Newton City Council approves $50,000 for fire repairs, rejects sale of surplus property

Newton — The Newton City Council on Jan. 6 approved a $50,000 budget amendment to cover unexpected vehicle-repair costs in the Fire Department and declined to proceed with a proposed sale of a city-owned parcel at 125 South Ervin Avenue.

Fire Chief Kevin Yoder told the council the department has faced significant repair costs during the first half of the 2025–26 fiscal year and had requested $75,000 to replenish the fleet-maintenance account. "When the new ladder is out of service, the old ladder goes into service," Yoder said, explaining the department’s operational constraints and the need for ready equipment.

Council members debated the amount and timing of the request. On a roll call the council adopted a reduced amendment for $50,000, with Mayor Pro Tem Beverly Danner and Council Members Recil Wright, Scott Gilleland, Jon McClure and Bill Powell voting in favor and Council Member Jody Dixon voting against.

The council also considered a bid from Teresa K. Setzer to purchase 125 South Ervin Avenue. City Attorney John Cilley reviewed the statutory upset-bid process under North Carolina General Statute 160A-269 and said Ms. Setzer had submitted a $95,100 offer with the required 5% deposit. After council discussion the resolution to authorize the sale was brought forward but did not pass; the transcript records the resolution as "FAILED." The meeting record does not include a roll-call tally for that failed motion.

Other actions: the council approved appointments to boards and commissions and amended a previously adopted resolution to move a public hearing on an installment-financing agreement for a proposed new fire station from Jan. 6 to Feb. 3, 2026. Finance Director Kim Robinson said RFPs were sent to 25 institutions and three qualified bids were received; staff estimates the project to be financed at $5,562,000.

Votes at a glance - Budget amendment — Fire Department fleet maintenance: motion to adopt an amendment of $50,000 — ADOPTED (Danner, Wright, Gilleland, McClure, Powell yes; Dixon no). - Sale of surplus property (125 South Ervin Ave., bid $95,100): resolution to authorize sale — FAILED (vote tally not specified in record). - Appointments to boards and commissions: motion approving listed appointments — ADOPTED. - Amendment to resolution calling public hearing on installment financing (move hearing to Feb. 3, 2026): ADOPTED (unanimous).

Why it matters: The council’s $50,000 appropriation addresses near-term repair needs for fire apparatus that the department said could affect response capacity. The council’s rejection of the surplus-property sale means the city will retain the parcel while staff and council consider next steps under the statutory upset-bid process.

What’s next: Staff will return with financing details and options ahead of the Feb. 3 public hearing. The record does not show additional action on the 125 South Ervin Avenue offer at this meeting.