March 19, 2024

City, Project AWAKE continue partnership

The City of Newton is continuing its long relationship with Project AWAKE and the Krumm Center and Newton Arboretum at Agnes Patterson Park. City council approved a resolution for a three-year agreement with Project AWAKE for various functions at the facility during its regular Monday meeting.

Earlier this year, the city relocated the parks office staff from the Krumm Center to Newton Public Works. Following the move, discussions began on the role each party would have in the future operations at the facilities.

“The biggest highlight or change is with no city staff working at the Krumm Center anymore, we are not going to be shoveling the sidewalks there. We will continue to plow the entrance and the parking lot of our parking lots route,” community services manager Brian Laube said. “We have also tightened up things in terms of points of contact. The city will continue to assist them with basic office needs, we are going to handle the rentals but if there is a problem Project AWAKE will be the contact.”

Along with those changes, the city will also continue to assist with occasional grounds maintenance needs such as tree removals, annual spraying, other minor projects requiring equipment and maintaining responsibilities for all state and American flags. In turn, the city will have free use of the facility, if needed, for periodic weekday or weeknight event meetings. The city will not use the facility on Fridays or on any weekends or holidays.

The city expects labor costs at less than $500 for the items already being done by city staff.

A provision was also added for the ability to reopen the agreement for revisions prior to its expiration should both parties be in agreement.

“We are excited that the city is interested in continuing the partnership and helping us out. We are a nonprofit organization so any help we can get is a great thing,” Project AWAKE President Sveta Miller said. “We don’t have anyone that can do our office duty so we are really appreciative of everything they are willing to help us do. In my opinion, the arboretum is one of the greatest parks that we have so it is nice that the city is willing to work with us.”

City council also set Nov. 6 for several public hearings related to entering into General Obligation Loan Agreements for the city. The three loan agreements include an “Essential Purpose Loan Agreement,” “Urban Renewal Loan Agreement” and “Hotel Maytag Loan Agreement” and total more than $2.5 million for projects such as improvements to Lincoln Street, funding improvements to the DMACC Newton campus facility, improvements at the Newton Public Library and support to the Hotel Maytag redevelopment project.

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