Newton Land Bank elects officers, extends PSA for 3118 S. Kansas Ave. and sets budget hearing

Members of the Newton Land Bank elected new officers, approved a 12-month extension of a property sale agreement for 3118 South Kansas Avenue and set the land bank’s budget hearing for Aug. 21, 2025.

The land bank elected Casey (first name only; the transcript records both “Powell” and later “Smith”) as chair and Chip Westfall as vice chair. The nominations were made from the floor, seconded and approved by voice vote.

Members approved a 12-month extension of the property sales agreement (PSA) for 3118 South Kansas Avenue, allowing additional time for the applicant to complete a privacy fence required by the PSA. The extension motion was made, seconded and approved by voice vote.

Board members reviewed the land bank’s first year with budget authority and indicated support for the proposed operating budget. Staff said the budget mirrors last year’s spending levels and that no formal adoption was required at this meeting; members gave what the manager described as a “head nod” approval to allow staff to proceed to the public hearing stage. The board then voted to set the public budget hearing and the land bank’s next meeting for Aug. 21, 2025.

Why it matters: Electing officers establishes who will lead the land bank’s agenda and outreach as it begins using budget authority. The PSA extension preserves an applicant’s opportunity to complete required improvements without forcing an immediate return to the board; the budget hearing date starts the formal public process for allocating the land bank’s funds.

Key details

- Election of officers: Casey (first name only in transcript; last name recorded inconsistently as Powell and later Smith), elected chair; Chip Westfall, elected vice chair. Nominations were made from the floor and approved by voice vote.

- Minutes: Members approved minutes from the Nov. 21, 2024 meeting by voice vote.

- 3118 South Kansas Avenue PSA extension: Board approved a 12-month extension to allow the applicant to complete a privacy fence required under the PSA. The applicant was not present; the board heard that the property owner (referred to as Carlos) had suffered an accident and a representative asked for additional time.

- Budget: The land bank’s staff presented a budget that mirrors the prior year. The board gave informal approval for staff to proceed to public notice and set the public budget hearing for Aug. 21, 2025, when the board will consider formal adoption after a public hearing.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of Nov. 21, 2024 minutes — outcome: approved (voice vote). Motion and second recorded; names for mover/second not specified in the transcript.

- Election of chair (Casey) and vice chair (Chip Westfall) — outcome: approved (voice vote). Motion and second recorded; individual mover/second not specified in the transcript.

- 3118 South Kansas Avenue PSA extension (12 months) — outcome: approved (voice vote). Motion and second recorded; mover/second not specified in the transcript. Applicant not present; extension requested by a representative citing a hardship.

- Set public budget hearing for Aug. 21, 2025 — outcome: approved (voice vote). Motion and second recorded; mover/second not specified in the transcript.

Next steps and follow-up

- Staff will publish notice and hold the public budget hearing on Aug. 21, 2025; formal budget adoption is expected at or after that hearing.

- The PSA extension for 3118 South Kansas Avenue gives the applicant up to 12 months to install a privacy fence and satisfy the PSA conditions before returning to the land bank.

Attributions and sources

Quotes in the meeting were limited and mostly procedural; several members described their roles. For example, Rod Cray identified himself as a city commissioner, and Glenn De Lodessel identified himself as a realtor with Berkshire Hathaway. The extension request was described to the board by a representative who said the property owner (Carlos) had been in an accident and was unable to attend.