March 29, 2024

Lifting of residency requirements passes first reading

The first consideration of an ordinance lifting all residency requirements for a segment of city employees was passed by the Newton City Council at its Monday meeting.

The change would not apply to the city administrator or department directors and employees that are not currently in compliance would be able to maintain their exemption as long as they remain full-time employees of the city. The residency requirement currently in place has city employees living within eight miles of city limits.

“We already have some residency requirements of certain positions and I think that they are a little outdated with the time. I think from what I see 1984 would have been the last time (the ordinance was addressed) and I don’t think I had a cell phone in 1984,” Council Member Jeff Price said. “The availability to reach individuals in our community is a lot better communications wise than it ever has been.”

Price said later he might like to revisit the complete lack of requirements for residency. A potential guideline of living in Jasper County was discussed by those who addressed the Employee Relations Committee — that may be addressed again in another reading of the ordinance.

Council Member Noreen Otto brought up the potential of being able to have an easier time finding qualified candidates for openings in city departments, especially at the fire and police departments.

“I think the spirit of the restriction is you want the people that are working to have a connection with the city and I don’t think that has changed. However, I think a lot of other things have changed,” Otto said. “This issue at hand was brought specifically by the police department but I have had discussions with the fire department about the ability to recruit talent. I think that is probably top to bottom, we want to attract people. If this ever becomes a deterrent, especially for those highly trained, highly-sought after professional employees like our police and firefighters than we need re-examine it.”

Council Member Evelyn George explained how working with employees can lead to better productivity and also acknowledged that in today’s world, employees may need to live further than eight miles from the city to maintain other aspects of their lives.

A second reading of the ordinance will take place at the next council meeting.

Progress continued on passing the amended ordinance for the outside parking and storage of trailers, watercraft and motorhomes, clearing the second reading. The council discussed previously mentioned items of what constitutes a hard surface and how to maintain that surface. Gravel was approved as a “hard surface” the vehicle could be parked on, but concern was raised about containment of the gravel.

The council decided to continue to move forward with the amended ordinance as written and address any potential problems under a nuisance code. It felt the city staff needs a place to start with the code and did not want to delay the already heavily discussed item any more.

In other business:

• Randy’s Lawn Care and Snow Removal was approved as the planting care contractor for the Newton Downtown SSMID.

• Jasper County Conservation was approved to move the community garden from 114 N. Second Ave. E. to 518 W. Third St. N. and 206 N. Fifth Ave. W.

• The city accepted the title to a fire damaged property at 1113 First St. N. with $596 in property taxes due and $2,400 in additional costs and fees.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com