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Newton commission approves Cookie Days closure, zoning change and policy manual; rejects airport runway bids
Summary
At its March 20 meeting the Newton City Commission approved several routine event permits and a zoning change, adopted an updated commission policy document and granted a one-year extension to a property purchase agreement; it also voted to reject all bids for a runway construction project and re-bid the work.
At its March 20 regular meeting, the Newton City Commission approved a package of routine permits and policy items, accepted a one-year extension on a prior purchase-sale agreement and rejected all bids for a runway construction project, directing staff to set a new bid date.
Why it matters: The votes affect scheduled public events, the city’s policy framework and near-term airport construction procurement. Rejecting the runway bids delays the airport project while city staff and engineers reassess the procurement, and the zoning and policy votes set rules that affect development and administration going forward.
The commission unanimously approved closing Athletic Park Circle from about 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on June 14 for the annual Cookie Days run. City staff recommended the closure and a motion to approve carried without opposition.
The commission voted to reject all bids received on March 11 for the Runway 8/6 construction project after staff and consultants said bids were “considerably higher than engineers’ estimate” and that negotiations were not feasible. The motion directed staff to reject the bids and set a new bid date of April 10.
The commission granted a one-year extension to Ben Franklin Crafts on a purchase-sale/reverter clause tied to a development timeline. City staff noted the firm has communicated with the city and staff recommended an extension; the commission approved the request and staff said a formal agreement would be returned to the commission for ratification.
The commission adopted by resolution the updated commission policy manual after multiple work sessions and a first reading at the prior meeting. The resolution number recorded in the meeting packet was given as “G1356 D1” during the meeting record.
The planning-related vote approved a rezoning request at 723 South Kansas from R-1 (single-family) to R-2 (two-family). Planning staff said the planning commission held a public hearing in March and recommended the R-2 designation; the commission passed the ordinance, recorded as Ordinance 5164-25.
Several motions were procedural: approval of minutes from March 11 and March 14; these carried on voice vote.
What’s next: Staff will return the Ben Franklin Crafts extension as a formal agreement at a subsequent meeting; the airport engineering team will reissue the runway bid with an April 10 bid date; staff will implement the approved event closure and the zoning map will be updated following the ordinance adoption.
Votes at a glance - Minutes (March 11 and March 14): approved (voice vote). - Athletic Park Circle — Cookie Days closure (June 14, 6:30–10:30 a.m.): approved. - Runway 8/6 construction bids: motion to reject all bids and reset bid date to April 10 — approved. - Ben Franklin Crafts purchase-sale reverter extension: one-year extension approved; staff to return with formal agreement. - Commission policy manual: approved via resolution (packet reference: “G1356 D1”). - Zoning change 723 S. Kansas from R-1 to R-2: ordinance 5164-25 approved.
Commissioners and staff present handled routine roll-call and voice votes; no roll-call tallies with member-by-member votes were recorded in the meeting transcript provided.
