March 28, 2024

SSMID Board to hold its first meeting

History will be made Wednesday as the Newton Downtown Self Supported Municipal Improvement District Board will be officially reformed at 7:30 a.m. The board was dissolved in the past, but, because of recent demand, it will be reformed.

The SSMID board was reintroduced to allow downtown businesses to provide input on how money should be spent improving downtown. Board members are: Bonnie Terpstra, Farmer’s Wife; Dianna Ambroson, Medicine Shop; Robert O’Brien, Dairy Queen; Jeffery Maki, Clemon-Maki Insurance; and Robert Claypool, First Newton National Bank.

The new board will review draft bylaws and elect officers whose roles are proposed to be the following:

Chair: Duties include being present at all the meetings, appoint all committees and perform such other duties exercised by the chair of the board. The chair is to sign all minutes of the previous meetings certifying approval by the board.

In the event of a committee being formed for special matters or intensive study, it will consist of two or more commission members and citizens with the necessary skill set needed to provide accurate information to the committee.

When a committee is formed, one member will be appointed chair thereof, and the chair will determine a meeting time and place.

Vice chair: The role of the vice chair is to act as chairman in their absence.

Secretary: The role of the secretary is to record minutes of all meetings and send all request notices of regular and special meetings. They shall attend to all correspondence of the board. They shall also maintain all books, papers and records of the board at the office of planning and zoning.

Each elected official has a one-year term. In the event of a vacancy of the chair and vice chair, the board may appoint chair pro-term, whom shall attend the duties of such officer until their return.

The new SSMID board will meet at 7:30 a.m. on the first Wednesday of every month at the Newton Public Works Conference Room located at 1700 N. Fourth Ave. W.

A special meeting maybe called by the chair of Newton’s Director Planning and Zoning or any three or more members of the board. In the event a special meeting, the board shall meet at the same location as their regular meetings.

The attendance policy of the board allows members two unexcused absences within the calendar year. If any members have more than two, that member may be replaced.

The SSMID board regular and special meetings will be posted on the city’s official bulletin board at least 48 hours in advance.

The board will also be required to represent SSMID at Newton City Council meetings when matters regarding the board are brought up to the council.

In addition, an annual meeting of the board will be held at the regular June meeting, and will include a report of the year’s activities which will be presented to the board for approval for submission to the council.

Downtown businesses pay a small tax that generates approximately $14,000, which is to be used for improvements downtown.

Staff writer Matthew Shepard may be contacted at (641) 792-3121, ext. 425, or at mshepard@newtondailynews.com.