Council updated on potential heating and cooling center

Extra funding from the city may be needed to fully establish a heating and cooling center in the Newton YMCA if sufficient grants are not acquired, city officials said.

Newton Fire Chief Jarrod Wellik provided an update to city council members on July 6 about the proposed community shelter, which he said would need a natural gas-powered generator to help electrically dependent and medically dependent people in town during disasters or extreme weather.

By the end of 2020, Wellik proposed the idea to members of the Newton City Council. They strongly supported the establishment of a heating and cooling center in town, particularly when the derecho that past summer showcased just how critical those electrical needs are for some individuals.

Jasper County Emergency Management Agency and the City of Newton had decided to form a partnership to provide a generator to the YMCA, which would provide power to a certain section of the premises and act as a heating and cooling center. Wellik said people could charge their medical equipment, too.

“So the YMCA would provide the use of a large gym and adjoining restroom facilities,” Wellik explained in November 2020. “The city would provide and pre-wire an installation of a transfer switch so that could power up the building or power up that section of the building.”

Newton YMCA CEO Lucas Hughes said in a statement to the paper: “The YMCA is proud to have the opportunity to be that safe haven for those who may need help during these extremely dire times. We have a social responsibility to uphold and I believe this is in line with our organization’s mission.”

The shelter would not only serve individuals in Newton, but throughout the county as well. EMA initially would try to fund the generator and had asked the city it if would be interested in funding the connection and transfer switches. At that time, city officials said the transfer switches would cost roughly $12,000-$13,000.

Wellik said the YMCA is going to acquire a 30 kilowatt generator donated by Alliant Energy. It’s a good-sized generator, he said, and it will provide power to pretty significant portion of the building. However, Wellik did advise council members the generator requires an additional transfer switch.

“So that cost went from $12,000 up to just under $20,000,” Wellik said. “And with the hook up this particular generator is powered up by natural gas. So they need to provide a gas line to it, which was an additional $4,600. So it brings that total of $24,285.”

Wellik wanted to know if the city council’s wishes were on this project as far as moving forward. Newton Mayor Mike Hansen said it is “extremely important” to have a place serving as a community shelter during times of need. If the city has to come up with $25,000, in his opinion it is well-invested.

“However, having said that, hopefully we can pursue all grants that we can possibly get and then anything that we are not able to secure in granting the city would consider filling that stop gap,” Hansen said. “So that would be my suggestion.”

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