball team.
Early in the news conference, Mayor Mike Padilla addressed ongoing street construction and repair work being done in the capital city.
He said the work is being done as quickly as possible and thanked the public for its patience when the projects were being done.
Padilla said he and his wife try to patronize businesses along city streets where the construction work is being done and encouraged other Topeka residents to do likewise.
He also asked motorists to be extra careful as they travel through construction areas, urging them to slow down and give extra space for workers.
In addition, he asked people who see issues on city streets -- such as potholes -- to utilize the “See-Click-Fix” online communication tool so the problems can be addressed. The See-Click-Fix portal can be found by clicking here.
Padilla noted the efforts being undertaken by the Topeka Police Department to engage with the public. He commended Topeka Police Chief Chris Vallejos for his work in soliciting comments from the public for a community policing survey.
On another note, Padilla reminded people to pay attention to the local elections that will be taking place this year.
Padilla said he was excited for the energy being generated by Washburn University’s men’s basketball team qualifying for the NCAA Division 2 Elite Eight, with the first game Tuesday night in Evansville, Ind.
Washburn is on a “real roll” in many of its offerings, including with increased enrollment, Padilla said.
Perez said Topeka leaders have been working with officials from Fort Riley and Fort Leavenworth to showcase opportunities for soldiers who are transitioning into the civilian workforce to see what the capital city can offer them.
A tour to familiarize soldiers with communities in Kansas with the goal of helping veterans stay in the Sunflower State will be coming to Topeka in July.
Every career is represented in the military, Perez said, and veterans are welcome to locate in Topeka.
Six offers are on the table for Hotel Topeka at present, Perez said, and the city is working with the ones that are going to be “a little more advantageous for the city.”
One of the strategic goals for this year “is to sell it,” Perez added.
The city also is looking at vacant positions in its workforce to see if they need to be filled. In that way, the city is working to streamline the city’s workforce and make it more efficient.
Perez added that “north of 10″ cadets are in the police academy at present.
WIBW’s Phil Anderson contributed to this report.
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