The Rundown is prepared by the City of Newton Communications Office to summarize the City Commission meeting and does not represent official Commission minutes.

July 11, 2023 Newton City Commission meeting

City purchases warehouse building

At Tuesday night’s meeting, the City Commission approved the purchase of a storage/warehouse building at 214 E. Sixth St. to be used for Police Department training and evidence handling.

The City will pay $60,000 to Wild Prairie Properties for the building and will also be responsible for a portion of closing costs and some subsequent repairs and improvements. The building is located directly north of City Hall, and the City already owned the west side of the building, which is used for storage.

Police Chief Craig Dunlavy said the department will use the space for officer training, to search vehicles out of the elements, and for large-scale evidence processing. The proximity to City Hall and the adjacent parking lot make it an ideal location.

The building is currently under lease, and the tenants have agreed to vacate by Aug. 31.

The purchase will be paid for with previously approved bonding authority held over from the Law Enforcement Center remodel in 2020.

Yard of the Year

The Commission presented the 2023 Yard of the Year award to Donna Ratzlaff at 501 Normandy. Out of 17 nominated yards, Donna’s property ranked especially high in tree and turf health, good use of perennials, and focal points. Donna and her husband, Tom, bought this home in 2009. Donna has always been a gardener and designed all the planted areas. She chose the plants to develop microclimates to assure everything flourished and for ease of care. She said that Tom was a hard worker who helped make her vision and dream come to life in their yard. Tom passed away in May, but Donna said he would be overjoyed with this award.

In other action, the City Commission:

1. Approved the Intent to Exceed the Revenue Neutral Rate Notice to be sent to the Harvey County Clerk for the 2024 budget.
2. Awarded a contract for sanitary sewer improvements to serve Fox Ridge Addition to McCullough Excavation for $586,050. These improvements will be paid for by special assessments on the properties.
3. Approved a bid package for furniture and equipment for the new Newton Public Library and set a bid date of 2 p.m. Aug. 9.
4. Approved the final plat for the Claassen 2nd Addition property at SE 14th and Kansas, where Dillons plans to build a new fuel center.
5. Authorized funding for SE Fourth Street box culvert and street improvements. The project will bid on Aug. 1.
6. Reviewed a grant application to the Kansas Department of Transportation for a Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Action Plan for Newton and Harvey County. If awarded, the grant would fund the creation of an action plan to make local streets safer and would allow a future grant for implementation of the plan.
7. Appointed Clark Oswald and Emily Stewart to the Newton Public Library Board and Zach McHatton to the Harvey County Public Building Commission.

For more information, please contact Communications Director Erin McDaniel at 316-284-6055 or emcdaniel@newtonkansas.com.