As we approach the end of 2023, it’s so encouraging to look back on all the positive news in our community this year.

We are mid-way through the five-year strategic plan City Commissioners and staff adopted in 2021, in which we set the following goals:

1. Growing the tax base.
2. Increasing housing stock of all types.
3. Adding amenities to improve the quality of life.
4. Improving our infrastructure.

It’s remarkable to note all the progress we’ve managed to achieve each year. Here is a just a sample of the great things happening in Newton in 2023:

• We’ve welcomed many new local businesses this year, including Station 50, The Cajun Crab, Peaceful Remedy Spa, Cup of Ambition, Crystal Cave, Gentle Hands K-9 Boutique, Salon Evolve, RailTrust Mortgage, and Cadillac Jack’s Steakhouse, as well as regional and national businesses like Peoples Bank & Trust, Starbucks, QuikTrip, T-Mobile, and Ideatek.
• In February, we approved a historic agreement for GAF Materials’ proposed $350 million development in the Logistics Park, the largest capital investment in the Wichita region in the past five years. When this development is built in the coming years, it will be a game-changer for our community.
• Trailer manufacturer Hillsboro Industries announced its plans for a 56,000-square-foot manufacturing facility on East First Street between Spencer and Hillside, with an $11 million investment and approximately 50 full-time jobs planned.
• Once GAF’s development begins, Watco’s K&O Railroad plans to develop a 23-acre railyard in the Kansas Logistics Park, which will serve our industrial companies.
• The Kansas Department of Transportation opened its new maintenance facility closer to the major highways and allowed the City to take over its old shop as our Park Maintenance Facility. Updates to the building on East 12th are underway, and the Park Department will move in by the end of January.
• We’ve also seen exciting growth among our existing local businesses, including Full Vision, Conrade Insurance Group, Cedar Village, The Gathering Church, Safehope, New Hope Shelter, Health Ministries Clinic and more.
• Housing development continues to boom, with the opening of Harvest Pointe senior housing addition, The Enclave duplex addition, and new single-family homes built in Autumn Glen, Sand Creek Station, Summer Crossing, and Wheatridge. And infrastructure work is underway at Fox Ridge for a major expansion of both single-family and multi-family housing.
• After a groundbreaking in February, construction progress has been swift on the new Newton Public Library. This project is a wonderful example of a public-private partnership – a whole community truly coming together to achieve more than we ever could individually. The new library will be a 21st century community space, a place all Newtonians can be proud of, and we are all looking forward to the grand opening in the coming year.
• Another long-awaited public-private project has now opened – the new public Wetland Park on SW 14th Street. Led by the Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams and with funding from the R. Michael Rhoades Foundation and many other private funders, the new park offers Newton residents and visitors a place to enjoy nature without leaving the city limits.
• We also dedicated the new Railer Field and other ballfield improvements at Centennial Park earlier this year, opening up Newton for youth tournaments with the potential to bring hundreds of players and families to our community every year. Our partnership with the School District and Newton Rec Commission has led to some beautiful facilities for youth sports.
• The USGA selected Newton to host the 3rd U.S. Adaptive Open at Sand Creek Station Golf Course next year. This championship for disabled players is a national event on the level of the U.S. Open, and it will be a tremendous opportunity to show off our first-class golf course and our whole community on a national scale. It’s also an opportunity for Newtonians to volunteer for this very special event and see these remarkable athletes in action.
• With our business community partners, we dedicated new banners downtown to show our school pride, and we launched a community fundraising campaign to enhance downtown with new Christmas decorations and a public speaker system.
• We also made progress this year on infrastructure projects, including construction of the first of two new water storage tanks on West First Street. The first tank is expected to be complete by the end of the year. After it’s brought into service, the deteriorating 1939 tank will be demolished, and a second new tank will be built in its place. This long-planned project is crucial to ensuring a clean and accessible water supply for our city.
• KDOT hosted a public meeting and announced that a new interchange at I-135 and 36th Street is moving forward in 2024.
• The City was awarded a major Safe Streets for All (SS4A) grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, $320,000 coming from the federal government and $80,000 from the State. The award will be used to develop a City and County Safety Action Plan and to conduct planning and analysis to make our roads safer.
• We said goodbye this fall to City Manager Kelly McElroy after seven years of excellent service to the Newton community, and we look forward to welcoming our new City Manager, Daniela Rivas, in the new year. Daniela has roots in Newton and great enthusiasm for public service, and she will be a great fit for our community and our outstanding team at the City.

None of these great projects and accomplishments have happened by accident. It’s taken hard work and perseverance by many, many people working for the good of the community. As my latest term as mayor comes to an end, I could not be more proud of this community and my fellow Newtonians.

I truly believe Newton is at the threshold of remarkable growth and prosperity. Momentum is building, and if we all work together – government agencies, the business community, and citizens – we can make this the best community in the state to live, work, and raise our families. One of my favorite sayings is, teamwork makes the dream work!

Thank you to the citizens of Newton for the support you’ve shown us Commissioners and the trust you’ve placed in us to represent you. I wish you all a very happy and healthy holiday season.

Leroy Koehn has served as a Newton City Commissioner since 2013. He can be reached at leroy@k5painting.com.