Mayor Hansen Hosts Coffee with the Mayor

Newton Mayor Michael L. Hansen will host a Coffee with the Mayor the third Saturday of each month from 9 – 11 a.m. at the Newton Public Library located at 100 N 3rd Ave W.

2019 dates for Coffee with the Mayor are January 19, February 16, March 16, April 20...

February Historic Preservation Commission Update

The Historic Preservation Commission met on Monday, February 4, 2019, for their regular monthly meeting.  The Commission is working on a building plaque project for the Downtown Historic District.  

February SSMID Board Update

The SSMID Board held its regular meeting at 7:30 a.m. on February 11. The board is working on the purchase of bike racks for the district, with the generous help of some donations given toward the project.

February Building Trades Board Update

The Building Trades Board met on January 16, 2019 and reviewed D&D 2.0 Grants for 2107 North 5th Avenue East and 307 East 16th Street North. The Board recommended approval of granting funds for the rehabilitation projects, which council approved at th...

January Building Activity Update

For the month of January 2019, 21 development permits were issued:  

• 4 building permits
• 5 electrical permits 
• 4 plumbing permits 
• 6 mechanical permits
• 2 demolition permits  

Total valuation of the permits in January was $229,...

Lion Development Group Newton Aparments

Lion Development Group wasted no time after closing on the former seed store property to begin site preparation and construction of their 38-unit apartment complex, roughly halfway between the Courthouse Square and Legacy Plaza & the DMACC campus. Wit...

Newton Main Street Update

Newton Main Street continues with their investment campaign and reports that funding is on target for the upcoming year. In addition, Newton Main Street has received a $1,500 grant from Wal-Mart.In December, Erin Chambers, along with Mickey Shields (Iowa ...

Newton Housing Development Corporation Update

NHDC met with Jeff Davidson and Andrew Collings to discuss Iowa Housing Trust Funds from IFA and a collaborative effort between Jasper, Marion and Warren County that could result in approximately $100,000 per county for housing projects.  NHDC co...

Historic Preservation Commission January Update

The Historic Preservation Commission met on Monday, January 7, for their regular monthly meeting. Officers were selected - Larry Hurto and Mary Jo Niskin will continue to serve as Chair and Vice Chair, respectively. Tanya Michener will continue to serve a...

Newton Development Corporation Update

The “Get To Know Newton” leadership class starts on January 22 and runs through March 12 on successive Tuesday evenings. Each class is two hours (6:30 to 8:30 p.m.) in length and all will be conducted in DMACC Room 224. And, for the fi...

Elected Officials & City Staff Attend Hardee’s Grand Opening

The long anticipated grand opening & ribbon cutting at the brand new Hardee’s restaurant occurred on Tuesday, January 8. Mayor Hansen and Council members Mullan, Stonner and Hallam were in attendance, along many of our key community stakehol...

Building Activity Summary

For the month of December 2018, 26 development permits were issued: 9 building permits, 6 electrical permits, 6 plumbing permits, 4 mechanical permits, and 1 demolition permits. Total valuation of the permits in December was $4,646,000.For calendar year 2...

Building Trades Board Update

The Building Trades Board met on December 26, 2018, and reviewed a D&D 2.0 Grant for 203 S 3rd Avenue East.

The board recommended approval of granting funds for the rehabilitation project, which council approved at their meeting on January 7, 2019.

The ...

Community Development Department Creation

In December, the City Council created the Community Development Department which includes planning & zoning, building, economic development, and marketing. Shortly after the holidays, the entire department held a kick-off meeting. 

It is of no...

Rogers Named Finalist for 2018 YP of the Year Award

Danielle Rogers, Community Marketing Manager for the City of Newton, has been selected as a finalist for the 2018 YP of the Year Ashley Okland Community Service Award. This award recognizes a young professional who exemplifies the volunteerism and spirit ...

2018 Agnes Patterson Park ADA Improvements Project

On January 21, 2019 City Council accepted completion of the 2018 Agnes Patterson Park ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Improvements Project. This project was completed by JDA Construction of Marshalltown and included parking stalls near the new pit t...

1st Ave E Asphalt Resurfacing Project

Community Services staff continue work on construction plans for the upcoming 1st Ave E HMA Resurfacing Project. This project includes milling and asphalt resurfacing of the entire width of 1st Ave E from E 14th St to E 28th St. Also to be included in the...

Maytag Pool Seasonal Employment

Applications are now being accepted for seasonal jobs at Maytag Pool for the 2019 pool season, which runs from late-May to mid-August. The open positions include lifeguards, pool deck shift leaders (lifeguard supervisors), and concessions/ticket window wo...

2018 Nuisance Code Efforts

The number of nuisance complaint cases totaled 1,050 in 2018.The Community Services Division was able to add seasonal nuisance inspectors and have a more proactive approach to nuisances in 2018. These changes saw the number of cases saw a 73% increase fro...

Airport Fuel System Project

On December 17, City Council approved a contract with Unified Contracting Services of Des Moines for construction of a new fueling system at the Newton Airport.

This project includes the installation of two new underground fuel tanks for jet fuel and avia...

NFD Citizen Fire Academy

The Newton Fire Department's (NFD) 4th Annual Citizen Fire Academy will
take place in the Spring of 2019.  The goal of this program is to enhance relationships between Newton residents and the Newton Fire Department.  

This program, alth...

Newton Fire Department Needs Your Help Clearing Snow From Fire Hydrants

In an emergency, every second counts. Fire hydrants that are blocked, concealed, or difficult to access due to snow or ice and impede emergency fire response. The Newton Fire Department is asking for citizen’s help clearing snow from fire hydran...

Fire Chief Jarrod Wellik Attends Senior Officials Workshop for All-Hazards Preparedness

Fire Chief Jarrod Wellik attended an all-hazards preparedness workshop for senior officials at the Polk County Emergency Management Agency in Des Moines on January 10, 2019.  

The class was an 8-hour workshop that helped to define the roles of sen...

Fire Crews Beginning Pre-Plan Updates

With the inspections being completed, it is the time of year that fire crews will be out updating preplans. Preplans are documents that list all of the hazards to firefighters in the buildings. Having that information prior to emergency response is critic...

Fire Inspections Under Way with Tablets

Fire Marshal Mike Knoll is currently out doing inspections with new tablets purchased by the Newton Fire Department. One of City Council goals was to start using tablets to complete inspections of businesses. This allows all of the information to be updat...

Keep Them Clear - Remove Snow Away From Fire Hydrant

In an emergency, every second counts. With the recent snowfalls many local hydrants have been completely covered. The Newton Fire Department asks residents to shovel a 3-foot radius and a small walk path to the curb around your local fire hydrants. This c...

New Cardiac Monitors Placed In Service

The Newton Fire Department has received the new cardiac monitors purchased with monies awarded from the 2017 Assistance to Firefighters Grant. Firefighters spent the past two weeks training on the new technology and have placed the units in service. Each ...

Captain Rex Heisdorffer Named Instructor of the Year

The Iowa Society of Fire Service Instructors presented Captain Rex Heisdorffer of the Newton Fire Department the Floyd Wm. Nelson Instructor of the Year Award for 2018 at their banquet in late November. This award is given for outstanding contributions in...

Check Out an Adventure Pass

With your Newton Public Library card you can now check out an Adventure Pass! Adventure Pass, provides free general admission to the Science Center of Iowa, the Blank Park Zoo and the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.

Newton Public Library cardholders a...

Tax Forms Available at the Library

Tax forms are now available at the Library! We currently have the redesigned Federal 1040 forms that come in a packet with schedules 1-6. Quantities are very limited.

Please note, we do not receive state forms or additional federal forms, but you may prin...

New Internet Station Furniture

Thanks to a private donation to the Library, new furniture was purchased for our Public Internet Workstations! The new furniture gives a bit of privacy (and sound absorption) for users while maintaining the new, sleek, industrial, look of the Library. Whi...

A Fitbit for Words?

Starling Word Counters are now available to check out at the Library Circulation Desk - think of them as a Fitbit for vocabulary! Two Starling Word Counters were purchased by the Friends of the Newton Public Library and are available to check out for thre...

STEM Kits @ Your Library!

The library was recently a recipient of 3 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) backpacks from the Coons Foundation and IPTV. STEM activities, books, and PBS KIDS DVDs are included in each backpack, with activities serving children between 3 a...

New Golf and Pool Fee Changes for 2019

On December 17, City Council approved a new fee schedule that affects Westwood Golf Course and Maytag Pool.

At Westwood, nearly all golf fees were lowered to make the course cost competitive with the majority of area golf courses. Also, City residents now...

Pet Licenses: What You Need to Know

The Newton Police Department is reminding pet owners to purchase their 2019 licenses for their pets by March 29, 2019 to avoid a late fee of $20.00. All cats, dogs and miniature pigs over six months of age kept in the City of Newton are required to be lic...

January Snow Ordinance Violation Enforcement

Snow removal operations went in effect three times throughout the month of January and have resulted in over 125 snow ordinance parking tickets.

The Police Department and City staff utilize the emergency alert system, snow phone line, website, Facebook an...

Summer Community Service Intern Position

The Police Department is hiring for the position of summer Community Service Intern.

This is a new position that will assist the police department in handling low-level calls for service, animal enforcement, community policing programs, parking enforcemen...

Officer Breckenridge Begins Training at ILEA

Officer Ashlyn Breckenridge began her training at the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy in Johnston on January 3rd. The 15-week basic training academy exposes police officers to a diverse curriculum of police legal and procedural topics as well as practical ap...

February Cops And Neighborhoods United Informational Meetings

The Newton Police Department has scheduled informational meetings for Zone 3, Zone 1, and Zone 4. Come and meet your officers & learn what the police department has to offer!

• Zone 3 Informational Meeting on February 12 at 6 p.m. at the First Assembly o...

New Police Officer Sworn In

Officer Shawn Dahlin was sworn in as the Police Department’s newest officer. Shawn has been a police officer since 2015, formerly serving with the Meskwaki Nation Police Department in Tama. He served with the Iowa Army National Guard as a combat engineer ...

Public Works Operations / Landfill Dozer Repair

Cold weather and frozen conditions are a challenge for staff and equipment at the landfill. Temperatures in negative zero degree weather contributed to a hydraulic line leaking on the John Deere 850K. The City mechanic and landfill staff are utilizing the...

Public Works Operations / Streets - Snow Removal Operations

Even though 2019 started out with warmer than average temperatures, winter finally arrived with vengeance. Mother Nature showed up with snow, freezing rain, extremely cold temperatures, and exceptionally high winds.

Public Works crews have worked many 24 ...

Water Pollution Control Operation & Maintenance Supervisor Attends Certification Workshop

WPC Operations and Maintenance Supervisor, Brad Hansen, recently attended the Wastewater Grade IV Certification Exam Prep Workshop held at the DMACC Ankeny campus. 

The 2-day, 15-hour comprehensive workshop is for wastewater operators preparing fo...

Parks Operations Update - Winter Maintenance Work

Parks Operations staff has been busy assisting with a lot of snow removal this past month. Parks Operations staff is equipped with three pickups with snow plows and two small tractor units with snow removal attachments. Crews are responsible for downtown ...

City of Newton Snow Ordinance Information

Preparing for cold weather and coping with winter is always a challenge but here's the information you need to know.

City of Newton Snow Ordinance

The City of Newton's Snow Ordinance states that there is no street parking at 2 inches of accumulation. You ca...

Public Works Maintenance Shop Ceiling Installation

Public Works personnel recently completed installing a metal ceiling in the maintenance shop at the Newton Sanitary Landfill. Due to the mild winter, this is a project that was able to be completed utilizing City staff and save the City some money. Plans ...

Street Sweeper Back on the Streets

With the exceptionally warmer temperatures in December Public Works Operations were able to get the street sweeper out of cold storage and head out to residential neighborhoods. Sweeping this late in the year helps pick up any late falling leaves and also...

Water Pollution Control Pump & Grounds Maintenance

Water Pollution Control personnel have been busy clearing trees and brush at remote pump stations as well as performing maintenance of pumps at the wastewater treatment plant. With more than 60 pumps to maintain, pump maintenance is an ongoing task. Water...

Off-Season Maintenance Work in the Parks

Parks Operations staff have been busy trimming trees in Union Cemetery. The facility is over 55 acres and contains many trees so the trimming of the trees improves aesthetics, the health of the trees and eliminates low branches for staff and public safety...

TPI Employees Volunteer at City of Newton Parks

This year, TPI had several groups of employees volunteer in numerous places throughout our park system. One project they worked included painting the restrooms using paint provided by a Paint Iowa Beautiful Grant from Keep Iowa Beautiful. The goal was to ...