By PETER HUSSMANN
Residency requirements proved to be the sticking point in the Newton City Council's failure on Monday evening to pass an ordinance creating a new Building Trades Board.
The proposal called for the creation of a new five-member board to replace the Building Board of Appeals, the Electrical Board and the Plumbers Examining Board. The members, who would be appointed by the mayor with the approval of the full council, would make recommendations on construction regulations, licensing and permitting. In addition, the board would hear appeals of any code rulings made by city staff.
While the council members seemed to have no problem with creating the new board, stipulations in the proposed ordinance that would allow members to live outside the Newton city limits caused some consternation for some members.
City officials explained that the lack of residency requirements would allow the city more flexibility in finding members with the requisite expertise to sit on the board.
Council member Mike Hansen felt some type of residency stipulation should be required. He proposed an amendment that would require a member of the new board to have a business address in Newton. His amendment failed on a 3-3 vote with council members Jeremy Heaberlin and Jim Plumb joining him.
The motion to adopt first reading of the ordinance creating the board also failed on a 3-3 vote, with members Marvin Morris, Dennis Julius and Steve Mullan supporting its creation without any residency requirements.
Council rules state that the ordinance can only be brought back for reconsideration by a member who dissented in the initial vote. Hansen indicated he would likely do so after further consultations on the matter.
In other business during Monday's brief meeting, the council heard from Iowa Speedway President and Chief Financial Officer Jerry Jauron.
Jauron noted that the Iowa Speedway, as the only professional sports venue in Iowa, is now the top tourist destination in the state and is the fastest growing motorsport venue in the country.
He noted that season ticket sales show that residents from 26 different states attend the racing programs in Newton.
Looking forward, Jauron said the speedway is now looking to attract more national advertisers and backers, noting some success to date with Best Buy and Kellogg. In addition, the speedway will soon begin work on an economic impact study of the facility.
"We're never going to relax," Jauron said. "We're going to work seven days a week. Bigger and better things are ahead."
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