Second workshop set for Crime-Free Housing program

The second of two workshops to discuss the proposed Crime-Free Housing program will be held at 7 p.m. Monday at city hall. Newton city staff will once again be on hand to discuss the program and invite local landlords, tenants and community members to bring any questions they might have concerning the program.

At the second workshop, the cost of the program will be the focus of the discussion. That item was tabled during the first meeting so additional concerns about the program would not go unaddressed.

The program will be funded through a $20-per-unit increase in rental permits and has a total cost of $34,000. The breakdown of costs puts $10,000 towards tenant background checks, $10,000 toward management training and $14,000 for administrative support.

“We’re not looking to charge landlords, tenants, anyone for the training. We will provide all of the paperwork and help pay for it by increasing the rental unit inspections by $20. It will help us do all of this and then there’s no cost to them for the training and any background checks” retiring Police Chief Jeff Hoebelheinrich said.

The current rental program has a cost of $107,880. Of that money, $100,000 is designated to salary and benefits of the fire marshal at an 80 percent usage. A vehicle cost of $2,000 is also at an 80 percent usage rate.

Additional costs go toward computers at $80, software at $1,800, maintenance at $800, office supplies at $1,000 and postage at $1,000.

With the proposed program, total costs would increase to $141,880. The revenue from the program is expected to bring $110,000 from the $55 permit fee of the 2,000 rental units in Newton. At that rate, the program will run at a deficit of $31,880.

In Newton, there are approximately 2,000 properties that are rented. Controlling those properties are 347 landlords, 227 that live in Newton and 120 that are from out of town. A breakdown of property by landlord shows that buildings with 20-plus units are controlled by 21 of the landlords, those with 8-20 units have 24 of the landlords and those with eight or less and controlled by 302 different landlords.

The Newton Police Department and city staff have been working on the Crime-Free Housing program for an extended period of time. It had passed two readings at council before Mayor Mike Hansen said a workshop would take place to further discuss the program with those having concerns.

“The basis of this really came out of two items. A recent survey showed 65 percent of residents thought the condition/appearance of housing stock was fair or poor and 61 percent of residents thought that it was essential or very important that city resources be dedicated to addressing neighborhood aesthetics,” City Administrator Bob Knabel said. “That was the part of the city’s action plan and served as a basis of the setting of the direction, mission and vision of the organization.”

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