City considers revamping underused utility assistance program

Heart to Heart Child Advocacy Center requests $8,000 in city funding

Multi-year airport capital improvement plan under review

Officials weigh $6 million land purchase for future airport expansion

First Street railroad crossing closes for major reconstruction

Commission awards $220,000 bid for recreation center remodel

Barkman Honey receives property tax rebate for R&D facility

Agreements reached to facilitate Prairie View campus expansion

Property on South Pine rezoned for single-family housing

City considers revamping underused utility assistance program

NEWTON, Kan. — The Newton City Commission is looking to overhaul the Senior Citizen Low Income Utility Assistance Program that has seen only 11 approvals and spent just $1,100 over the past four years. The program, which sets aside $15,000 annually in the water fund, was restricted in 2021 to provide a one-time $100 credit exclusively to low-income residents over the age of 65. Citing the low application numbers, the commission directed city staff to explore expanding eligibility to all low-income households in the community and to improve program marketing ahead of the upcoming budget season.

Heart to Heart Child Advocacy Center requests $8,000 in city funding

NEWTON, Kan. — Heart to Heart Child Advocacy Center formally requested $8,000 from the city's upcoming budget to help offset a recent $32,000 loss in expected state and federal grant funding. The center's executive director, Veronica Mosqueda, reported that the center, which operates on a $386,937 proposed budget, received 28 direct referrals from the Newton Police Department last year and provided education to over 1,750 local students. The Newton City Commission expressed interest in the funding, suggesting it could be framed as a localized "bucket" to pay for specific forensic interviews and case outcomes generated within the city.

Multi-year airport capital improvement plan under review

NEWTON, Kan. — City staff presented a draft of the 2026–2030 Capital Improvement Plan for Newton City/County Airport, outlining $687,000 in local maintenance projects and $503,000 in grant-funded initiatives over the next five years. Airport director Brian Palmer noted that the city operates as the landlord for private entities at the airport, meaning the city is responsible for aging infrastructure, including hangars dating back to 1943. The proposed plan, historically funded through a 50-50 cost-share agreement with Harvey County, will be reviewed by the Newton City/County Aviation Commission before returning for final approval.

Officials weigh $6 million land purchase for future airport expansion

NEWTON, Kan. — As part of long-term Capital Improvement Plan discussions, the Newton City Commission briefly discussed a proposal to acquire approximately 300 acres of land for future airport expansion. The acquisition, estimated at $6 million, was presented in the draft plan alongside potential sewer upgrades and the paving of Oliver Road from NE 12th to 24th streets. The commission acknowledged that while the numbers are large, long-term strategic planning is necessary as the airport continues to field development interests. The city will hold a joint meeting with the Harvey County Commission on June 9 to discuss the potential expansion.

First Street railroad crossing closes for major reconstruction

NEWTON, Kan. — Public works director Ed Bonham announced that the First Street railroad crossing at Kansas Avenue will close to all traffic for extensive repairs starting immediately. Detours will be set up routing traffic around the closure. The project, coordinated closely between the city and WATCO, the operator of the K&O Railroad, is expected to be completed by June 22, weather permitting.

Commission awards $220,000 bid for recreation center remodel

NEWTON, Kan. — A $220,000 bid was unanimously awarded to remodel the racquetball courts at the Newton Recreation Commission facility into a new multipurpose room. The project, which will create usable space for activities like tumbling and meetings, came in $130,000 under the engineer's original estimate. While the NRC is fully funding the renovation, the Newton City Commission was required to officially approve the contract because the city owns the building.

Barkman Honey receives property tax rebate for R&D facility

NEWTON, Kan. — The Newton City Commission unanimously approved an economic development agreement and property tax rebate for Barkman Honey LLC to expand its operations at a Newton site. The three-year tapered rebate — 75 percent in year one, 50 percent in year two and 25 percent in year three — will cap at a maximum of $15,500. A representative for the Hillsboro, Kansas-based company, which processes millions of pounds of honey annually, stated the Newton facility will serve as a specialized research and development center for small-run packaging.

Agreements reached to facilitate Prairie View campus expansion

NEWTON, Kan. — The Newton City Commission unanimously approved access and no-protest agreements with Prairie View Inc., a mental and behavioral health facility, clearing a regulatory hurdle for the organization to expand on the east side of its campus. Standard subdivision regulations would have required Prairie View to extend public utilities and a roadway across the entire property. Instead, the city will allow private service lines and campus access from the west side, provided Prairie View agrees not to protest future special assessments if the remaining land or adjacent fields are developed and require full public infrastructure later.

Property on South Pine rezoned for single-family housing

NEWTON, Kan. — A property located at 320 S. Pine St. has been officially rezoned from a professional office district to an R1 single-family dwelling district following a unanimous vote by the Newton City Commission. The zoning change, which aligns with the owner's request to revert the property back to residential use, was previously reviewed and recommended for approval by the Newton Area Planning Commission on May 4.

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