At Tuesday’s meeting, the City Commission approved the sale and transfer of the ground lease of Building V at Newton City/County Airport to Integrated Soil & Plant Technologies, a fertilizer and agricultural products company based in Walton.
Owner Raymond Sawyer said the building and its existing tanks and equipment will be used to expand the company’s production of soil regeneration and plant nutrition products manufactured through a fermentation process.
Building V was built in 2015 and was occupied by ABI Chemicals before being repossessed by the City in 2018. In 2022, the City sold the building to 620 N. Oliver LLC, which intended to use it for agricultural feed processing. That owner eventually defaulted, and the building was put up for auction on March 15, with ISP Technologies providing the winning bid of $1.26 million.
ISP has been manufacturing soil health products in Walton since 2011 and has distribution centers in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and South Dakota.
Harvey County, which shares ownership of the airport property with the City, approved the sale earlier the same day.
East First Street
The Commission tabled an engineering agreement for the design of improvements to East First Street between Spencer and Oliver until the City and Harvey County can discuss potential partnerships on economic development infrastructure. City staff, the mayor and vice mayor had asked the County Commission in February to consider contributing to the cost of the First Street improvements, which will serve the new Hillsboro Industries development as well as business growth at Newton City/County Airport. The County Commission voted on March 25 to contribute $100,000 toward the design, which has a total estimated cost of $475,000.
City Commissioners said they had hoped the County would agree to a more significant contribution since the County will benefit directly from the industrial development through property taxes. In December, the County declined to share in the cost to pave Hillside between East First and Southeast 12th to serve the new GAF development.
The Commission asked City staff to work on scheduling a joint work session with the County to discuss future cost-share agreements, similar to the partnership that established the Kansas Logistics Park 15 years ago.
 From left: Youth wrestling coach Matt Treaster, Lynnette and Todd Hendrickson, and Mayor Rich Stinnett
Wyatt Hendrickson Day
The Commission proclaimed April 30 as 2nd Lt. Wyatt Hendrickson Day in honor of Wyatt's 2025 NCAA heavyweight wrestling title. Hendrickson, a 2019 graduate of Newton High School, clinched the championship last month in a dramatic upset over Gable Steveson, a two-time NCAA champion and Olympic medalist.
The Commission also approved closing Main Street on April 30 for a parade honoring Hendrickson. Organizers also plan a recognition ceremony at NHS and a meet-and-greet with Hendrickson later that day at the Barn at Grace Hill.
- Proclaimed April 12-19 as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.
- Awarded a contract for reconstruction of East 12th Street from Main to Pine to Kansas Paving for $249,024.35.
- Awarded a contract for demolition and cleanup of property at 225 Boyd to Double J’s Services for $28,000.
- Approved a request from Mennonite Housing to waive $40,000 in permit fees in support of its application for Low Income Housing Tax Credits for Phase 2 of its Harvest Pointe senior housing development at First and Boyd.
- Approved a City Connecting Link Improvement Program (CCLIP) grant agreement with the Kansas Department of Transportation for improvements to Main Street from 11th to 13th Street. KDOT will contribute up to $1.2 million for the project in 2026.
- Adopted the 2024 International Fire Code.
- Approved an agreement with the Newton Community Foundation to establish the Newton Fire/EMS Foundation Fund as a venue to accept charitable donations and grants.
- Approved the final plat for Cornelius Gardens on East First Street between Pine and Muse.
- Approved a request from Newton Jerusalem Missions for picnic tables and trash carts on May 3 for the BBQ for Bricks fundraiser.
- Approved a request for snow fencing, picnic tables, electricity and trash carts on June 19-21 in Athletic Park and the use of Okerberg Park for Sand Creek Summer Daze.
- Approved a request for snow fencing, handicap parking signs, picnic tables and trash carts on July 4-6 at Washington Park and Athletic Park for the Mexican American Fast Pitch Tournament.
For more information, please contact Communications Director Erin McDaniel at 316-284-6055 or emcdaniel@newtonkansas.com.
|
