City-owned Newton Inn may have a buyer

The former Newton Inn has a potential buyer.

Council members will hold a public hearing during their Monday night meeting to discuss a resolution accepting purchase proposals for the property at 2000 W. 18th St. S. Selling the property would require a demolition of the dilapidated structure, according to the city council agenda.

Staff say the consideration of a sale “could provide for an opportunity for a public-private partnership to achieve that end.” There is still time for the city to receive offers. At the meeting, city staff will provide the Newton City Council with an update on offers they received.

City council members approved the city's $495,000
purchase of the former Newton Inn about two months ago. The building was identified as a prime candidate for the city's Commercial D&D Program and was more than likely to be demolished. The declining quality of the inn was evident and had been attracting plenty of police activity.

The sale accrued its fair share of public scrutiny, particularly over the steep purchase price against the much lower assessed value at $277,020. In addition to a rousing a heated discussion amongst citizens and Mayor Mike Hansen, attendees were frequently speaking out of order during that November meeting.

BJM Hotels, Inc. was the previous owner of the building and was criticized by staff and citizens for meeting the bare minimum standards required by code. Mel Duncan, building official and negotiator for the City of Newton, reportedly said that “meeting the very minimum code is just one step above the law.”

Days after the Newton Inn was bought by the city, the building mysteriously caught fire shortly after a car fire had been extinguished by fire crews. Newton Fire Chief Jarrod Wellik deemed the fires suspicious. Although the fire did cause damage to the building, the flames did not fully engulf the structure.

Restricted parking

Council members will consider amending the city ordinance to make changes to street parking in the 200 to 400 blocks of West Ninth Street South.

The agenda states staff received safety concerns regarding street parking in that particular area of town. The Traffic Safety Committee reviewed the concern and recommended restricted street parking on the east side of the roadway from South Second Avenue to South Fifth Avenue.

Out of the 31 surveys sent to adjacent property owners, nine residents were in favor of the proposed changes and one was opposed.

2020 census news

Newton may have its own census committee.

City council will decide whether to approve a resolution appointing members to the Newton Complete Count Committee for the 2020 United States Census.

Agenda documents say census date “impacts our daily lives, informing important decisions about funding for services and infrastructure in our community, including health care, jobs, political representation, roads, schools and businesses.”

Newton Complete Count Committee will assist in the creation of localized messaging “that resonates with residents of Newton and encourages self-responding.”

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