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DAILY NEWS FRIDAY, DEC. 4, 2015 • WHERE TO GO WHEN YOU NEED TO KNOW
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NCSD board president honored during IASB convention Benson one of 110 to complete requirements By Jason W. Brooks Newton Daily News
File Photo The Hubbell Realty Company has revised its plans to purchase and develop the two brick former Maytag Corportation buildings on the property along West Fourth Street North. A special Newton City Council meeting to vote on a resolution to approve the plan is scheduled for noon Monday at Newton City Hall.
Hubbell revamps plans for $7M project at former Maytag buildings Special meeting set for noon Monday at city hall By Jamee A. Pierson Newton Daily News A special Newton City Council meeting is set for noon Monday at city hall to consider Hubbell Realty Company’s revised plan to purchase and develop two former Maytag buildings. The council will convene for the sole purpose of considering a resolution to approve the purchase from Newton Enterprises and a preliminary development agreement with Hubbell. The project, dubbed the Newton Factory Lofts Housing Complex, is a 42-unit project that will use the two fully restored
brick buildings at the rear of the property, located along West Fourth Street North. The city is committing a TIF grant of $80,000 to the project, along with about $375,000 of property tax rebates — or rebates of approximately $25,000 per year for 15 years. The city’s finance and development department has recommended approval of the project. “The city adopted an aggressive housing initiative two years ago to try to spur development and fill unmet housing needs in our community. It is great that a large developer like Hubbell is making another attempt at state
Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
funding in order to make it possible for them to invest over $7 million in a high-quality downtown apartment development in Newton,” Newton Director of Finance and Development Bryan Friedman said. “The city’s proposed incentives are considerably less than what were approved by city council last year, but would still maximize the scoring in the highly competitive state funding process.” The total project cost would be more than $7.25 million and would be contingent on the receipt of the tax credits. Of the 42 units in the Newton Factory Lofts, 11 would have two bedrooms and 31 would be one-bedroom apartments, with a detailed set of resident income requirements as stipulated in the HUBBELL | 3A
DES MOINES — Many people don’t realize the time commitment required to serve effectively on a school board. In addition to serving at the local level, many school board presidents and others serve on state and/ or national boards or committees. At the
70th Iowa Association of School Boards Convention, held at the Iowa Events Center Nov. 18-20, Newton Community School District President Sheri Benson was honored for exemplary service. Only 110 local school, area agency and community college board members BENSON | 3A
Submitted Photo Newton Community School District Board of Education President Sheri Benson, left, receives an Award of Achievement certificate from Iowa Association of School Boards Member Jeff Anderson during the recent 70th IASB Convention.
Three public hearings headline council agenda By Jamee A. Pierson Newton Daily News
Submitted Photo The O’Hanlan Family, Keith Laube, Kristine Perkins, Ella Price and Evan Marshall, is pictured in a scene from Newton Community Theatre’s production of “Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus.” The show will be at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and Dec. 10-12, with a 2 p.m. matinee Sunday. Tickets are available at the door.
A full agenda greets the Newton City Council for its regular Monday meeting. Three public hearings are planned with one on the topic of the replacement of the South 12th Avenue West bridge. In 2013, the city was awarded an Iowa Department of Transportation Highway Bridge Program grant in the amount of $200,000. The grant was awarded to be used for the South 12th Avenue West bridge west of Highway 14. The project consists of removing the existing wood and steel bridge and replacing it with a twin box culvert. Upon receiving the grant, the city was obligated to pay a 20 percent local match or $40,000, which will come from the 2014 bond proceeds. The IDOT put the project out to bid with Jenco Construction of Des Moines placing the lowest bid at
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$211,750. With the bid approximately $50,000 under the IDOT’s estimated costs, after a reimbursement for inhouse engineering, the city’s actual cost obligation for construction is estimated to
be $32,350. Construction start dates have not yet been established for the bridge replacement project.
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WHERE IT’S AT Astrograph......................5B Calendar..........................5A Classifieds......................4B
Jamee A. Pierson/Daily News With the assistance of an Iowa Department of Transportation grant, the city plans to replace the wood and steel bridge located on South 12th Avenue West, just west of Highway 14 at an estimated cost of $32,350.
Comics & Puzzles...........6A Dear Abby........................6A Local News......................2A
Obituaries.......................5A Opinion............................4A State News......................7A
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COUNCIL | 3A
Volume No. 114 No. 142 2 sections 14 pages
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