Topeka Transit: What is the long term solution?

As I am sure many of you have seen in the news recently, Topeka Metropolitan Transit Authority Board is both asking the city for a mill levy increase, as well as cutting Sunday & evening service (http://cjonline.com/news/local/2009-06-16/cuts_in_transit_service_nearing).  I am happy to see the City Council limited the mill levy increase to only one year, but I do not see the TMTA board coming up with long term solutions, so they are not back next year looking for more money again.  A city the size of Topeka should have a public transportation system, but it should also not cosume huge amounts of tax dollars.  At this point to come to a long term solution, it seems the entire operations of the TMTA need to be reviewed.  Read the rest of this entry »

City Manager for the Day

In April, my family (Aaron, Travis, Denise, Ryan, and Gwen) and I attended an event to raise money for The Capper Foundation called An Evening As A Child.  This event, at the Expocentre, was a fun event filled with food, games, wine, live auctions, and silent auctions.  It was at this fundraiser, that the events of June 12, 2009 were set in motion.

I was walking through the silent auction, wanting to see what auction items were available, when I saw it… It was the chance to bid on an item called, Spend a Day with the City Manager.  How awesome was this for an auditor and TransformTopeka board member, like myself?  I wrote in a bid with less than 5 minutes left in the auction.  A nominal donation to The Capper Foundation, and it was done.  Little did Norton Bonaparte know what he was getting himself into by placing this item on the auction block… Read the rest of this entry »

Mayor’s Health Status

I’ll update this category with Press Releases that are sent out by the City of Topeka (The Official Web Site of the City of Topeka)

Mayor’s Health Status

Update No. 1, Thursday noon (June 18, 2009 )

Topeka Mayor Bill Bunten is doing better and anticipates going home from the hospital later today. Bunten was admitted Tuesday evening to Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center for 24-hour observation and care for pneumonia and rapid heart rate. He stayed a second night at the hospital Wednesday after his heart rate was brought under control.

Mayor Bunten said he appreciates the kind thoughts and prayers regarding his health. He asks that there be no cards, visitors, or phone calls, please, upon returning home, explaining that he needs to rest.

Mayor’s Health Status


Update No. 2, Thursday 4 p.m.
Topeka Mayor Bill Bunten is home from the hospital and resting. It has been reported he is doing much better than he had been during the past few days. Read the rest of this entry »