Newton City Commission Summary
Week of July 29, 2026
City finances show solid mid-year position with surpluses
Commission sets bid date for $2.2 million road rehabilitation project
Contract awarded for $786,875 water tower painting project
Newton awarded Safe Routes to School grant for pedestrian safety
City explores 30,000-square-foot hangar construction for Shield AI
City approves $686,600 airport capital improvement plan
Newton Housing Authority faces anticipated 15% cut in HUD funding
City finances show solid mid-year position with surpluses
NEWTON, Kan. — Newton's mid-year financial report indicates a strong fiscal position, with all but one general fund department spending under their 50% budget threshold through June 30. An unidentified consultant presented the report, noting strong cash balances and surpluses in several enterprise funds. The Sand Creek Station Golf Course is operating at a $200,000 surplus, while the Meridian Event Center and the Newton City-County Airport reported positive balances of $55,000 and $79,000, respectively.
Commission sets bid date for $2.2 million road rehabilitation project
NEWTON, Kan. — The Newton City Commission unanimously set an Aug. 25 bid date for a $2.2 million road rehabilitation project covering sections of Broadway, East 12th Street, West First Street and one unidentified local street segment. Chosen for their low Pavement Condition Index scores, the roads require significant maintenance, including milling, overlay and full-depth patching. The project will be funded with $250,000 from reserves, with the remainder covered by the city's bond and interest fund.
Contract awarded for $786,875 water tower painting project
NEWTON, Kan. — The Newton City Commission unanimously awarded a $786,875 contract to an unidentified company to paint one of the city's water towers. The winning contractor submitted the lowest of six bids for the project. Financing will come through a state revolving loan fund, with loan payments to be covered by existing water utility revenues.
Newton awarded Safe Routes to School grant for pedestrian safety
NEWTON, Kan. — The city of Newton has been awarded a Safe Routes to School grant through the Kansas Department of Transportation to evaluate crosswalks, school zones and general pedestrian safety for children. The grant provides a state consultant at no cost to develop a comprehensive action plan for local improvements. This marks Newton's first comprehensive review under the pedestrian safety program since 2008.
City explores 30,000-square-foot hangar construction for Shield AI
NEWTON, Kan. — City officials are drafting an agreement to construct a 30,000-square-foot hangar at the Newton City-County Airport to lease to Shield AI, an aviation and defense technology company that already operates a flight test facility at the airport. The proposed seven-year lease would open up previously undeveloped land on the east side of the runway. While no formal action was taken Tuesday, Harvey County Economic Development staff noted the project would bring quality jobs and cement the airport's role in the regional aviation ecosystem, with a formal vote expected in the coming weeks.
City approves $686,600 airport capital improvement plan
NEWTON, Kan. — A new capital improvement plan for the Newton City-County Airport spanning 2026 to 2030 was unanimously approved by the Newton City Commission. The plan authorizes $686,600 in maintenance and upgrades for city-owned airport buildings, which average 25 years in age and require extensive upkeep. Funding will come from the city's bond and interest fund, with a matching portion expected to be approved by Harvey County in the near future.
Newton Housing Authority faces anticipated 15% cut in HUD funding
NEWTON, Kan. — The newly appointed Newton Housing Authority chair and vice chair, whose names were not provided, introduced themselves to the Newton City Commission on Tuesday and warned of potential federal budget cuts. The housing authority chair expressed concern over a projected 15% reduction in payouts from the Department of Housing and Urban Development compared to the previous year. The volunteer authority board is currently exploring ways to share costs with the city to mitigate any financial impact on local housing services.
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