Council to consider design firm for Westwood

On a packed agenda, the Newton City Council will have a couple of items for third consideration along with several resolutions to approve at its Monday meeting. A sizable project up for approval is the agreement for professional architectural services for a concept plan for a new clubhouse at Westwood Golf Course.

The clubhouse was identified for an upgrade during capital improvement project discussion earlier this year. The council realized that improving the clubhouse would be a long-term investment and decided the first step would be to determine general size, location and approximate cost of the building.

Big Creek Design Group, Inc. of Polk City was selected to come up with a concept design. A cost of $19,500 plus reimbursable expenses for the design will come from 2015 bond proceeds.

Two items up for third consideration are the Crime Free Multi-Housing program and a 5 percent increase in sanitary sewer rates. The Crime Free Multi-Housing program plans to reduce crime in multi-unit housing complexes and improve the quality of Newton rental housing through education of complex owners and managers. The increase to the sewer rates will keep up with inflation and avoid large future rate increases.

Also up for approval is a resolution to repair the Maytag Park entrance. The four brick and stone columns at the main entrance to Maytag Park were originally constructed in the 1930s. After years of wear and an incident where a car hit one column, the structures have deteriorated to the point where they need replaced.

Western Waterproofing Company of West Des Moines submitted the lowest bid for reconstruction of the columns at $27,875. The money to pay for the project will come from the 2015 bond proceeds.

Two new pieces of real estate are up for purchase for the D&D Program. The properties at 310 E. Fourth St. N. and 409 N. Fourth Ave. E. are two houses that remain on the east side of the 300 block of East Fourth Street North. The city has already acquired several properties on and near the block and with these two will have a full half block cleared, ready for redevelopment.

The property at 310 E. Fourth St. N. has a purchase price of $54,000 and 409 N. Fourth Ave. E. has a purchase price of $55,000.

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