Council to reignite fireworks discussion

The Newton City Council will discuss the town’s hotly contested fireworks ordinance during its upcoming meeting Monday night; a topic that garnered significant attention from citizens months prior and has currently become a talking point in the Iowa Legislature.

A month-long debate between the city council and several Newton citizens resulted in a failed proposal to ban the use of fireworks within city limits. Currently, there is an effort in the state Capitol to lift any city-instated fireworks ban on July 4, further restricting power from local municipalities, the Des Moines Register reported Jan. 31.

Details of the Newton’s fireworks ordinance discussion were not immediately included in the city council agenda docket.

Sanitary landfill fee schedule

Staff have recommended a fee increase to offset additional labor, equipment, airspace and soil required when disposing of asbestos at the Newton Sanitary Landfill.

The cost of recycling tires has also increased. The proposed fee schedule, staff said, will also help offset additional costs. Complaints of unsecured commercial loads transported to landfill has also prompted staff to propose a penalty fee.

First Avenue East
resurfacing

Council will decide whether the city will enter a cooperative agreement with the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) to share the cost of the First Avenue East Asphalt Resurfacing Project.

The City of Newton will use $453,000 of its available federal funds to pay the city’s portion of the project, while the IDOT has agreed to pay approximately $600,000. The project is expected to extend from 300 feet west of East 14th Street to Iowa Speedway Drive.

Construction is expected to take place late summer or fall or 2019.

Southwest pump station

Construction plans and specifications for the 2019 Southwest Pump Station Force Main Replacement Project have been prepared by FOX Engineering and are ready to be placed for bid, according to the Newton City Council agenda.

Numerous leaks and breaks due to corrosive soils “in the first 3,200 lineal feet of the force main downstream from the southwest pump station.” Staff determined a large portion of existing ductile iron pipe should be replaced with PVC pipe.

Restricted parking

Reported safety concerns of street parking on the 600 block of East Seven-and-a-half Street North and from the 800 to 1100 block of North 10th Avenue East has prompted the Traffic Safety Committee to propose parking changes. Both locations are listed as separate items on the city council agenda.

According to agenda documents, committee members request the city restrict parking on the east side of East Seven-and-a-half Street North from North Sixth Avenue East, north 260. Out of the 11 surveys sent to surrounding citizens regarding the issue, four were returned to the city. Three people were in favor of the recommended changes; one was opposed.

The committee also requested the city to restrict parking on the south side of North 10th Avenue East from East Eighth Street North to East 12th Street North. Out of the 14 surveys sent to surrounding citizens regarding the parking restrictions, six were returned to the city and in favor of the changes.

Sanitary sewer rates

Council will read the third and final consideration of an ordinance increasing the sanitary sewer rates by five percent each year for five years.

Staff said sewer rates need to be adjusted every year to “keep pace with infrastructure replacement, repairs, capital projects, the acquisition of capital equipment, the continued implementation of the I&I (inflow and infiltration) program and inflation,” according to agenda documents.

Households with low water use will have a minimum monthly charge of $12.52, an increase of $0.60 per month for the first year; average water use homes will likely see a monthly charge of $28.55, a increase of $1.34 per month for the first year.

School resource officer

Council will decide whether it wants to approve the City of Newton’s 28E Agreement with the Newton Community School District Board of Education to include a second school resource officer (SRO).

The NCSD board approved its side of the agreement during its Feb. 11 meeting. The school district has agreed to reimburse the city “at a rate of 56.25 percent of the annual salary and benefits cost for the two police officers assigned to serve as SROs for five school years,” according to the agenda docket.

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com