March 29, 2024

City to host special meeting on fireworks, Hotel Maytag

The topic of fireworks use within city limits will likely be wrapped up at a special city council meeting on Wednesday. Also at the meeting, the preferred developer for the Hotel Maytag project will go before the council for preliminary approval.

In response to the Iowa Legislature recently legalizing the sale and use of fireworks in Iowa, the City of Newton is developing code to regulate both areas. At its meeting on May 15, council approved the first reading of an ordinance banning fireworks in a 4-2 vote with council members Craig Trotter and Miranda Kulis dissenting. It also adopted code regulating the sale of fireworks in the city.

To get ahead of the June 1 implementation date set by the state, the council will look to adopt a resolution on the usage of fireworks. An amendment to the original ordinance is expected to be introduced to the council to allow the consumer use of fireworks between 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on July 4 and between 9 a.m. on Dec. 31 and 12:30 a.m. on the immediate next day.

In order to have the code adopted prior to the beginning of June, the council will need to waive the second and third considerations of the newly amended ordinance. Once approved, the code will be enforced in the city.

Also at the meeting, the council will be presented with its first look at the development group selected to rehabilitate the former Hotel Maytag. Following several months of searching, city staff selected the Hatch Development Group, LLC of Des Moines to lead the project.

Hatch Development Group has submitted a proposal to rehabilitate the historic building into upgraded apartments and commercial spaces along with the rehabilitation of the former ballroom area.

The city proposes to designate Hatch as the preferred developer, meaning that the city would not negotiate with other developers until Aug. 7, while working with Hatch to arrive at an acceptable agreement.

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