Demolishing an abandoned home in SE Topeka

TL;DR Demolition contracts have the best job. Demolishing a structure takes at least 6 months, generally longer with all the legal notifications. The City will focus on identifying unsafe abandoned properties next year, with the goal of demolishing about 40. Cities throughout Kansas want to gain legal control earlier, to prevent demolishing good homes and get them to people who need affordable housing.

Forestry has all the fun

TL;DR Forestry will cut down trees and plant them (if you buy them) in the public rights of way. Their toys equipment is impressive, and the crews make it look way easier than it is to operate them. Source: I tried two of them today.

If you missed the last tweet-a-long with forestry, when we took down a Sycamore, check it out, too.

Applying to be a Topeka Police Officer

TL;DR Math without a calculator is more difficult than you remember. Don't eat a big meal before you take the physical agility test. If you fail once, try, try again.

Click to learn more about the Topeka Police Officer exam or call Officer Brandon Gogian, recruiting and hiring officer, at 785-368-9490.

Speed Lightning.

The increasingly famous TPD Cruiser Cab

TL;DR The Topeka Police Department knows how to get a message across. No, the City isn't offering taxi rides. There are five different ways to get a DUI charge, and any one of them can land you with a $2,500 fine. I took my first ride in the back of a police car.

When water meter boxes become a safety hazard

TL;DR Water crews get to have all the muddin' fun. When they aren't responding to work orders and main breaks, they are performing routine maintenance. As always, use our e311 system to report issues in the City.

Fire Education isn't just for the kids

TL;DR One spark can burn down a house in four minutes -- making fire escape plans rather important. Fire Education Officer Mitchell Paige presents to all kinds of groups, every weekday. To schedule a presentation, email him at mlpaige@topeka.org

Paige has about a dozen thank you cards from students who now know more about staying safe in a fire. Adorable.

The department we couldn't operate without

TL;DR Fleet services is made up of 23 employees who maintain 1,000 vehicles -- everything from weed eaters to fire engines. They do oil changes, transmission replacements, retrofit police vehicles, and even help with police investigations from time to time. It's an often unnoticed job, but one we couldn't operate without.