Newton Independent

Newton council to look at applying for Main Street Iowa designation

Newton Independent

The Newton City Council will discuss the possibility of gaining a Main Street Iowa designation when it meets in its monthly discussion-only council format tonight at City Hall.

In a memo to the council included for discussion, Bryan Friedman, Director of Finance and Development and Acting City Administrator, notes that the Newton Chamber of Commerce has been working with other downtown stakeholders to learn the process of applying for the economic development designation from the State of Iowa. Though the designation is only being discussed at this time, an application would be due in the fall and would need to include a commitment for local funding.

The Main Street Iowa program was established in 1985 and is designed to improve the social and economic well-being of Iowa's communities by assisting selected communities to capitalize on the unique identify, assets and character of their historical commercial district.

The program's approach was developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation's National Main Street Center in an effort to combine economic development and historic preservation.

Newton's Preservation Commission is currently working on an application to have the downtown area placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The 49 Iowa communities with Main Street Iowa designations, including Colfax in Jasper County, met Friday for its 27th annual awards celebration, an event attended by Gov. Branstad and the state's top economic development official Debi Durham.

Since its inception, Main Street Iowa has tracked more than $1.2 billion in private investment in the purchase, construction and rehabilitation of property in participating commercial districts. In addition, more than 2 million hours of volunteer time has been logged collectively by local Main Street organizations.

"I am proud to have been part of the effort to bring the Main Street program to Iowa in 1985 as an economic development tool," Branstad said in a news release on the awards presented at the banquet. "It is gratifying to see the successes Iowa communities have had because of our Main Street program. As a result of the hard work of countless local leaders, Iowa's Main Street districts in communities large and small are flourishing."

Durham noted that taxpayers are getting their money's worth.

"Main Street is an economic development model which epitomizes the strength of public-private partnerships," she said. "Since 1986, for every dollar the state of Iowa has invested in operating the state Main Street program, the private sector in those communities has invested $71.93 into building improvements and acquisitions. In 2012, estimated sales tax receipts from net new businesses in Main Street communities was approximately 48 times the budget of the state Main Street program."

At Friday's awards banquet, Cindy Van Dusseldorp received the Volunteer of the Year Award on behalf of the Colfax Main Street program. Colfax Main Street coordinator Julia Kern received a three-year service award.

Nuisance ordinance changes again coming before Newton council

Newton Independent

The Newton City Council will consider second reading of changes to its nuisance ordinance, and possibly waiving third consideration and adopting it, that make a number of changes designed to make it easier for city officials to enforce the nuisance codes.

For the past six months, city officials have both stepped up nuisance code enforcement as well as reviewed the current language in the code to eliminate some shortfalls and gaps in the ordinance.

Two big changes include making all parties involved in a property, including the property owners, renters and foreclosing banks, responsible for the condition of the property.

In addition, new code language allows the city to take a cost assessment approach to certain ordinance violations where contractors abate the nuisance - such as mowing long grass or shoveling a sidewalk - with the costs assessed on the property taxes.

French man riding across U.S. to raise funds for research into rare disease

Jo Le Bouter of France camped overnight at Rock Creek State Park on Friday as part of his solo cross-country bicycle trek to raise funds and awareness for a family member suffering from a rare disease. The 62-year-old began his trip in New York City and is headed to San Francisco to raise funds for research into Wolfram Syndrome, a rare genetic disease that faced by his niece's son that causes diabetes, blindness and deafness. Le Bouter is writing a blog about his trip across America. He snapped a few photos of Newton and ate lunch in Colfax. You can find that link here.

Newton council approves Iowa Speedway development amendment with eye on Sprint Cup race

Newton Independent

The Newton City Council voted unanimously tonight to approve an amendment to the development agreement that brought the Iowa Speedway to Newton nearly a decade ago to assist in its effort to move the track forward in potentially securing a NASCAR Sprint Cup race.

You can read below what the council did.

Download May 16 Special Meeting Agenda Packet

In a related matter, WHO-TV 13 spoke with Rep. Dan Kelley, D-Newton, today on his efforts to keep alive an $8 million state appropriate to assist the Iowa Speedway with its infrastructure needs related to bringing a Sprint Cup race to Newton.

The funding is currently uncertain as differences have arisen between the Iowa Senate and House versions of a broad spending bill where the allocation is located.

In addition, WHO is reporting that should the state provide the financing as earmarked in the Senate's standings appropriations bill, the area around the Newton racetrack may see additional development.

Relay for Life fund-raising event Saturday

Newton Independent

The Walgreen's Relay for Life of Jasper County team will hold a fund-raising event in the Newton store's parking lot on Saturday.

The event, set to run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., will feature a garage sale, bake sale and a silent auction. Mississippi Queen will have barbecue on hand.

In a new twist this year, Store for Homes is offering a $250 gift certificate to the top two individuals raising the most funds for the Relay for Life event that benefits the American Cancer Society.

This year's Relay for Life for Jasper County is set for Friday, June 7, at H.A. Lynn Stadium in Newton.

'Guitar Hero' to hit Newton Saturday

Electric guitar bluesman Craig Erickson, along with Nashville drummer Rob Haskell, will hit Newton for a one-night show Saturday as the South Skunk Blues Society's Almost Legal Nightlife series rolls on. "Guitar Hero" Erickson will throw down original and cover electric blues from 8 p.m. to midnight at the First Avenue Speakeasy on the south side of the downtown Newton square.

Coffee time gathering set at museum

Newton Independent

The Jasper County Historical Museum will host a coffee time gathering from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Saturday at the museum, 1700 S. 15th Ave. W. in Newton.

Homemade coffee cake and coffee will be available for $1 each, with free refills on the coffee. The event will be held inside the museum and those attending should enter through the south door. Portion of the first floor of the museum will be open for viewing.

The museum will open for regular tours at 1 p.m. Saturday with the last tour beginning at 4 p.m.

The coffee time gatherings at the museum are held the first and third Saturday of each month now through August.

Newton Police Department to auction unclaimed property

Newton Independent

The Newton Police Department will hold a silent auction of unclaimed property from 9 to 9:30 a.m. Saturday in the back lot of the police department at 101 W. 4th St. S.

Property to be auctioned includes approximately 32 bicycles, a ring with a black stone, a watch, miscellaneous jewelry, Power Pro Quantium lawnmower, camera, stroller and IBM Thinkpad laptop computer.

Auction property will be on display for viewing from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday at the auction site, and again before the auction on Saturday.

Newton Council looking at proposal to cut minimum assessed value at Iowa Speedway

Newton Independent

The Newton City Council will hold a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday to hold a public hearing on a measure to amend the financial incentive agreement with the Iowa Speedway that would cut in half its taxable assessed value and substitute a user fee on tickets sold at the track to make the city's bond payments, as well as make additional tax rebates to the track.

The end of the current tax fiscal year marked the City of Newton's previous final tax rebate year.

Legislation before the state legislature calls for an infusion of $8 million in state tax dollars at the Newton racetrack to help it build the infrastructure necessary to bring it to the "next level," a running of a NASCAR Sprint Cup race in Newton.

Reports today indicate that financing is yet uncertain.

The full report, sent out just prior to the 6:30 p.m. 24-hour open meeting law advance notice, can be downloaded below.

Download May 16 Special Meeting Agenda Packet

The Newton Independent has not yet had an opportunity to fully analyze the proposal set to come before the council. Information will be updated on Thursday.

 

Students tackle a variety of projects on Red Pride Service Day

Newton High School students and volunteers paint the wall in the alleyway outside the Capitol Theatre II in downtown Newton as part of the 5th Annual Red Pride Service Day being held today. Community volunteers are teaming up with Newton High School students to conduct planting, painting and cleaning projects throughout the community. In the photos below, Newton High School students helped scrape and paint the Jasper County Museum's 1875 barn, recondition the Museum's Indian canoe, as well as some general cleaning and trash pickup.

Newton students receive DAR Good Citizen awards

The Grinnell Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution presented awards to its Good Citizen winners during its May 11 meeting in Grinnell. Gabriella Daft of Newton High School, left, was the first place winner with Stephanie Petted, center, of Basics and Beyond High School in Newton finishing as runner-up. Betty Carr, Good Citizen Chairman, presented the awards to the students on behalf of the Chapter. The winners and their families were served a brunch in their honor. The next meeting of the Grinnell Chapter of the DAR will be held June 8 at the Centre for Art & Artists in Newton. Anyone interested in joining the DAR is asked to contact Darlene Leib at 641-792-0174.

YMCA to unveil, dedicate new statue

Newton Independent

The Newton YMCA will unveil and dedicate a new statue created by local artist Nick Klepinger during a ceremony set for noon Thursday, May 23, at the YMCA, 1701 S. 8th Ave. E.

The statue, which is named "The Reading Lesson," was donated to the YMCA by Nancy Shaw. Shaw donated the piece to commemorate the friendship between her late husband, E.K. Shaw, former long-time publisher of the Newton Daily News, and former YMCA Executive Director Marv Zimmermann.

Following the brief ceremony, punch and cookies will be served. Guests are invited to take a tour of the YMCA Child Care wing following the dedication.

The public is invited.

Rock & Renew's landscaping, gardening workshop series continues Saturday

Newton Independent

Local gardeners and home landscaping do-it-yourselfers still have time to register for a pair of workshops this Saturday designed to improve your efforts, including one program featuring Des Moines television personality Jerry Kluver.

Rock & Renew, the Newton-based neighborhood revitalization group, along with Iowa State University Extension, are hosting the workshops focusing on gardening and landscaping.

The first program Saturday will run from 9 to 11 a.m. and will feature a program on how to build a raised garden, along with planting tips.

The second program will run from 1 to 2:30 p.m. where Kluver will present a program on how to choose the right plants for your landscaping and gardening needs.

Those interested in attending can sign up on the Rock & Renew web site here or by calling 641-792-6432. Information on the location of the programs will be given to those registering.

Historic preservation events set this week

Newton Independent

Two historic preservation events are being held this week as the Newton Historice Preservation Commission celebrates May as National Preservation Month.

Larry Hurto will present an 1884 retrospective on downtown Newton. The program will feature an audio-visual presentation on Newton history as well as a display of photos taken in 1884 by photographer Fred Clifford.

The program is set for 7 p.m. Thursday at Bridgehouse Coffee on the west side of the Newton square.

On Saturday, Dr. Tom Hoover, a former Newton educator, local historian and researcher, will conduct an historic homes of Newton walking tour.

Dr. Hoover will use the historic homes of Howard Snyder, E.H. Maytag and Fred Maytag II as a backdrop to share the story of Mr. Snyder, the Maytag family and the Maytag Corporation.

The walking tour will begin at 9 a.m. at the corner of South Third Avenue West and West Fourth Street South near Shay's Tea Room.

In case of rain, the walking tour will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 25.

Newton church's religions of the world series continues Wednesday

Newton Independent

Karen Dalke will present a program on Anabaptist History and Thought in the Congregational United Church of Christ's continuing series of religions of the world at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Newton church located at 308 E. 2nd St. N.

Dalke has been serving as pastor of the Des Moines Mennonite Church since graduating in May 2009 from the Hesston College Pastoral Ministry Program in Hesston, Kan.

The public is invited. Light refreshments will be served.

Thunder Nites in Newton draws a crowd

The weather cleared up enough late today to bring hundreds of motorcyclists from throughout Central Iowa to Newton to enjoy the first in the monthly Thunder Nites music - featuring Abby Normal this month - and social gathering on the downtown square.

Vehicle careens out of control in front of NHS

Ken D. Van Veen, 71, of Newton was cited for failure to maintain control after crashing the vehicle he was driving at 12:03 p.m. Thursday at the front entrance of Newton High School. According to police, Van Veen was eastbound in the 300 block of South Eighth Avenue East when he reportedly accelerated at a high rate of speed, went out of control off the roadway where he struck fire hydrant, rolled the vehicle, crossed the high school entrance drive and crashed into a retaining wall. Van Veen told police he had no recollection of the accident. He was not injured. Damage to the fire hydrant was estimated at $5,000 with the retaining wall sustaining $1,000 damage. Damage to the 2002 Chevy Impala owned by Karen Vermillion of Newton was estimated at $4,000.

Registration open for Y's community service Splash swim program

Newton Independent

Registrations are now being taken for the YMCA's low-cost learn-to-swim Splash program set to run May 28 to 31.

Splash is designed for youth age 6 to 12 years old where they will learn swimming skills. The program is offered to anyone who is currently not a member of the Newton YMCA.

Classes will be offered at either 6:15 p.m. or 7 p.m. at the Y pool. Cost is $5 per child.

Splash is a community service project sponsored by the Newton YMCA. To register, visit the Y at 1701 S. 8th Ave. E.

City officials looking to improve Newton landfill operations

Newton Independent

With the recent combination of the City of Newton's landfill division and street division into one Public Works Operations Division to increase efficiencies for both departments, a number of changes at the landfill are being planned for implementation over the next several months, city officials said in today's weekly administrator report.

City officials plan to renew efforts in recycling education to increase the level of participation, as well as improving the convenience of the recycling option. To that end, the landfill is working to soon start accepting asphalt shingles as a recyclable material rather than placing them in the landfill.

In an effort to reduce the number of flat tires those using the landfill encounter while traveling the haul road, city officials are looking to put a large magnet under one of the landfill pickups to collect nails and other sharp metal objects.

Landfill operators are also looking at how best to handle wind-blown litter at the site south of Newton. Portable fences near the dump site are being considered.

Finally, the city is looking at different options on how customers at the landfill mgiht be able to unload garbage near the scale house rather than having to drive all the way to the working garbage pile.

This, and other city information, can be read by downloading today's city report below.

Download 5-10-13 Report

 

Newton home sale numbers continue strong; average price at 5-year low point

Newton Independent

More homes in Newton have sold through the first four months of the year than at any time since 2009 but the average sale price is at five-year lows, housing statistics released by the Newton Board of Realtors today indicates.

A total of 67 residential properties with a Newton mailing address have sold so far this year, up from the 51 sold year-to-date last year and the 45 the year before. A total of 78 residential properties had sold at this time in 2009.

April proved to be a strong month for sales with about one-third of the total residential properties sold this year moving last month.

A total of 21 homes sold in April, a figure higher than the 15 seen in April last year and 18 in 2011. The two years prior to that saw home sales of 29 and 26 in the month.

The price range of the residential properties sold last month was $14,000 to $149,900.

For the year, the average sales price of Newton residential properties is at the lowest point seen in the last five years. At $77,114 this year, it's only slightly below last year's figure of $78,218 but well below the $95,224 average sales price seen in 2009. In 2010 and 2011, the average sales prices were $85,871 and $88,480, respectively.

Total listings in Newton at the end of April stood at 131, well below the numbers seen in each of the four prior years (2009 -151, 2010 - 169, 2011- 192, 2012 - 153).

The average days on the market is 116 days this year, compared to 176 last year and 142 days in both 2009 and 2011. The low point came in 2010 at 88 days.

The statistics include single family homes, condos and townhouses, including those properties outside the Newton city limits with a Newton mailing address. The information only includes Newton Board of Realtors sales and not private sales.