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The Rundown is prepared by the City of Newton Communications Office to summarize the City Commission meeting and does not represent official Commission minutes.
Nov. 14, 2023 Newton City Commission meeting
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City adopts tobacco-free parks policy
At Tuesday night’s meeting, the City Commission adopted a policy making City parks, trails, and athletic fields tobacco-free.
In April, representatives of the Healthy Harvey Coalition requested that the City consider a policy against the use of tobacco products in public parks as a way to combat the health hazards of second-hand smoke and littering of cigarette butts.
City staff then worked with Health Department staff to draft the administrative policy prohibiting tobacco use in City parks, including smoking, vaping, and chewing. Sand Creek Station Golf Course is exempted from the policy.
Signage will be provided using funds from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and will be posted near playgrounds and other strategic locations.
Violations of the policy will not be criminal in nature, but violators could be asked to cease tobacco use or leave the park property. The policy will take affect Jan. 1, 2024.
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The Commission approved a contract with Daniela Rivas to serve as Newton’s next city manager. Rivas has been the assistant city administrator/finance director in McPherson since March 2022. She previously served as city administrator in Columbus and as finance director in Park City and in Winfield.
Rivas was selected after a months-long search process that included interviews by the City Commission, City department heads, and community leaders. Rivas’ term with the City of Newton will begin Jan. 8, 2024, at a base salary of $142,813, plus a $5,000 annual vehicle allowance and $5,000 contribution to a deferred compensation plan. The contract also requires that Rivas move to Newton by Aug. 1, 2024.
More about the manager selection
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The Commission also approved changes to the City’s street maintenance plan. For the past 33+ years the City has used a street maintenance plan that split the city into six areas. Each year, the pavement in the current maintenance area is analyzed based on condition, traffic volume, etc., and staff determine if crack sealing, slurry seal or overlay is needed.
In the past 20 years, the City has added over 62 miles of new streets, and many of the core area streets have deteriorated to the point of needing more than preventative maintenance. In about the same time period, asphalt costs have increased 273%, while the City’s street maintenance budget has increased just 150%.
The new plan was designed to further stretch those maintenance dollars and better analyze and track pavement conditions citywide. The new plan includes:
- Increasing to seven maintenance areas beginning in 2024. This plan provides a more equal division of the city in terms of the amount of pavement per area and decreases the size of the largest area on the south end of town.
- Purchase of pavement management software. Most cities Newton’s size and larger use software to track data on pavement conditions and help budget for improvements.
- Performing a pavement condition survey. To begin the automated process with the best data, a consultant will be hired to evaluate pavement conditions citywide.
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- Awarded a contract for K-15 mill and overlay to APAC-Kansas for $899,787.84. The project includes Main Street from the BNSF Railway crossing to 145 feet north of 11th Street. Work is expected to begin in spring 2024.
- Approved plans and specifications for water and sewer line improvements along Washington Road just north of SE 14th Street. A bid date will be set once the City acquires the final needed easement.
- Awarded a contract for repairs to the SW 24th Street bridge over Sand Creek to King Construction for $481,650.
- Established open hours for City parks as 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. unless a special event is occurring, and established a $5 camping permit for Athletic Park.
- Reviewed a draft ordinance for food truck regulations and licensing. The proposed ordinance includes a pre-license inspection, restrictions on location, hours of operation, safety, and cleanliness. City staff is working on a provision for reciprocity with other communities for licensing. A final draft will be brought back to the Commission for consideration at a future meeting.
- Authorized a survey to begin the condemnation process to acquire easement necessary to extend sewer lines to serve Full Vision’s facility expansion.
- Set a public hearing for 7 p.m. Nov. 28 to amend Sand Creek Station Golf Course’s 2023 budget. Because of increased play, the course had increased expenses for payroll and supplies, which will be more than covered by increased revenues.
- Approved the final plat for the site of the City’s new Parks Maintenance facility at 1010 E. 12th St.
- Approved a request to use the East Sixth Street parking lot for the Winter Farmers Market.
- Extended the City’s lease agreement on the current Park Maintenance building at 225 S. Meridian by one month.
- Extended the City’s intent to grant a property tax abatement to Full Vision for its facility expansion.
- Repealed the City’s food establishment permit requirements, finding that food establishments are sufficiently regulated at the State level.
For more information, please contact Communications Director Erin McDaniel at 316-284-6055 or emcdaniel@newtonkansas.com.
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