Passenger Rail Update
On Jan. 30, Sen. Carolyn McGinn hosted the annual Kansas Passenger Rail Coalition meeting in Topeka. It was well-attended in person and virtually by legislators, local government officials, and subject matter experts. Presenters and guest speakers included FRA Administrator Amit Bose; Amtrak Government Relations Director Derreck James; and Director of Multimodal Transportation and Innovation at KDOT. Topics of discussion included the opportunity for the state DOT’s to apply for federal funding for infrastructure improvements along the long-awaited extension for the Heartland Flyer long-distance train that currently goes from Fort Worth to Oklahoma City, and could be extended through Wichita to Newton to interconnect with the Southwest Chief. Please click here to watch a recording of the meeting. We are glad to say that this project continues to receive such positive attention and moves forward!
Building, Engineering, and Code Enforcement
Building Maintenance:
This week our teams:
- Assisted Fire/EMS with Station 3 plans for bathroom remodel.
- Performed City Hall and Rec Center HVAC heating repairs, and Golf Course maintenance building heater repairs.
- Performed Meridian Center grill and fryer repairs.
- Performed two water tower lighting repairs.
- Performed library pump checks and test.
- Stripped and sealed steps at City Hall.
Engineering & Code Enforcement:
- Received a permit application for the Habitat for Humanity house at 502 N. Columbus. This is the first housing unit of 2023.
- Worked on year-end reports that go to the State of Kansas for water use and stormwater permit compliance.
- Reviewed draft traffic study results for the intersection at the U.S. 50 southern ramp on S. Kansas. Results will be forthcoming to City Commission.
- Issued Phase 1 building permit for the Newton Public Library project.
- Issued a temporary conditional certificate of occupancy for the Starbucks that allows for staff training but no public until all building issues are complete. The business hopes to open sometime after Feb. 10.
- Construction continues on the following projects in the field:
- Autumn Glen 3rd Addition paving
- The Enclave on SE 14th water and sewer extensions
- Centennial Park ballfield electrical work
- 2022-23 sanitary sewer rehabilitation project
- Newton Public Library
- Engineering design is ongoing for many projects, including:
- SE 4th box culvert at Slate Creek
- 2023 repaving on K-15
- 24th Street Bridge deck repairs over Sand Creek
- Cow Palace sewer extension
- Fox Ridge Addition infrastructure improvements
Fire/EMS
 The tradition is to issue a shiny new badge and exchange the orange probationary helmet shield for a new personalized one on completion of the department's 12-month rookie training program. On Feb. 2, we celebrated this milestone for Josh Denlinger, Gabe Sauer, Riley Owen, and James Stout. Congratulations and best wishes to these firefighters as they continue to grow and thrive in their careers!
LKM Announces New Executive Director
The League of Kansas Municipalities has hired Nathan Eberline as Executive Director. The League selected SGR to assist in conducting the extensive search. SGR’s proprietary recruitment and vetting process produced an incredibly strong field of candidates. LKM received 24 applications from candidates in seven states, as well as Canada. Nathan Eberline worked at LKM from 2007 to 2011 as the Intergovernmental Relations Associate. He then served as the Associate Legislative Director and Legal Counsel for the Kansas Association of Counties from 2011 to 2018. Most recently, Nathan served as the Vice President of Operations at the Accreditation Council for Business Schools & Programs in Overland Park, Kansas since 2018. To read more, please visit the LKM press release. We look forward to working with Nathan on issues affecting local government and involving the Kansas Legislature!
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Meridian Center
 This week we were honored to host the Bunting Magnetics International Sales Meeting over three days this week. Bunting took great care of their staff during their visit, resulting in wonderful food and beverage sales at the center. Attendees stayed in Park City due to the group’s inability to book hotel rooms in Newton. Meridian Center staff also completed bids or continued the bid process with groups such as the Kansas Association of Public Information Officers, the Kansas International Association of Arson Investigators, and the Kansas Preservation Conference.
Parks & Cemeteries
This week our team:
- Performed winter maintenance on equipment.
- Removed trees along the bike path by the golf course.
- Performed monthly facility inspections.
- Planted small trees to grow for Arbor Day celebration.
- Dug one grave for a Saturday funeral service.
Sand Creek Station Golf Course
We are pleased to report that Sand Creek Station is the sponsor for the Feb. 17 Newton Chamber breakfast! We will be sharing information about the upcoming 2023 NJCAA Men’s Division 1 National Championship tournament that we will host in May. If you’d like to register for the breakfast, please do so through the link by Feb. 14. We look forward to seeing you there!
Streets & Sanitation
This week our team:
- Began replacing the alley approach on the north side of 100 W. Sixth St. This project brings the area into compliance with ADA guidelines. Notices were delivered already to all impacted businesses.
- Performed street sweeping in Maintenance Area 5.
- Performed crack sealing in Maintenance Area 6.
- Responded to several pothole requests in alleys and continued filling the potholes on Spencer and the snow route.
- Repaired traffic signs and Type I barricades.
- Completed pavement repairs and began a water utility cut at 201 S. Duncan.
- Bulky Item Tagging Program from Jan. 23-27: The inspector tagged two locations. Both called for a pickup after being tagged and were charged the regular $10 fee.
- Beginning next week, Street Division will be fully staffed.
ICYMI: Development announcement by Gov. Kelly
(Courtesy of Hawver’s Capitol Report)
Chipmaker to expand in Kansas: Less than 15 minutes after the State Finance Council unanimously approved the deal Feb. 2, Gov. Laura Kelly announced that the state will invest about $304 million to see a $1.8 billion expansion of the Wichita-based Integra Technologies, including a 1 million-square-foot manufacturing plant and 2,000 new jobs.
Integra manufactures and programs computer chips. Kelly, Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover, and House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, said the expansion of the now 100-employee firm will boost the state economy and will assist in reducing the drop in state population that has been occurring in recent years.
Integra President Brett Robinson said the plant could be up and running in two or three years, helping to staunch the nation’s increasing dependence on foreign-made computer parts.
The state aid is under the Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion Act, which was signed into law last Feb. 22 and was the key to the Panasonic facility coming to Kansas. The APEX program is to expire later this year, and Kelly and legislative leaders said it likely will be preserved by this legislative session.
Lt. Gov. David Toland, who is also Commerce Department secretary, said the chip plant will increase the nation’s and the state’s participation in the rapidly growing semiconductor industry, which has seen shortages that have driven up the price of many computer-related products and even delayed car-building in the nation.
Robinson said the APEX deal is a key to application for federal funding under the pandemic-era economic recovery act, and that he believes the federal assistance will allow the contract with the state to proceed. He said besides the 1,994 jobs that Integra will create, there will be at least 3,100 non-Integra jobs sparked by the project, including construction of the plant in Wichita and contracts with Kansas-based businesses for subcontracts.
Water/Wastewater
Over the course of this last week, staff worked to:
- Repair a sewer plug along Boyd.
- Repaired leaks near the intersection of 10th and Grove, in the 200 block of S. Duncan, & on S. Kansas Ave near Fire/EMS Station 3, and handled five after-hours call-outs.
- Worked on a problem with the 13th Street lift station.
- Pulled the meters for wells 9 and 15 to be inspected and calibrated, per the Water Conservation Plan.
- Mission Water Plant staff rebuilt the chlorine controller as part of our regular maintenance tasks.
- Televised the S. 14th Street sewer after a contractor damaged the line.
- Had the block heater in one of the generators at the WWTF repaired and continued working with RE Pedrotti and SCADA items, primarily due to Windows 10, and Microsoft updates that continue to impact the automation of SCADA at the plant.
- Are still working on a “find and remove” mission for an unknown ¾” water line that was damaged in Military Park. We currently have it shut off by installing a temporary oriseal valve.
- Currently investigating a possible main break on the short road between the Old Mill and the Breadbasket.
Upcoming Meetings & Reminders
Special City Commission Meeting: On Monday, Feb. 6, the City Commission will hold a special meeting at 7:30 a.m. to conduct an executive session under attorney-client privilege.
Utility Work Session: The Commission will hold a work session on utility rates at 5 p.m. Feb. 14 in the City Commission chambers at City Hall. Video of the meeting will be livestreamed on the City's accounts on YouTube and Facebook.
Presidents Day Holiday: Trash pickup schedule will be altered, and City facilities closed on Monday, Feb. 20 for the Presidents Day holiday.
- 7:30 a.m. Feb. 6 – Special City Commission meeting
- 7:30 a.m. Feb. 9 – City Commission agenda review
- 5 p.m. Feb. 14 – City Commission work session on utility rates
- 7 p.m. Feb. 14 – City Commission meeting
- Feb. 20 – City facilities closed for Presidents Day
- 7:30 a.m. Feb. 23 – City Commission agenda review
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