March 28, 2024

Spending out of control?

City Administration appears to be shooting from the hip with no real aim in sight. This letter is in response to recent events published in the paper.

What is with all the restrictions on the proposed car lot by the Union cemetery? Seems the city is requiring them to jump through all kinds of hoops. As far as the contradiction with state law, administration would have you believe that this is new, it is not. State law has required on-site repair facilities for some time to be a dealer.

City is requiring downcast lighting....huh...yet south second ave. looks like a runway, USDA service center lights are blinding when driving the belt-line south, what about those lights?

Lets just say that I am aware of some other instances where administration has cited reference to state code, and been wrong.

Carol Doane’s letter was spot on. I thought I may be the only one who thought spending was out of control in Newton. It’s like we have an open checkbook with no limits...until the statement arrives! It is sad to say, but I see Newton as a typical liberal run town that has no problem spending everyone else’s money. Heck, we don’t even require administration to live in the very town that they are passing ordinances for.

How many stop signs does this town need? How long before street sign gets replaced at s.9th ave. e. and beltline? It’s been at least 3years and counting.

One last thought: I went to buy some common(I thought)carpet trim nails in town, and nobody had any, even had one retailer tell me they had never heard of such a thing. Checked all 3, yes 3, choices we have in town.

We have 3 choices...in a town of 15000 people! Needless to say I trekked to Altoona and had access to as many as I wanted. And we wonder why everyone shops outta town. Further, just how many antique/consignment shops can this town support? I go to auctions too, if I want it, I will buy it there.

City better focus on trying to bring more high $$$ jobs to town before they blow all our money on housing. Good paying jobs will bring new housing starts. City needs to curtail it’s runaway spending and be thrifty for a change..

Shawn James

Newton