April 25, 2024

Venture Homes looking to grow in Newton

By Jamee A

Venture Homes has built and sold two homes in Fountain Hills Development and is looking to build a third this construction season. The purchase of the lot will go before the city council at its Monday meeting. (Jamee A)

Venture Homes is looking to expand its footprint in Newton with plans for another house in the Fountain Hills development. The Newton City Council will look at the company’s proposal along with a slew of other business items at its Monday meeting.

The West Des Moines company entered into a contract with City of Newton in 2014 to construct two high quality single-family homes. Also in the contract, Venture Homes gained exclusive rights to acquire any of the additional lots in Fountain Hills for $1 each through the end of 2006.

The builder is requesting to purchase Lot 15 to develop a similar style and quality home as the two previously built. Both houses Venture Homes constructed in the development have sold.

Also before the council is the 2016-2017 non-union compensation plan. It has been the practice of the city to give non-union employees the same pay increase as the agreed-upon contractual amounts as the union contract.

A 3.25 percent increase was approved for the fire, police and teamster unions and that amount is recommended for all non-union employees as well.

Because of salary changes, non-union employees as well as union staff will increase their contribution to health insurance costs. Employees will pay 5 percent of their premium cost, plus 10 percent of the total dependent costs. Also, as of the beginning of 2017, employees will pay 20 percent of the increase of all premiums.

The council will also look to award the contract for the West Fourth Street North Sanitary Sewer Extension Project. Newton Public Works has been contacted by the Jasper County Board of Health in reference to connecting two properties on West Fourth Street North to the city’s sanitary sewer system.

The properties currently have failing or inadequate septic systems. Constructing the extension would grow the city’s sewer system to allow seven houses in the area to eventually connect.

Staff recommends awarding the project to low bidder TK Concrete, Inc. of Pella in the amount of $98,101.

Two vehicles are on the agenda for council’s consideration. The first is a 1 ton pick-up truck with a service body to be used by the public works mechanic. With the purchase of a new mechanic’s truck, the Westwood mechanic would then be able to use an existing pick-up in the fleet.

The truck selected is a Chevrolet Silverado with a mechanic service body from Bob Brown in Urbandale at a price of $35,003.

The second truck is a wild land firefighting unit that will be used as the new brush truck. The vehicle will serve as a brush truck and utility vehicle along with pulling the fire department’s trailer.

The bid selected comes from Danko Emergency Equipment of Snyder, Neb. at a price of $59,830.

Also on the agenda:

• A resolution establishing the Newton Downtown Micro-Grant program is up for approval.

• Along with the program, the council will look to establish the Downtown Grant Review Board and appoint seven members to serve on the board.

• Eighteen portable radios for the Newton Police Department are also on the agenda for approval.

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