Mission Township - Sherwood Improvement District

NEW! - Minutes of the monthly Sherwood Improvement District meetings are now being posted.  To see the minutes, click on the 'Meetings' button above.

PLEASE NOTE - Representatives from the Shawnee County Sheriff's Department have informed us that a rash of burglaries have been occurring throughout the county, including the southwest area.  They have asked us to remind you to make sure that your doors are locked and garage doors are down and locked at night and when you are not home.  Also, please be watching for unusual activity in your neighborhood, such as unknown parked and unattended vehicles.  If you suspect unlawful activity, please contact the Sheriff's Department immediately.  Their main telephone number is 368 - 2200.

Also, with the recent construction occurring on Wanamaker Road, traffic within the improvement district has increased.  It is important to note that the amount of Sheriff Department patrols has increased and they are watching for speeders!!  Please remind drivers in your household that the speed limit for most of the Sherwood Improvement District is 25 mph and is being enforced.

Mission Township is an area of land that lies southwest of Topeka.  It's boundaries are 61st Street on the south, the  Kansas River on the north, Hodges Road on the west and the city limits of Topeka on the east.  Mission township has approximately 85 miles of roads and an estimated 8500 population.   The Sherwood Improvement District (SID) lies within Mission Township and comprises approximately 60% of the township's population. 

Township government is one of the smallest units of government within the state of Kansas, and is considered an extension of county government.  The township has three elected officials:  a trustee, a treasurer, and a clerk, all who are elected for a four-year term.  The official duties of the three officials are to levy taxes in the township, to maintain a fire department and a road department for the township.  Some townships also have cemeteries to maintain, however Mission Township does not.  Currently, the township has an annual budget of $1.6 million.

The Mission Township Fire Department (MTFD) is comprised of a fire chief and six full time fireman plus approximately 25 volunteers.  In addition within the fire department, the township maintains a certified dive team for the Lake Sherwood area and has been used in other parts of Shawnee County.  The MTFD is considered a first class volunteer fire department, and currently enjoys an ISO fire rating of  "three".  This rating is equal to the city of Topeka's and offers residents within Mission Township the lowest in home insurance premiums.  They also provide first responder service and medical aid calls throughout the entire township.

The Mission Township Road Department has a road supervisor and three full time employees. The road department maintains all designated roads within the township, except for those roads within Sherwood Improvement District. The roads within the improvement district are maintained by the SID. The township does provide sanding and snow removal to all roads within the township and improvement district during the winter months.  Occasionally, the township and the improvement district work together on specific projects that benefit both entities.   An example of this is the roundabout at 29th and Urish Road, which was completed with help from Shawnee County and Dillons.  At present, Mission Township's roads are all hard surfaced, either with asphalt seal or asphalt overlay.  It is the goal of the township board to asphalt overlay all roads within the township.

The Sherwood Improvement District has three elected officials on it's board:  a president, vice-president, and treasurer.  The official duties of the three officials are to manage new road development within the improvement district, maintain the existing road infrastructure, manage and maintain some of the drainage areas within the SID, and to levy taxes to pay for improvements needed.   A portion of the SID budget is used to acquire additional police patrols, which are contracted through the Shawnee County Sheriff's Department.  The annual budget for the Sherwood Improvement District is between $250,000 - $270,000.

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