Development, Engineering & Code Enforcement:
 Harvest Pointe
This senior-specific residential development located near First and Boyd on the west side of town continues to move forward. We are excited to hear that the development has a waiting list that exceeds the number of residences being built!
Starbucks
The grand opening of the new Newton Starbucks is scheduled for Feb. 27. Stay tuned for more details!
QuikTrip
The new Newton QuikTrip groundbreaking is planned for early March. More information and details will be provided closer to the date.
Full Vision
On Monday (Feb. 13), Full Vision broke ground on their new $7 million, 32,000-square-foot expansion. We are #NewtonProud to see our local industries expanding!
GAF Materials
On Tuesday (Feb. 14), the Commission approved a development with GAF Materials for a proposed $350 million development on 230 acres in the Kansas Logistics Park, which is the largest capital investment in the Wichita region in the past five years! The company plans to employ at least 137 individuals within four years. GAF plans to close on the sale of the property in early May. Welcome to Newton, GAF!
Engineering work is ongoing for many projects, including:
- SE Fourth Street box culvert at Slate Creek
- 2023 repaving on K-15
- SW 24th Street Bridge deck repairs over Sand Creek
- Cow Palace sewer main line extension
- Fox Ridge Addition infrastructure improvements
- Building plan review for multiple locations, including QuikTrip, New Hope Shelter, and others
- Annual water reports to the State
- Sewer rehabilitation project near Washington Park and K-15
- Autumn Glen 3rd Addition paving
- Enclave Addition on SE 14th earthwork, with paving coming soon
- Agreement with Peabody for building inspections for upcoming Commission consideration
Fire/EMS
Recently our Fire/EMS department went through promotions and testing to backfill several positions vacated by retirements and vacancies. Please join us in congratulating:
Fire Marshal Andy Harder for being promoted to Division Chief of Community Risk Reduction. Andy will continue to be the Fire Marshal, however, his work encompasses many other expanding areas including fire prevention, plans review, building inspections, code enforcement, technology, and public education. Division Chief Harder has been with the department since 2012 and has been the Fire Marshal since 2020.
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Zane Hansen for being promoted to Division Chief of Training. Hansen has been with the department since 2015, and most recently served as an Acting Officer on C-Shift. He is active in many department initiatives and teams. We are excited to watch Zane continue to excel in his new assignment.
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Former Chief Sadowski
On Feb. 12, former Fire Chief Clayton Sadowski passed away at age 94. Clayton began work with the Newton Fire Department on Jan. 1, 1950, and retired Jan. 1, 1990 after 40 years of dedicated service; 18 of those as Chief.
He was a well-respected leader, and his service as a firefighter was a very important part of his life. We express our gratitude to him and his family for their many years of dedicated service to our community and send our condolences.
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Sand Creek Station Golf Course
We are pleased to report that Sand Creek Station has been named not just one of the best municipal golf courses in Kansas by Golf Pass… but number one!!! The annual Golfers’ Choice lists are compiled by analyzing the ratings and reviews submitted by members of the GolfPass community throughout the year, who play the courses. We appreciate the hard work of our team members and Kemper Sports for their ongoing best-in-class service that helped us earn this distinction!
We are still seeking volunteers to assist with Sand Creek Station hosting the 2023 NJCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship, May 16-19. Morning and afternoon shifts are available. Positions include walking forecaddies (follow one group and help spot golf balls), on-course scoring, and transportation. Each shift worked will earn a complimentary round of golf and one free meal. If you would like to help, please contact 316-284-6161 or dhoush@kempersports.com.
Law/Court
 On Monday, the Newton High School Business Law class and Law Club took a trip to the Newton Municipal Court. Students got to meet with the court clerk, prosecutor, and probation officer. They ended the visit with a mock trial to walk through the process. Teacher Amanda Gillespie noted, “We are so lucky to have a wonderful community involved in our students’ education providing positive real-world experiences.”
Water/Wastewater
This week crew members:
- Responded to two after-hours calls.
- Established a new crew from existing staff dedicated to field work for the state required Lead and Copper Rule inventory; they began that work this week.
- Worked a sewer backup in the 400 block of N. Ash.
- Repaired a leak in the 200 block of SW Sixth.
- Installed a new water irrigation service at 203 E. Broadway.
- Worked with Kansas Rural Water Association on a three-day cross-connection and backflow class held at our facility.
- The department remains down four positions.
Police
 On Super Bowl Sunday our day shift donned their Chiefs gear to support the team. It obviously was the Chiefs’ good luck charm! How 'bout those Chiefs!
We were honored to receive handmade, personalized blankets for our three K9 officers from a retired woman in Point Pleasant, NJ. Midge Reichardt has made almost 1,000 blankets for K9s across the country and she recently selected our officers to be the next recipients. Our most heartfelt thanks, Ms. Reichardt!
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Street & Sanitation
This week our team:
- Continued street sweeping in Maintenance Area 6.
- Performed maintenance on gravel roads, repaired potholes on the snow route, sealed cracks in Athletic Park.
- Performed traffic sign repairs and utility cut repair on SW Sixth.
- Hauled road rock to replenish supply at the yard.
- Bulky Item Tagging Program from Feb. 6-10: Our inspector tagged two locations. One was charged the $20 pickup fee; the other was turned over to the Environmental Control Officer for remediation.
Caring Hands Humane Society Fundraiser
We hope you will tune in to a livestream fundraiser on Feb. 22 from 6-9 p.m. for Caring Hands Human Society, sponsored by Jordan’s Way. The company tours the country and selects animal welfare organizations to help them fundraise for the care of the animals. Help us celebrate, support, and promote our local shelter!
Upcoming Meetings & Reminders
Presidents Day: Trash pickup schedule will be altered, and city facilities closed on Monday, Feb. 20 in observance of the Presidents Day holiday.
- Feb. 20 – City facilities closed for Presidents Day
- 7:30 a.m. Feb. 23 – City Commission agenda review
- 7 p.m. Feb. 28 – City Commission meeting
- 7:30 a.m. March 9 – City Commission agenda review
- 7 p.m. March 14 – City Commission meeting
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