City Manager's Update - Sept. 9, 2022

Building, Development, & Project Updates

Centennial Park Ballfield

Conco Construction completed grading, irrigation, concrete work, and all electrical that is not on backorder last week. Fencing will be completed this week. Staff will be seeding and sodding soon, assuming cooler temperatures. USD 373 will be holding a cross country meet at the park on Oct. 1.

Residential

One new single-family residential permit was pulled in the 2000 block of Depot at Sand Creek Station, at an estimated value of $285,000. This brings the total number of single-family new builds to 19 for the year.

Sand Creek Station 4th Addition: Water and sewer utility work is scheduled to begin Sept. 26.

Harvest Pointe: The developer’s contractor is working on sanitary sewer manholes to pass a vacuum test this week.

The Enclave: Pending State permit approvals from Kansas Department of Health and Environment for water line extensions.

Commercial

Starbucks: The water fire line was approved by the State last week, and the contractor plans to have the line constructed by Oct. 1. Framing has begun.

Planning Commission

On the agenda for the Sept. 12 Planning Commission meeting:

• Preliminary plat for Rolling Hills 7th Addition for Quick Trip Corp., East First between I-135 and Spencer.
• Variance for 420 Columbus Ave. for a garage off an alleyway.
• Zoning amendment for 400 E. Eighth St., an old gas station building, from R-1 residential to C-2 commercial.
• Zoning amendment for 3014 and 3017 Full Vision Dr., sets zoning at I-2 industrial.
• Update regarding new zoning code and subdivision regulations.

“Best of Newton” Photo Contest

The annual “Best of Newton” photo contest will be accepting entries Oct. 1-28. The free contest gives photographers three different opportunities to be recognized for the same works of art. The contest will have two categories this year: the open category and one focusing on photos taken in the historic downtown corridor. Individuals may submit up to five entries in each category. Entries are accepted from Newton residents and visitors.

Judges will choose winners based on the quality of the image, technical merit, creativity, subject matter as it relates to Newton and the appeal of the image to potential visitors. Photos will be chosen for the calendar with an eye toward the four seasons, the holidays, and annual events in Newton. Images chosen to appear in the calendar must have a landscape orientation.

More details and entry forms may be found online. For more information and details, contact Toby Carrig at the Newton Convention and Visitors Bureau, 316-284-3642 or tcarrig@newtonkansas.com.

Newton Public Library

Update from Library Director Cari Cusick: The following budget shows the expected revenues for the new library project, including the assumption that we will meet the fundraising goal of $2.7 million, and the current estimated expenses, as of August 2022. It also shows the shortfall, or difference between those revenues and expenses, as well as a list of add-alternate items that we intend to bid separately and hope to include should funding allow.

The budget for the new library has not been immune to the realities of the supply chain and inflation issues of the past couple of years due to the pandemic, which have pushed prices for the entire project much higher than anticipated. The original concept drawing was set at an $8.5 million budget in early 2020. Estimates last fall pushed that north of $11 million. However, by strategically lowering costs in areas that do not impact patron experience (i.e. stone veneer exterior finish instead of stone, etc.), the costs were lowered to approximately $10 million. Several items were also moved to the add-alternate list at that point as well.

Still significantly higher than the original budget, the library agreed to put in additional funds in April 2022 to bring the expected revenues and expenses in closer alignment.

There are contingencies built into the costs, both for the design phase and construction phase. Also, estimates will continue to fluctuate with the market, and until the project competitive bidding process is complete.

The budget shortfall currently shows at approximately $455,000. This increase is primarily the result of soil borings indicating that the project will require a deeper foundation than the one originally included in the plans, adding approximately $350,000 to the cost. The add-alternates add up to $155,000.

While the project costs have gone up significantly since the early 2020 estimates, we have maintained the campaign goal of $2.7 million for messaging consistency. However, we will need to address the budget shortfall, and we hope to include the alternate items in the original construction because it will be less costly and disruptive in the long run to have those included in the original project. Because of this, we are continuing to raise funds with the intention of surpassing that $2.7 million mark. Funds raised beyond the $2.7 million will go toward this deficit and will ensure that the project moves forward and contains all of the elements that are needed and desired by our community.

Project Income & Expenditures:

Anticipated Income	Description	Funding Amount
City Funding	Will also carry the bonds	$4,500,000
Library Funding - Bonded	$65,000 paid annually over 20 yrs	$ 1,300,000
Library Funding - Add'l	Agreed to add in April to offset increased costs	$ 1,200,000
Library Funding Upfront	Phase 2&3 Consultant Fees paid upfront	$ 246,000
Fundraising Campaign	Private Donations & Grants, have $2.4M now	$ 2,700,000
Total		$ 9,946,000

 

Expenditures	Description	Expense Amount
Consultant Fees
Phase 1 & 4	City Cost as per Agreement (architect)	$ 935,000
Phase 2 & 3	Library Cost as per Agreement (fundraising consultant)	$ 246,000
Reimbursables	$30K Library, $40K City	$ 67,000
Construction	By 3rd Party Estimator, see appendix for full report	$ 7,653,703
Library Interiors FFE	Cabinetry, Furniture, Shelving	$ 425,610
Technology & Equipment	Security & Access Control, AV, Internet, Phones, etc.	$ 300,000
Misc. Expenses & Services	survey, geotech, 3rd party estimating, demo of existing bldg., environmental survey, etc.	$ 200,000
Contingency 5%	Design & Engineering	$ 191,343
Contingency 5%	Construction	$ 382,685
Total		$10,401,341
Project Shortfall	Need to make up on top of fundraising campaign; contingencies may be able to be reduced	$ 455,341

 Will also bid add-alternates:

	Estimated Cost
Equipment Screening on Roof	$26,000
Eyebrow Canopies	$30,000
Mural System	$27,000
Sunshade on West	$39,000
Operable Partition	$27,000
Mobile Displays	$7,000

Fundraising Campaign Update (as of 9/6/2022):

Foundations & Trusts
Sunderland Foundation	$300,000
INTRUST Bank Charitable Trust	$150,000
Dwane & Velma Lunt Wallace Charitable Foundation	$100,000
Florence Bessmer Foundation	$50,000
Lewis H. Humphreys Charitable Trust, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee	$50,000
BNSF Railway Foundation	$10,000
Newton Public Library Foundation	$25,000
Total:	$685,000
Local Businesses & Organizations	$181,680
Individuals	$1,676,702
Total	$2,543,382

Parks & Cemetery

This week our Parks team watered trees, hosted three services at the cemetery, sprayed the roads at Restlawn for weeds, maintained the landscaping at the Meridian Center, performed weed control on the Broadway roundabout, and repaired irrigation at Midtown Arboretum. The division remains one position short.

Police

On Sept. 3, representatives from the Newton Police Department participated in the #294 fundraising event in Wichita, benefiting Wichita Police Officer Daniel Gumm. Gumm, an 18-year veteran of WPD and K-9 handler, recently received a diagnosis of metastatic esophageal cancer that has now spread to his liver. We are #NewtonProud to support our brother in blue. If you are interested in helping Officer Gumm and his family, you can visit the Honore Adversis website.

Sales Tax

On Sept. 6, the City received the August 2022 sales tax revenue reports. August 2022 was up 15.55% over August 2021, and up a cumulative 9.08% year-to-date over 2021. This is an important revenue stream for the City and has helped subsidize our lack of interest income during the pandemic.

Sand Creek Station Golf Course

Sand Creek Station bested July’s 2022 record revenue performance by generating more than $215,000 in overall revenue. This makes August 2022 the highest gross revenue month in our 16-year history!

Sanitation

For the week of Aug. 29-Sept. 2, inspectors tagged four locations for having junk at the curb. One resident contacted the City and scheduled a regular pickup at the $10 fee; two didn’t schedule and were charged the $20 fee. One location was passed to the environmental control officer for additional followup and remediation.

K-15 Mill and Overlay

The contractor is overlaying the inside lanes and was scheduled to finish last week, but their asphalt plant had a problem and they are just shy of finishing the inside lanes. The inside lane overlay will be done early this week. They will then move traffic to the inside lanes and then begin milling the outside lanes, followed by base repairs and ADA ramp reconstruction before overlaying the outside lanes. Construction is scheduled to be complete in mid-October.

Water & Wastewater

Over the past week, crews responded to four after-hours call-outs, repaired water main breaks at Terrace and Hawthorne Court, at Broadway and Central, at Broadway and Boyd, and at Seventh and Grandview (it was a 20-foot section with a new valve). 77 customers did not pay their utility bills and had their meters shut-off for non-payment.

On Sept. 8, we received notice that the new combination truck we ordered is going to be delayed 3-4 months due to supply chain issues with the truck chassis, so we anticipate it will arrive in February or March 2023. The Water/Wastewater Division remains one position short.

Upcoming Meetings

Planning Commission: Due to the Labor Day holiday on Sept. 5, the Newton/North Newton Area Planning Commission will take place on the following Monday, Sept. 12, at 6 p.m. in the Commission Chambers at City Hall.

Public Building Commission: The PBC meeting has been rescheduled to Sept. 15 at 7 a.m. in the third-floor conference room at City Hall.  

Warkentin House Event: The Warkentin House Board has scheduled a fundraising event, Tunes & Tacos, for Sunday, Sept. 18 from 4-6 p.m. Taco Mike’s food truck will be on site and the Flannelbacks, a folk, bluegrass band, will be playing on the porch. Admission with free-will donation. Seating is limited; bring lawn chairs or blankets.

Newton150 Golf Tournament: There are currently 12 teams registered to play, and 13 sponsors signed up for the Newton150 Tournament. The event will be held at Sand Creek Station Golf Course on Friday, Sept. 30 beginning at noon, with tee off at 1 p.m. In addition to prizes for the top three teams, players can win prizes on four contest holes. Every player will receive two beverage tickets, a BBQ dinner, golf related merchandise and several sesquicentennial commemorative items, as well as a team photo. There are still two weeks for community partners to sign up for sponsorship recognition, and three weeks to register teams to play! You can register online at newtonkansas.com/150golf. Entry fees are $100 for individuals or $400 for teams of four. All proceeds benefit the Newton Public Library Fund.

• 7 pm Sept. 13 – City Commission meeting
• 7:30 am Sept. 22 – City Commission agenda review
• 7 pm Sept. 27 – City Commission meeting
• 7 pm Oct. 11 – City Commission meeting

 

Kelly McElroy
City Manager