Here's how much Topeka will pay law firm that investigated ex-city manager Stephen Wade
Tim Hrenchir, Topeka Capital-Journal
August 15, 2023·2 min read
Topeka's city government this week will pay $34,091.35 to the law firm that carried out the investigation that preceded last month's firing of city manager Stephen Wade.
City communications director Gretchen Spiker shared that information with The Capital-Journal on Friday in response to a Kansas Open Records Act request the newspaper filed last month.
The city earlier provided the newspaper a copy of its contract with the law firm, Joseph Hollander & Craft, LLC. That agreement called for the city to pay that firm $450 an hour for services rendered, up to a maximum of $35,000.
Reasons for city's firing of Stephen Wade haven't been made public
Topeka's city government this week will pay a law firm $34,091.35 for the investigation it conducted that preceded last month's firing of city manager Stephen Wade, shown here.
The mayor and city council voted June 6 to grant Wade a leave of absence from his job. Wade requested the leave so he could receive hospitalization for mental health reasons, he told The Capital-Journal last month.
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Wade, whom the mayor and council hired as city manager last September, was told soon after requesting leave that "an investigation was going to be conducted," he said.
The mayor and council then voted 10-0 on July 11 to fire Wade, for reasons that haven't been made public. They chose Richard Nienstedt, who was temporarily serving as acting city manager, to serve as interim city manager.
Nienstedt is expected to remain interim manager through the end of September, Councilwoman Karen Hiller said at last week's council meeting.
When will the payment to the law firm be made?
In response to a request filed under the Kansas Open Records Act, Topeka's city government charged The Capital-Journal $5 last month to acquire a copy of the city's contract with Joseph Hollander & Craft.
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Spiker said at the time that the city hadn't yet received the final bill from Joseph Hollander & Craft but would be happy to reveal the amount involved once that amount became known.
After The Capital-Journal requested an update last Friday, Spiker said the city Friday of this week will make that payment, of $34,091.35, to Joseph Hollander & Craft LLC.
"The payment is currently being processed and will be paid out on that date," she said.
Wade served from 2018 to 2020 as publisher of The Topeka Capital-Journal.
Henry McClure 785.383.9994 sent from mobile 📱 time kills deals
---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Protecting KS Children From Sexual Predators<protectkschildrenfrompredators@gmail.com> Date: Wed, Apr 2, 2025, 5:53 PM Subject: April Newsletter To:
Dear Survivors and Supporters,
We wanted to reach out and update you on our progress as the Kansas 2025 Legislative Session comes to a close. This year we introduced a two part bill in the House that would allow survivors of substantiated abuse access to their own DCF records and extend the Civil Statute of Limitations for Child Sexual Abuse from age 31-55. Despite our best efforts and support from many Legislators, Survivors, and various organizations, the bill was denied a hearing and will not be passed this year.
The Senate Judiciary Chair has made it clear that she will not allow us to extend the civil statute of limitations beyond 31 years. We have decided to pursue a new direction for our legislative efforts for next year and focus on supporting survivors and prevention. We will hopefully come back to working on statute of limitations in the future.
Over the next year we will focus on three critical initiatives:
Access to DCF Records: Survivors deserve access to their Department for Children and Families (DCF) records when there is substantiated evidence of abuse. These records are essential for healing, seeking justice, and understanding our past.
Education and Prevention: We are dedicated to breaking the silence and raising awareness about how to keep Kansas kids safe from predators. Public education is key to preventing abuse and protecting future generations.
Erin's Law: We are excited to announce that we plan to advocate for Erin's Law. Erin's law would require Kansas Schools to provide Body Safety Education to students K-12 one day a year. It would also provide information to teachers and school staff about how to handle disclosures of abuse. The Erin's Law Foundation also provides a free curriculum that schools can use to teach students and teachers about body safety. Studies have shown that children who are educated about body safety are more likely to feel safe coming forward and disclosing to a safe adult. If we can help children to feel safe about disclosing we can help prevent future children from being abused.
How You Can Help:
Help Us Find Speaking Opportunities We are ready to share our stories and our legislative work across Kansas. Do you attend or organize meetings, events, or gatherings that need speakers? Invite us to come speak and raise awareness. We are willing to travel across the state to make sure our voices are heard.
Share Our Posts on Social Media Help us amplify our message! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and share our posts with your network. The more people who hear about our mission, the more impact we can have. Every share helps raise awareness and build support for our cause.
Send us a quote about your experience being a survivor for our Survivors' Breaking The Silence posts. You can use your first name or be left anonymous.
Contact us if you're interested in telling your story to be featured in one of our Survivor Spotlights.
Help us expand our Survivors' Photo Collage. Send us a photo of yourself at the time when your abuse occurred along w/the age when you were abused and the age when you disclosed. Only your first name will be used (you can even send us a different name).
Contact Your Legislators and Candidates Your voice matters. Contact your state legislators and any candidates running for office and ask them to support our efforts to protect survivors and prevent child sexual abuse. Let them know that this issue is important to you and that Kansas needs to make changes to ensure justice for survivors. You can find your legislators and their contact information atpluralpolicy.org.
-Current Legislation that could help protect children and/or support survivors:
HB2183: Modernizes the legal definition of multiple sex crimes:
Sexual Exploitation of a Child: Criminalize using AI to make a picture of a real child into CSAM (child sexual abuse material or child pornography).
Unlawful Transmission of a Visual Depiction of a Child: Criminalize transmitting a nude visual of someone between 14 and 17 years old by someone who is 18 or younger (known as revenge porn among high schoolers).
Breach of Privacy: Include content that is digitally altered to appear to be an identifiable person (also known as revenge porn).
HB2164: (Senate Sub): Prohibits sex offenders over 18 who have been convicted of child sex crimes from entering school property or attending school activities.
SB186: Sets a minimum bail for defendants charged with certain violent sex crimes who have been previously convicted of a violent crime.
Join Us at the State Capitol (2026)
We will be tabling at the Kansas State Capitol every week during the legislative session to advocate for our causes. We need your presence! If you're able, come join us as we speak to lawmakers, distribute information, and show the strength of our community. Your voice and support will make a huge impact.
Donate.
We will be needing to print new brochures and signage for public education. Donate here to help cover those costs.
9. Attend Community Events with us: April is Child Abuse Prevention and Sexual Assault Awareness Month. We will be tabling at various events in the community. We will try to post community events on our FB page. A currently scheduled opportunity includes the Leavenworth Child Abuse Prevention Kick Off: Friday April 4th from 4-6 PM at Ten Penny Bar and Grill in Leavenworth KS.
Together, we can make Kansas a safer place for our children and create a path to healing and justice for survivors.
We are incredibly grateful for your support. It is your advocacy and involvement that make these changes possible.
Thank you,
-Kim Bergman and Tess Ramirez
Protecting KS Children From Sexual Predators
P.S. If you have any questions or need more information, please don't hesitate to reach out. Every step forward is a step closer to making Kansas safer for all children.
Henry McClure 785.383.9994 sent from mobile 📱 time kills deals
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