> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.citizenjournal.us/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Newton City Commission Summary - URL: https://www.citizenjournal.us/newton-city-commission-summary-16/ - Published: 2026-09-23T12:30:07.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-23T12:30:07.000Z - Description: Week of September 23, 2026 - Author: Cronkite - Tags: Newton, #summary, dnn # Commission approves deadline extension for industrial park developer # City schedules policy review for controversial Flock cameras # Residents voice continued privacy concerns over automated license plate readers # City renews Kansas Gas Service franchise agreement, maintains 5 percent fee # Commission considers amending trapping ordinance for nuisance wildlife # Mayor advocates for local airport expansion at regional forums --- ### 1\. Commission approves deadline extension for industrial park developer NEWTON, Kan. — The Newton City Commission voted to accept a $5,000 payment from an unnamed developer to extend its development deadline in the Newton Area Industrial Park to 2031\. The city originally sold the 6-acre property to the company in 2017 for $54,000 with a reversionary clause requiring development by 2021\. The specific name of the business entity was not disclosed during the public proceedings. Commissioners declined a $25,000 offer from the developer to buy out the city's reversionary interest entirely, noting the importance of retaining municipal control over the property to ensure future job creation and economic growth. The motion passed with one dissenting vote. --- ### 2\. City schedules policy review for controversial Flock cameras NEWTON, Kan. — In response to ongoing public debate, the city will hold a formal presentation and policy review regarding the use of Flock Safety automated license plate readers during the Oct. 13 commission meeting. City officials stated the presentation aims to clarify what the cameras do, how they operate and the specific policies governing their municipal use. Residents are encouraged to submit questions and concerns to the city via email ahead of the meeting to ensure community feedback is addressed during the review. --- ### 3\. Residents voice continued privacy concerns over automated license plate readers NEWTON, Kan. — Multiple residents spoke out against the city's implementation of automated license plate readers during the public forum, citing privacy and government surveillance concerns. One speaker, who did not state his name on the record, detailed the difficulty of accessing his own license plate capture data due to state disclosure exemptions. He alleged that the private vendor's data-sharing arrangements with outside law enforcement agencies create an unwanted surveillance network tracking local drivers. According to local police, the Flock Safety system captures only snapshots of publicly visible license plates and does not use facial recognition technology. --- ### 4\. City renews Kansas Gas Service franchise agreement, maintains 5 percent fee NEWTON, Kan. — Commissioners unanimously approved a new franchise agreement with Kansas Gas Service, opting for a shortened five-year term while maintaining the current 5 percent franchise fee. While city staff noted that other municipalities have recently raised their fees to 6 percent to bolster general funds, commissioners decided against a local increase, citing concerns that the fee operates as a direct pass-through tax on residents. The five-year term, chosen instead of the statutory 20-year maximum, will allow the city to conduct a detailed review of municipal costs versus the revenue generated by the utility's use of city rights of way. --- ### 5\. Commission considers amending trapping ordinance for nuisance wildlife NEWTON, Kan. — The commission held a first reading of a proposed ordinance amendment that would allow state-licensed trappers to use body-gripping and steel-jaw traps for nuisance wildlife, such as beavers causing property and tree damage. Currently, city code strictly prohibits these traps, creating a conflict with state-permitted wildlife damage control practices. The proposed amendment would require licensed trappers to obtain prior authorization from the city's animal control officer, Lyndsey Robinette, before deploying the submerged traps to manage destructive wildlife within city limits, while keeping the ban fully in place for the general public. --- ### 6\. Mayor advocates for local airport expansion at regional forums NEWTON, Kan. — Newton Mayor Rich Stinnett reported advocating for the city's local airport expansion during recent gubernatorial candidate forums hosted by the Regional Economic Area Partnership of south central Kansas in Wichita. Speaking directly with the general election candidates for Kansas governor — state Sens. Ty Masterson and Cindy Holscher — the mayor emphasized the need for state-level support to realize the city's infrastructure goals and improve regional economic opportunities. --- [Click here for local obituaries](https://cjus.me/ncj-obit?ref=citizenjournal.us) [Click here for local jail logs](https://cjus.me/ncj-jail?ref=citizenjournal.us) --- --- Found a mistake? Have a news tip or feedback to share? Contact our newsroom using the button below: [Contact Us](https://www.citizenjournal.us/contact/) --- [![Job Board](https://rosebud-ads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/JOB.png)](https://gregl72.github.io/job/?ref=citizenjournal.us)