City manager Stephen Wade redrew Topeka government with 34 new positions. Here's where.

Topeka's city government has created 34 new jobs, including seven paying more than $100,000 a year, since Stephen Wade became city manager last year.

The city during that time period has eliminated one job, the chief of staff's position held by former police chief and interim city manager Bill Cochran, who retired effective Dec. 2.

Wade has also filled four existing department head's positions.

How many people does the city of Topeka employ?

In response to a request The Capital-Journal filed under the Kansas Open Records Act, the city last week provided information free of charge documenting changes it has made regarding staffing since Wade became city manager in September.

The documents involved were emailed to the newspaper by senior assistant city attorney Mary Kuckelman. The city has 1,030 full-time employees and 24 temporary employees, she said.

Wade wasn't available for comment for this story, as he's been on an extended leave of absence for undisclosed reasons since June 6. Richard Nienstedt is serving as acting city manager.

However, city communications director Gretchen Spiker provided comments Monday to The Capital-Journal about the need for some of the moves the city has made personnel-wise under Wade.

Which newly created jobs pay more than $100,000 a year?

Hannah Uhlrig, Rhiannon Friedman, Ernestor De La Rosa, Jana Harden and Kathryn Jackson were chosen to fill five of the newly created city jobs that pay more than $100,000 a year. The other two are currently vacant.

The other 27 newly created jobs all pay less than $100,000 a year.

Uhlrig, who was previously the city's deputy public works director, started work Dec. 24 in the city's finance department in the newly created position of director of special projects and innovation.

Uhlrig's annual salary is $125,000, the city said.

Her husband, Brandon Uhlrig, is a Topeka police officer.

New employee started in one position, ended up in another

Wade hired Friedman last October to fill the city's newly created position of director of development and economic growth.

Friedman previously was president of Downtown Topeka Inc., which is part of the Greater Topeka Partnership.

Friedman then became interim planning and development services director effective Jan. 21 with the retirement of Bill Fiander, who left to join the political science department faculty at Washburn University.

The city announced Monday that Nienstedt had appointed Friedman to serve permanently as planning and development services director.

Friedman's annual salary is $123,625, the city said.

Job was created to stimulate equity and diversity

De La Rosa started work Jan. 4 in a newly created position as the city's chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer.

The person in that job works to ensure that Topeka's city government provides "a work environment and community where we all have an opportunity to succeed," Wade said in a December news release.

De La Rosa, whose first language is Spanish, had previously been deputy city manager at Dodge City. His annual salary is $131,250, the city said.

Three jobs paying $100,000-plus annually created in IT

The city indicated it has created three jobs in information technology since Wade became city manager.

Those include one for a deputy director and two for division directors.

The city said one of the division directors, Kathryn Jackson — who started March 27 — is paid $112,500 a year.

The newly created deputy director’s job is vacant and pays $120,000 a year.

The other newly created division director's job is vacant and pays $112,500 a year, the city said.

Eight new jobs created in Topeka Police Department

The city reported it has created eight new jobs in the police department since Wade became city manager.

Those include four positions for property maintenance inspectors, which remain vacant; and one position each — which have all been filled — for a housing navigator, administrative officer and public safety system administrator.

One other job was created in the police department. That was a major's position filled April 1 by the promotion of Harden, whose annual salary is $127,853.88.

Harden, Capt. Colleen Stuart and Lt. Jennifer Cross demanded $1.5 million in a gender discrimination lawsuit they filed Jan. 18 against the city alleging they were passed over for promotions because they are women. The suit remains pending, and the two sides are scheduled to meet Friday with a mediator.

The police department promoted Cross to captain effective April 1.

"Of the above referenced positions, five positions are associated with the division of code enforcement and property maintenance and three positions are directly associated with the Topeka Police Department," Spiker said. "The administrative officer position was created as a civilian role, allowing sworn officers to focus on other duties."

The city has created these 20 other jobs

Documents provided by the city show the other 20 new positions created since Wade became city manager are as follows:

• Four in the city manager's office. Two, for an assistant to the city manager and a program administrator, were filled by the hiring of employees in December and April, respectively. The other two remain vacant. They are for an administrative officer and another assistant to the city manager.

• Eight in the public works department, including six for maintenance workers and one each for a management analyst and infrastructure manager. All have been filled except for two of the maintenance worker's jobs. The maintenance worker's positions were created in response to Shawnee County’s elimination of jail inmate work crews and in response to the need for additional blight crew members to respond to the need for trash remediation throughout the city, Spiker said.

• Four in planning and development, including two for program coordinators and one each for a management analyst and office specialist. All the jobs are filled except one of the program coordinator's jobs.

• Two in finance for a senior project manager and a management analyst. Both have been filled.

• One in human resources for a commercial driver's license & equipment manager, which has been filled.

• One at the Topeka Fire Department for a training officer, which is vacant.

"This position was added through the city’s budget process, in response to the Topeka Fire Department’s training needs," Spiker said.

Department head positions receive new titles, occupants

Wade has filled four existing department head's positions, including two that were vacant last year when their titles were changed in an effort to help attract good candidates.

The "information technology director" became the "chief information officer" and the "administrative and financial services director" became the "chief financial officer."

Wade subsequently hired Freddy Mawyin, who started work Jan. 5 as chief financial officer. He was previously senior economic advisor for the Greater Topeka Partnership.

Mawyin's annual salary is $131,250. He replaces Wade, who was administrative and financial services director before becoming city manager on Sept. 14. Rachelle Mathews had since held that position on an interim basis.

Lifelong Topekan Randi Stahl then took office Feb. 13 as the city's chief information officer. She'd previously been chief information systems officer for Yellow, according to her LinkedIn page.

Stahl replaces Mark Biswell, who had overseen the city's information technology department from 2007 until he retired late last year. Marie-Luise Schoonover had since held that position on an interim basis.

Stahl's annual salary is $144,400. Her husband is Topeka Fire Marshal Alan Stahl.

Public works, utilities departments get new department heads

Sylvia Davis was hired effective Oct. 15 as city utilities director to replace Braxton Copley.

Davis had previously been deputy utilities director. Her annual salary is $141,480.64.

Copley, who had been serving as both utilities director and interim public works director, subsequently became permanent director of the public works department. His annual salary is $153,000.

Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Stephen Wade beefs up Topeka's city government with 34 new positions