City to appoint at-large council member Monday

The Newton City Council will kick off its Monday meeting appointing one of three nominees to a vacant at-large council seat.

Lin Chapé, Garfield Berndt III and Joel Mills are among the candidates listed in the latest agenda posted at city hall. After introductions and questions, one of the three will be sworn into office as the at-large council member.

The council will also issue a public hearing on a resolution approving the lease of public parking lot spaces at 123 N. Third Ave. E. and 215 S. Second Ave. W. in Newton.

The developer of the Hotel Maytag determined off-street parking space would be required for each of the 45 apartments to effectively market the new housing units and provide enough space for building staff. Once the 46 parking spaces in the two public lots within the vicinity of Hotel Maytag are combined with the developer-owned spaces — which will be constructed at 114 N. Second Ave. E. — sufficient parking space requirements should be met.

Stop signs and no parking signs may be added to West Second Street South. Jasper County Maintenance was requested to look at an uncontrolled intersection located at West Second Street South and South 11th Avenue West, as well as restricted parking on West Second Street South.

The Traffic Safety Committee recommends adding a stop sign for southbound traffic between West Second Street South and South 11th Avenue West. The committee also recommended parking be restricted on the east side of West Second Street South from South Eighth Avenue West to South 11th Avenue West to improve safety.

Of the 28 surveys sent by the Traffic Safety Committee, 10 surveys returned were in favor of the proposed parking restrictions on one side of all the streets within Guthrie Addition, based on the street width and traffic volume. The council will consider its third and final reading of an ordinance restricting parking in that location.

Also on Monday’s agenda, Jasper County Maintenance Director Adam Sparks will present the council with an update on the courthouse clock tower and NPD Chief Rob Burdess and NFD Chief Jarrod Wellik will present fireworks-related statistics from the Fourth of July.

Contact Chris Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 Ext 6543 or at cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com