In short: the charter makes councilmembers legislators and policymakers, not administrators. The detailed operating rules live in the Governing Body Rules of Procedure, not in a long duties list inside the charter itself.

 The Topeka city charter (compiled in Appendix A of the Topeka Municipal Code) does not contain a long, itemized “job description” list of personal duties for an individual councilmember. Powers are vested in the governing body as a whole (the nine district councilmembers + the mayor).

The core charter language (verbatim)

Appx. A, Sec. A2-25 – Powers of the governing body:

(a) The Council and Mayor shall be the governing body of the city. It shall exercise the corporate powers of the city and, subject to the expressed limitations of this Charter Ordinance, it shall be vested with all powers of legislation in municipal affairs adequate to provide a complete system of local government consistent with the Constitution of the State of Kansas. It shall have no administrative powers.

That is the main statement. The governing body is a legislative / policy-making body. Day-to-day administration belongs to the city manager.

A later charter ordinance (No. 117) repealed an older, longer “Powers of the City Council” section and left this additional specific power:

In addition to any other grant of authority under the Constitution of the State of Kansas, applicable state law, or Charter Ordinance No. 94, as amended, the Council shall have the following duties, powers and responsibilities including, but without limitation thereto:
The ability to override a mayoral veto of any council legislation whether by resolution or ordinance by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the entire council, that number being six (6).

The gist

• Councilmembers (with the mayor) make city law and policy: they vote on ordinances, resolutions, budgets, zoning/plats, contracts that require governing-body approval, appointments where the charter or ordinance requires it, etc.
• They do not run departments, give orders to city staff, or handle administration. Those functions belong to the city manager. Individual members cannot direct staff; direction to the manager comes from a majority of the governing body.
• Meetings: at least twice a month; six members make a quorum; most actions need six affirmative votes (ordinary home-rule ordinances that are subject to mayoral veto need five council votes).
• The city’s own description: the Council “conducts the business of the city by voting on ordinances, resolutions, applications, plats, zoning petitions, receiving reports and other items.” Service is treated as part-time.

In short: the charter makes councilmembers legislators and policymakers, not administrators. The detailed operating rules live in the Governing Body Rules of Procedure, not in a long duties list inside the charter itself.

Look here

The local United Way serving Topeka is **United Way of Kaw Valley** (formerly United Way of Greater Topeka; EIN 48-0561978). It merged with United Way of Douglas County in 2022 and now covers Shawnee, Douglas, Jackson, and Jefferson counties.

### Most recent figures (FY ending June 30, 2025)

From the organization’s own IRS Form 990 and its public statements:

- **Total expenses:** about $5.04 million

- **Program expenses:** about $4.16 million (~82.5% of total expenses), including $3.61 million in grants to partner agencies

- **Fundraising expenses:** $321,397 (~6.4%)

- **Management and general (administrative) expenses:** about $560,000 (~11.1%)

- Combined **administrative + fundraising (overhead):** **~17.5–18.1%**

The organization itself reports that administrative and fundraising costs were **18.1% in FY 2025**. It notes that Charity Navigator considers charities spending under 25% on those categories efficient, and that BBB/IRS guidelines allow up to 35%.

Charity Navigator’s latest published program-expense ratio for the organization (based on recent 990s) is **84.25%**, implying overhead in the mid-teens.

### Context and history

- In 2010 the organization reported roughly 10.7% of revenues going to administrative costs.

- Around 2014 it raised the administrative fee it withholds from donor-designated gifts (from 9% in 2009 to nearly 15%, plus an additional allowance for uncollectible pledges). Designated gifts subsequently dropped.

- A small administrative fee is still applied to designated gifts passed through to agencies.

Financials, audits, and 990s are posted on the organization’s site: [uwkawvalley.org/finances-reports](https://www.uwkawvalley.org/finances-reports).

“Administrative costs” typically include management, accounting, rent, communications, and similar overhead; United Way also counts some community-coordination, volunteer, and capacity-building work in support costs rather than as pure program grants. Percentages can shift year to year with campaign size, merger effects, and how expenses are allocated.

Henry McClure

785.383.9994 

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KORA - Kansas Open Records Act (KORA), K.S.A. 45-215 et seq

September 1, 2026

Dear Records Custodian:

Pursuant to the Kansas Open Records Act, K.S.A. 45-215 through 45-223, I request inspection and copies of the following public records.

This request concerns the Compass Datacenters information sessions held on July 28, 2026, at the Innovation Center at Washburn Rural High School, Auburn-Washburn USD 437, including the afternoon session attended by public officials and the later public open house.

Please provide any existing records that show:

1. Whether any rent, facility-use fee, custodial fee, security fee, utility charge, deposit, or other consideration was charged, waived, invoiced, or received for use of USD 437 facilities (including the Innovation Center or any related rooms, parking, or grounds) for those July 28, 2026 meetings or related setup/cleanup.
2. If any such charge was assessed or paid:
• Who requested or reserved the space;
• Who was billed;
• Who paid (name of person, company, or public agency);
• The amount charged and the amount paid;
• The date of invoice and date of payment;
• Any fee waiver, in-kind arrangement, or “no charge” determination and who authorized it.
3. Related existing records, if any, limited to this event:
• Facility rental applications, contracts, permits, or reservation confirmations;
• Invoices, receipts, purchase orders, payment records, checks, credit-card records, or accounts-receivable entries;
• Emails or written correspondence among district, city, or county staff and Compass Datacenters (or its representatives) regarding use of the school facility, rent, fees, or waiver of fees;
• Any district facility-use policy or rate schedule that was applied to this reservation.

I am not asking any agency to create a new report or answer questions in narrative form. I am requesting existing records. If your office does not maintain a listed item, please so state and, if known, identify the agency that does.

Please produce records in electronic form by email if available. If fees will exceed $25, please provide a written estimate before incurring those costs. I am a Kansas resident and request that any fee waiver or reduced-fee practice your agency applies to residents be applied here.

Please respond by the end of the third business day after receipt, as required by K.S.A. 45-218(d). If additional time is needed, please provide the required explanation of the cause for delay and the earliest date the records will be available.

Requester: Henry McClure
MCRE, LLC
3625 SW 29th Street #100
Topeka, KS 66614
785-383-9994
mcre13@gmail.com

Thank you for your assistance.

Sincerely,
Henry McClure

Fw: Time is running out Henry McClure to help me reach my goal

From: Adriana Raub <adrianaraub@eteamsponsor.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 1, 2026 12:30 PM
To: mcre13@gmail.com <mcre13@gmail.com>
Subject: Time is running out Henry McClure to help me reach my goal

Donate Now 2026 OUKS Women's Volleyball Fundraiser Dear Henry McClure, I wanted to remind you that I’m participating in volleyball and we are raising money through our 2026 OUKS Women's Volleyball Fundraiser Please visit our campaign page to see how close we are to reaching our goal and make a donation. I appreciate your support in advance, thank you. Adriana Raub Donate Now * Upon your donation you will receive a “Thank You” email receipt that may be used for tax purposes. Please consult your tax preparer for any questions regarding non-profit donation deductions. Powered by 1390 Willow Pass Rd #210, Concord, CA 94520 © Copyright 2010-2026  |  Privacy Policy Stop receiving further emails regarding this Campaign