Mayor Hansen Hosts Coffee with the Mayor

Newton Mayor Michael L. Hansen will host a Coffee with the Mayor the third Saturday of each month from 9 – 11 a.m. at the Newton Public Library located at 100 N 3rd Ave W.

2019 dates for Coffee with the Mayor are January 19, February 16, March 16, April 20...

Housing Initiative Gives New Family $10,000

A $10,000 check, part of our housing initiative, and a “Get to Know Newton Welcome Package” was recently presented to the newest family to purchase a new construction home in Newton.

The Newton housing initiative provides incentives to ...

SSMID Board Update

The 10 bike racks approved for purchase by the SSMID Board at their April 8 meeting have been ordered through Mojo Cycle and will be delivered in late May to the Public Works Building for installation by City crews.

Newton Community Health Partnership

In 2017, the State of Iowa had the fifth highest adult obesity rate and the 16th highest youth obesity rate in the United States. Initiated by the Rockefeller Foundation and the former Iowa Governor and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, the Newto...

Getting Started on Nextdoor

Nextdoor, is a social networking platform for local communities and neighborhoods. Instead of connecting you to users anywhere in the world, Nextdoor narrows your network to those in your surrounding area. According to Nextdoor's website their mission is ...

Remember: Don't Mow Grass Into City Streets

Now that the lawn mowing season is in full swing, residents are reminded that grass clippings are not to be blown into the street. When yard waste is discarded or blown into the street, it can cause drainage and storm sewer problems. Grass clippings in th...

Maytag Pool Open for the Season

Maytag Pool is now open for the summer. Following the last day of school on June 4th, the warm weather brought out large crowds to the pool in the first week of its opening. A reminder that with admission being half price every day after 5 p.m., Monday&am...

Westwood Golf Course Events

The IHSAA Class 1A Boys State Golf Tournament was held at Westwood on May 23 and 24. 56 student-athletes qualified to play, with Harris-Lake Park High School winning the tournament with a score of 322 counting their best 4 of 6 scores. Unfortunately, heav...

2019 Nuisance Code Enforcement

The Community Services Division will be bringing two seasonal nuisance inspectors on board to help with the increased number of nuisance complaints normally received throughout the summer months. A reminder that the two best ways to submit a nuisance comp...

2019 Summer Concert Series

Free music is returning to Maytag Bowl for 2019. The concerts begin on Thursday, May 30 at 7:00 p.m. with weekly events occurring through August (except for July 4th). 

The full schedule can be found at: www.newtongov.org/968/Summer-Concert-Series...

Airport Fuel System Improvements

Unified Contracting Services of Des Moines is continuing work on the new fueling system at the Newton Airport. This project includes the installation of two new underground fuel tanks for jet fuel and aviation gas, fueling cabinets, a leak detection monit...

Independence Day Fireworks at Agnes Patterson Park

Donations are still needed for this year’s Independence Day celebration at Agnes Patterson Park. 

Information on how to donate to this event can be found at: www.newtongov.org/711/Fireworks-Donations

Please contact the Community Services...

Fire Department Completes Hose Testing

Newton Fire Department staff completed annual hose testing during October.  Annual hose testing is done to ensure that fire hose condition is monitored lessening the chance for failure on emergency scenes. 

All totaled the department unlo...

Hydrant Testing to Start Soon in Newton

Newton Fire Department staff will begin hydrant testing in the community for 2019.  Look for specifics on areas to be tested to be released in the next couple of weeks.  

The inspections ensure that the hydrants are operational and determ...

Emergency Medical Services Week Recap

Each year the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) celebrate EMS Week. The EMS system consists of emergency medical technicians, paramedics, firefighters, emergency physicians, emergency nurses, educators, administrators and others. Recognition included:

Staff...

Engine 1 Returns From Repair

The Fire Department’s newest engine was out of service since the end of April while being repaired in Weyauwega, Wisconsin. In December of 2018, while responding to an ambulance rollover on Interstate 80, Engine 1 lost traction on the icy highwa...

Testing Completed for New Members at the Newton Fire Department

As part of the budget process a shifting of positions was transacted resulting in not replacing the Fire Marshal and adding two line staff. This will bring our daily staffing to a minimum of six firefighter/paramedics by the time all are on board and prop...

Summer Reading BINGO for Adults

Why should kids have all the fun? Register for our summer reading program starting Tuesday, June 4 to play Summer Reading BINGO! Just follow these steps to participate:

• Pick up your BINGO sheet at the library, beginning June 4.
• Ask a Librarian to stamp your...

Adventure Passes!

The Adventure Pass program has been very successful! The library is getting 9 to 15 uses per month thus far, and expect higher numbers in the summer. During the week of Spring Break, all 3 venues were booked and used. Coming Soon: The Friends of the Libra...

Summer Reading Program Kick-Off

Summer Reading starts June 4th! Bookworms of all ages are invited to visit the Library and register for the library’s Summer Reading program and events. A free hotdog picnic for children will be provided on the lawn, courtesy of Newton Hy-Vee. A...

Summer Concert Series at Maytag Bowl

Free music is invading a park near you this summer... Maytag Park to be specific! Join us for the annual Summer Concert Series at Maytag Bowl. Shows kick off at 7 p.m. (unless otherwise noted) and are FREE! Those attending are encouraged to bring chairs a...

Safety Fest 2019

The annual Newton Police/Fire Department Safety Fest was held on June 8th at the Newton DMACC campus in conjunction with Newton Fest. The event was well attended with attendees having the opportunity to meet police officers and firefighters and see the eq...

Newton Police Department's Summer Youth Academy Registration Open

The Summer Youth Police Academy will be held July 15 - 19 at the Newton Police Department. The event is for students entering 5th-8th grade with participants learning about the duties of a police officer, crime scene investigations, arrest procedures, phy...

Limited Usage of Consumer Fireworks Allowed in Newton

Citizens within Newton city limits may discharge fireworks on:

• July 4 from 8 P.M. to 11 P.M.

Other requirements for firework use in city limits include:

• Fireworks can be no greater than one inch in diameter or exceed a total of 250 grams of powder for cake f...

Jasper County Law Enforcement Memorial

The annual Jasper County Law Enforcement Memorial was held on May 16 on the courthouse lawn. Dozens of law enforcement offices from surrounding agencies were in attendance as well as a number of family members and community supporters. The memorial honore...

Mental Health Training

On May 7 staff from the Newton Police Department attended the LOSE YOUR MIND workshop at the Jasper County EOC. The LOSE YOUR MIND program aims to reduce the stigma of mental illness by increasing understanding and empathy using fully immersive VR technol...

New Officer Sworn In

Officer Nathan Popenhagen was sworn in by Mayor Hansen as the Newton Police Department’s newest officer on May 6. Officer Popenhagen has previous public safety experience with the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office as a Reserve Deputy and ...

Iowa Law Enforcement Academy Graduation

Officer Ashlyn Breckenridge graduated from the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy on April 19. Officer Breckenridge was part of the 284th basic recruit class and 16 weeks training to become a certified police officer.

Public Works Operations Street Crews Begin Annual Painting

Street crews have started their yearly line striping around the city. The crews do some of the painting during day time hours but mainly work overnight to avoid as much traffic, parked cars, pedestrian traffic as possible. The line striping consists of pa...

Water Pollution Control Update

Legacy Corp of East Moline, Illinois recently began work on the replacement of 3057 feet of 16-inch sewage force main for the south west pump station.

The existing 34-year-old ductile iron pipe is being replaced due to chronic leaks caused by corrosive so...

Parks Operations Update

Parks Operations have been busy with the spring routine of planting flowers and mulching in the city’s parks, cemeteries, right-of-ways, hike-and-bike trails, and golf course. Each year, hundreds of annuals are planted and the staff keeps up wat...

Landfill Testing Recycled Asphalt Shingles for Dust Control

A recent study from the Minnesota Department of Transportation identified using recycled asphalt shingles for stabilization or dust control for gravel roads and shoulders. As a test to reduce the dust and to maintain compliance with the Iowa Department of...

Public Works Operations Streets Crews Take Part in Red Pride Service Day

Street crews, with the help of high school students during Red Pride Service Day, planted trees in the right-of-way in downtown Newton. Over the years’ right-of-way trees have been taken out due to disease, damage or due to the fact they are at ...

Public Works Operations Streets Crews Begin Fixing Frost Boil Damage

Frost boils are created when frost in the roadway sub-base melts in the spring but can’t drain away due to the frozen ground below it. The soggy roadbed eventually heaves, softens and fails, causing the pavement above the sub-base to fail. The c...

WPC Personnel Performing Clarifier Maintenance

Clarifiers at the Wastewater Treatment Plant require weekly cleaning by plant operators to eliminate the buildup of organic materials on the effluent weirs.

Parks Operations Makes Changes to Newton Union Cemetery Maintenance

Parks Operations implemented a new maintenance practice at Newton Union Cemetery to increase the level of service. Iowa Prison Industries is being brought in to assist in the maintenance trimming. IPI crews are able to complete the task in one 8-hour day....

Building Activity

For the month of April 2019, 27 development permits were issued: 

• 7 building permits
• 12 electrical permits
• 4 plumbing permits
• 3 mechanical permits, and 
• 1 moving permit

Total valuation of the permits in April was $293,322.00. 

Fiscal y...

Parks Operations & Red Pride Service Day

Parks Operations assisted several groups of students executing numerous volunteer projects throughout the park system on Newton’s Red Pride Service Day. 

Five trees were planted in Maytag Park and the students planted, mulched and watere...