City of Topeka to consider approving $50,000 claim for backhoe damage to house

Topeka’s mayor and city council next week will consider voting to pay an insurance company $50,000 to settle a claim arising from extensive damage a city backhoe allegedly did in April 2018 to a house at 1111 S.E. 33rd Terrace.

Topeka city attorney Lisa Robertson’s office recommends the mayor and city council vote to pay the claim, according to the preliminary agenda for that meeting, which will begin at 6 p.m. May 7 in the council chambers at 214 S.E. 8th. hawnee County appraisal records indicate the house at 1111 S.E. 33rd Terrace has been owned since June 2013 by John and Tina Larson, with the property having an appraised value of $40,100.

The claim, submitted Jan. 11 to the city, asked specifically for damages totaling $62,569.46. On claims seeking more than $10,000, the city attorney’s office is required to make a recommendation to the city council on whether to grant or deny them. If no effort is made to initiate payment, such claims are considered denied at the end of the 120-day period.