The Newton Downtown Self Supported Municipal Improvement District Board met for the first time Wednesday morning and talked about what they would like to see done in downtown Newton.

The main focus was curb appeal. Bruce Showalter was present during the meeting and informed the board the Renew Newton Committee pledged $5,000 to their projects if they need any funding. Because the board was recently formed, it is limited to what they can do or spend until they receive official funding.

The members of the board 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 board elected O’Brien as chair and Ambroson as vice chair.