When Newton City Administrator Bob Knabel was hired last year, he had some challenges ahead of him. He entered a city in recovery from the Maytag departure and ha since worked to help Newton development.

The Comprehensive Plan has been a prime directive for the city. The goals of the plan are to: grow Newton’s population, with a focus on young families; increase job opportunities; improve the city’s curb appeal; and fill vacant buildings and increase local shopping options.

“The Comprehensive Plan was a big deal, and we now have to move to implement it,” Knabel said. “Now we are moving to implementation, and that’s again part of the budget discussion of the community betterment plan, or the use of the Whirlpool fund or the Emergency Levy.”