Local news- Press Release
City of Newton Kansas - City Manager s Update May 20 2022 20 May 2022 ( news )
City of Newton , state Kansas ( By Press Release office)
May 20,2022
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Fire/EMS
It has been a very busy few weeks for Newton Fire/EMS! Check out some of the highlights .
On Saturday , May 7 , crews responded to a structure fire on West Sixth Street . Crews found a detached two - car garage fully involved in fire , a two - story single - family dwelling in danger of igniting , and a neighboring outbuilding that had just ignited . The responding crews did a great job protecting the exposures from further damage and extinguishing the flames .
Thanks goes out to Halstead Fire/EMS and Hesston Fire/EMS , our auto - aid partners , for a quick response and their assistance in mitigating this emergency .
The 9th Annual Vince Garcia Golf Tournament was held Saturday , May 7 at Hesston Golf Course . The Vince Garcia Legacy Fund was started as a way to continue the legacy of Newton Firefighter Vince Garcia . Each year the fund board identifies a Kansas firefighter in need and raises money at a golf tournament to help . This year , all the proceeds went to the widow of retired Lieutenant Richard Janne , Sedgwick County Fire Department . Lt . Janne served the citizens of Sedgwick County for 34 years . Lt . Janne started the Pink Heals chapter in 2008 , to help with cancer awareness . He continued those efforts until losing his battle with COVID - 19 .
On Monday , May 9 , our crews were called to a vehicle crash east of the city involving a cement truck . The driver of the truck was trapped in the wreckage and required extrication . NFEMS crews put their knowledge , skills , abilities and equipment to work in mitigating this extremely difficult extrication .
Once extricated , the patient was air - lifted to a local Level - 1 Trauma Center . Unfortunately , the patient later passed away because of the severity of his injuries . We keep his family and friends in our thoughts and prayers .
We were able to return the favor of helping out to our partners at Hesston Fire/EMS during a rural structure fire involving a machine shed . NFEMS crews , along with crews from Hesston , Halstead and Walton , were able to quickly extinguish the fire , which remains under investigation .
Last week marked National Police Week . Please take a moment to remember and honor those officers that made the ultimate sacrifice , as well as those that continue to serve and protect our communities daily . NFEMS is thankful for our brothers and sisters in blue . We appreciate your hard work and dedication to making our community safe , and we value the great partnerships we have forged together .
Last week was also National Nurses Week . We would like to give a shout - out in recognition and appreciation for nurses everywhere . Thank you for all you do in the service to your patients , your organizations , and our communities!
This week , “A” shift had the opportunity to fulfill a request to provide some cooling relief from recent warm weather . Students from Cooper Early Education were the recipients of “cool down” spray courtesy of our Aerial Platform . From the laughs and smiles , it appeared to be a good time had by all .
On Thursday , May 19 , crews spent much of the morning hours extinguishing a rural structure fire in the 5800 block of South Kansas . Crews arrived to find the large , wood - frame structure fully involved with fire . Defensive fire operations quickly commenced , as well as accounting for all persons at the property .
We are grateful and pleased to report that no injuries were associated with this incident; however , the structure and contents are considered a total loss . Initial fire cause investigation suggests a Lithium - Ion battery failure .
We want to thank our mutual aid partners from Sedgwick , Valley Center , Walton , and Whitewater , as well as Harvey County Sheriff’s Office for providing traffic control during the fire . We also want to say thanks to our mechanics at the City Shop for coming out to the scene , where they worked their magic to get one of our mutual aid partners’ trucks back in service . Talk about teamwork!
Newton Main Street
Staff was delighted to attend the National Main Street Conference in Richmond , Virginia , this week as our first event as a designated community . The conference was a wonderful educational opportunity to learn from the nation’s best examples of how people , place , community all come together to revitalize and strengthen downtown economies . It was also a great networking time to meet and converse with our Kansas Main Street family and meet and share ideas with others from around the country .
Park and Cemetery
This week we trained new staff members on mowing protocols and areas that the City maintains . With five new full - time employees , it will take some time for them to become proficient . Staff mowed both cemeteries , east route , Centennial Park , and down the bike path; checked the parks , picked up litter; cleaned the restrooms; sealed the joints that were leaking on the fountain at the depot; planted the landscape at the Broadway roundabout and watered them in . We are currently working on getting irrigation supplies purchased to install and then complete it with mulch . In the cemeteries , we hosted two services this week , with an additional one scheduled for Saturday .
Sand Creek Station Golf Course
After a very competitive bidding process , we are pleased to report that Sand Creek Station will host the 2023 and 2025
NJCAA Men’s Division I National Championships
. Winning both bids against some of the nation’s top facilities speaks volumes in the team approach our community provides . The reigning National Champion’s coach said when he found out: “Sand Creek Station puts on the best show for our kids , hands down . We’re thrilled to be returning to Newton!”
Next Monday and Tuesday , Sand Creek Station will host the KSHSAA
2022 Boy’s 4A State Championship
. It is free to come out and watch!
Sanitation
Our teams continue to paint or replace the lids on previous City of Newton recycling carts , changing them out to trash containers , in preparation of private recycling pickup beginning soon .
Bulky Item Tagging Program
May 2 - 6 , inspectors tagged 18 locations with junk at the curb . Nine residents were charged the $20 fee and seven called in to schedule a regular pickup and were charged the regular $10 fee . Two locations were sent to our Environmental Control Officer for additional remediation .
Street
Our Street crews have been very busy , taking advantage of the late spring and early summer weather . They have installed the bridge banners for Newton’s 150th Birthday and the new City Flag banners . Slurry seal projects began on Monday of this week . The truck was tested after multiple repairs , and staff has tweaked a few items , and we are happy to report we are ready to go!
Additionally , our teams worked with the contractor to finalize the signal ( s ) operations on South Kansas Avenue; worked to repair a very large sewer utility cut in the 300 block of West Broadway , and one at 900 E . Broadway , and one in the 300 block of West Broadway . Our team also completed a utility cut at Fifth and Grandview and took out curb and gutter for repair in Maintenance Area 4 , including on 5th Street downtown . Crews also worked on hot asphalt patches and edge - of - the - road mills in Maintenance Area 5 .
The street sweeper is currently in the shop for repairs , and we hope it is able to be utilized again soon . We also continue to work on changing out all wayfinding signs to the new City Flag branding .
Water and Wastewater
This week our team completed another sewer point repair in the 300 block of West Broadway , near White Eagle Credit Union; repaired a water leak in the 500 block of Grandview; shut off 41 water services for non - payment; began the process of ground maintenance , edging and mowing at the Mission Water Treatment Plant and the Wastewater Treatment Plant; worked with a contractor/inspector team to analyze the Alumbaugh lift station , and assisted staff with getting it operational . It appears we will have to purchase a new panel , so the station is set up to operate in a temporary capacity while repairs are made . Additionally , staff repaired a main break on Mead Street; completed a sewer tap for a private plumbing company/repair work on East Broadway; and made fence and gate repairs at water well #2 .
Yard of the Year Contest
Have you seen a great - looking yard in Newton? Nominate it for 2022 Yard of the Year! Nominate your favorite yards at
www . newtonkansas . com/yard
through June 10 . Yards will be judged based on appearance , creativity and overall condition , with extra points for landscapes that require less water .
To be eligible , nominees shall not have violated any City of Newton Uniform Code Regulations within the past year . The winners will be honored at a City Commission meeting and will receive a gift certificate and a yard sign to display .
Upcoming Meetings
Budget Work Sessions
The next Newton City Commission budget work session is Thursday , May 26 from 8 a . m . to noon at City Hall in the City Commission Chambers . The Commission will receive presentations from department heads and will have time for questions and answers with them regarding programs , services , future department and community needs , etc . These work sessions are open to the public .
Newton150 Summer Bash
Join us downtown for a community block party to celebrate Newton ' s Sesquicentennial from 4 - 10 p . m . Saturday , June 4 . We ' ll have a street dance with live music from
The Astronauts
and Wheat State Revival , food trucks , beer garden , Ferris wheel , bounce houses and more!
Attendance is free! Stay up with the latest news and announcements by following our
event page
.
6 pm May 24 – City Commission work session with Grand Central Senior Center
7 pm May 24 – City Commission meeting
8:30 am May 26 – 2023 budget work session
May 30 – City facilities closed for Memorial Day
7:30 am June 2 – City Commission agenda review
4 - 10 pm June 4 – Newton150 Summer Bash
Kelly McElroy
City Manager
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