Council will appoint Ewing’s replacement

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The City of Newton is looking for a few good men or women. Newton City Council agreed Monday to pursue appointing someone to fill the council seat vacated by Jon Ewing on Nov. 14. Ewing left the seat after questions arose about his residency in Newton. Ewing had signed documents in Polk County indicating he was a resident there. Now, the city is left with an open council seat just as budget talks are beginning to heat up. The group voted Monday to appoint someone at a special meeting, tentatively scheduled for Dec. 18. Prior to that, the League of Women Voters will host a forum for all candidates on Dec. 16. Anyone interested in filling the at-large seat can indicate their interest in the position at city hall. Council has 40 days from Ewing’s resignation to appoint someone to the post. Newton residents can force a special election by petition within 14 days of whenever the city publishes notice to appoint. That likely will occur on Dec. 4. The petition also can be filed within 14 days of the appointment being made. Such a petition would require 368 signatures. The Newton Development Corporation has a vacancy of their own to fill. Executive Director Kim Didier will leave the position Jan. 1 to lead the implementation of a seven-County Regional Economic Development Strategic Plan. Bev Price, Newton Development Corporation chair, addressed council about the group’s level of participation in finding a replacement. “Whenever there’s an opportunity that comes along like this, it gives you pause to have those discussions and to come up with a plan or reaffirmation of where you want to go with economic development,” Council Member Mike Hansen said. Price said NDC is out soliciting investors, some of whom are wondering how committed the city is to economic development. NDC would like to have the additional 2 percent of hotel/motel tax monies extended through 2012, but council members appeared to be unwilling to guarantee that money before going through the 2009-2010 budget. Council agreed to discuss the issue during the upcoming budget process.

Also last night, council clarified the issue of cropping in regard to the land use agreement between the city and U.S. Motorsports. That agreement, enacted in 2006, allows the Iowa Speedway to use airport ground for overflow parking. In previous years, when the speedway determined the ground was not needed, the speedway leased the ground for agricultural use and passed the money to the city. “I think U.S. Motorsports has been a good citizen with regard to trying to replace some of the revenue we obviously had before we entered into the agreement for parking,” Hansen said. However, several council members had felt uncomfortable with the speedway leasing the land for agricultural use without any language in the contract allowing them to do so. Council member Ron Foreman didn’t contest the use of the ground for parking, but said Monday he wanted specific language in the contract and full disclosure on how much money was coming in and where it was going. “What I am arguing is, there is no agreement, there never was an agreement, signed to allow cropping of that ground. Granted it’s going to be extra revenue in our pocket, but there’s no reason why we should not have a designated person from the city sitting in on the negotiation when it’s determined who’s going to farm it.” Jim Plumb noted that council had previously agreed to accept money from the speedway leasing the land for agricultural use each year, and doing so implied consent for agricultural use. Ultimately, council approved adding agricultural use language 4-1 with Foreman voting against.

Andy Karr can be contacted at 792-3121 ext. 434 or via e-mail at akarr@newtondailynews.com.