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Topeka approves street, stormwater and levee projects and a new sewer-cleaning truck
Summary
The Topeka governing body approved multiple public works projects and a replacement sewer-cleaning machine on June 3, 2025, authorizing construction this year on neighborhood streets, stormwater repairs and levee work and approving a $551,000 equipment purchase with anticipated trade‑in value.
The Topeka governing body on June 3 approved several public infrastructure projects and a fleet replacement that city staff said are scheduled for construction and delivery in 2025.
The package included pavement reconstruction and stormwater and waterline work in the Central Highland Park neighborhood, a mill-and-overlay project in the Westwood neighborhood, replacement work on the Soldier Creek levee unit and the purchase of a new sewer-cleaning machine for the wastewater fleet.
The projects matter because they affect neighborhood driving conditions, stormwater conveyance and flood protection and the city’s ability to maintain sewer lines without delaying service. "This project consists of pavement reconstruction on Southeast Seventeenth Street from Hudson Boulevard to Chandler Street and on Southeast Nineteenth Street from Adams to Indiana," Steve Brown, director of public works, told the governing body when he briefed members on the Central Highland Park item.
Sylvia Davis, director of utilities, described the fleet purchase: "Tonight, utilities is seeking approval to replace our '20 '19 sewer cleaning machine with a '20 '20 '5 sewer cleaning machine, cash funded out of our wastewater fleet replacement program." She said the new machine’s purchase price is $551,000 and that trade‑in offers on existing units had ranged in recent estimates from about $140,000 to $160,000, lower than historical values.
Votes followed committee recommendations: the Central Highland Park reconstruction passed on a motion by Councilman David Banks, seconded by Councilwoman Sylvia Ortiz (10–0); the Westwood mill-and-overlay passed on a motion moved and seconded by the deputy mayor and Councilman Banks (10–0); the sewer-cleaning machine purchase passed on a motion by Councilman Dover, seconded by the deputy mayor (9–1, Councilmember Valdivia Acala voted no); and the Soldier Creek levee repairs passed on a motion by Banks, seconded by Ortiz (10–0).
City staff said the Soldier Creek work is required to maintain certification of the North Topeka levee unit and that the work includes cost‑sharing with the North Topeka Drainage District. The Westwood overlay was described as a roughly $370,000 project with curb and gutter and patching work planned.
Council members pressed for details on replacement cycles and trade‑in strategy for expensive equipment and were told the city manages the fleet to achieve higher trade‑in values and to reduce maintenance costs over time. "Traditionally, we are getting over $200,000 in trade in value for these machines," Davis said, adding recent offers have been lower and the city is reviewing the fleet size.
Construction timelines and financing will be managed through the public infrastructure committee and later project-level approvals as projects move toward bid and construction.
