PARK BOND NEARS: Clubhouse construction, pool improvements could be put to public vote

Early impressions from Newton City Council members on Jan. 3 suggest many are in favor of putting a proposed bond referendum on a ballot later this year to pay for a number parks projects, including the construction of a new clubhouse for Westwood Golf Course and improvements to Maytag Pool.

Direction for the third parks project — or even a fourth project— is still up in the air. However, some council members made it clear in their discussion this week that the projects need to have a “wow factor” to warrant the need of a bond. Others wanted to exclude a specific project from being included on the ballot.

Council member Randy Ervin was specifically concerned about adding the splash pad project. He said people are divided on the splash pad, which is a project largely driven by a committee of citizens who secured a city-owned lot for its construction. Ervin worried its inclusion would be detrimental to the vote.

“If we want this to have a chance of passing, it cannot include the splash pad,” Ervin said during the discussion. “…Whether we do it as four individual projects or three individuals projects or allowed to only do one, I still think we need to remove the splash pad from this discussion.”

Newton Community Services Director Brian Laube listed a number of other projects to be considered on the ballot, including pickleball courts, Sunset Park plans, basketball upgrades, disc golf upgrades, inclusive playgrounds, Cardinal Pond improvements, the hike and bike trail loop and a downtown dog park.

Council member Evelyn George said the Sunset Park plans were vague. Laube said the city does have a concept plan for the park defining the different features that want to be added. George recommended the other project on the bond should have a “wow factor,” like the proposed climbing wall at Maytag Pool.

“A ‘wow’ that nobody else has and that we don’t have anywhere else in our city and county,” George said.

Council member Mark Hallam agreed with George. As he looks as the projects, Hallam said the Sunset Park, dog park and Maytag Pool improvements have the wow factors. Hallam said he likes biking trails but doesn’t see the same kind of excitement. But improving Sunset Park or adding a downtown dog park?

“Wow! That’s got my attention,” he said.

Of course the largest project included in the park bond is the Westwood clubhouse construction, which is years in the making. The latest project renderings showcase a downsized vision with an open-air shelter, lounge area and outdoor patio to accommodate larger tournaments.

Maytag Pool improvements largely affect the play features in the facility. The proposed project would include new play features in the shallow end, a new three-meeter diving board and stairway and a rock climbing wall in the diving well, as well as other possible features.

The maximum bonding amount is about $1.6 million.

In November, Laube initially presented the Newton Park Board with four options for the city to pay for a new clubhouse. The first option was the create an urban renewal area with the county’s approval, but such action was already attempted and blocked by the Jasper County Board of Supervisors in 2021.

The second option would be to raise private $300,001 in private funds and bond for the remaining $699,999. The third option opted to use on-hand city funds for the $300,001 and then bond the remainder. Both of these options, Laube noted, were subject to the reverse referendum process.

However, the fourth option, was the propose a bond referendum in 2022. This move requires city council action to initiate. The ballot would include multiple park projects rather than just one for Westwood clubhouse improvements. If council approves a bond referendum, staff anticipate the vote to take place June 7.

If a $1.6 million bond passes with 60 percent approval, city attorney Matthew Brick made it clear one parks project would not receive all of the funds. The resolution itself, he added, would tell the public what the money would be spent on. Each project would include estimates to not exceed a certain amount.

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