Mar 14, 2024

Newton City Commission hears turf update

Posted Mar 14, 2024 9:30 AM
The turf is due for replacement at Newton's Fischer Field. Image courtesy City of Newton.
The turf is due for replacement at Newton's Fischer Field. Image courtesy City of Newton.

ERIN MCDANIEL
City of Newton

NEWTON, Kan. — At Tuesday night’s meeting, the City Commission received an update on the upcoming replacement of the artificial turf at Fischer Field.

The Public Building Commission met Feb. 29 and selected Hellas Construction to replace the turf, at a total cost of $449,216. They plan to begin construction April 22 and complete the project by May 31, assuming no problems are found with the subsurface conditions.

The Public Building Commission is made up of appointees from the City, School District, and Recreation Commission, which each contribute 1 mill per year in funding for recreation improvements. Fischer Field’s turf was last replaced in 2014.

Code Enforcement

The Commission also heard a report on the City’s progress on community beautification and cleanup since the Commission requested changes at a work session last August.

City staff recently implemented a new software for tracking environmental violation cases, which has greatly improved the efficiency of tracking and reporting. Staff has also adopted new procedures for environmental control: In addition to responding to resident complaints, staff will begin systematically enforcing code violations in one area of the city each year, based on the street maintenance areas map. In 2024, for example, the focus will be Area 1, bordered by Southeast 14th, East First, South Pine, and Hillside.

The City Attorney’s Office is also working on an update to City Code this summer, which may include recommendations for areas where the City Commission could reduce timelines for processing code violations, as well as potentially increasing fines for environmental violation convictions.

In other action, the City Commission:

  1. Awarded a contract for traffic signal and intersection improvements at First and Spencer to Phillips Southern Electric Co. for $451,171. The project will be bonded, with special assessments from QuikTrip paying 1/3 of the costs and the City paying 2/3. Construction is expected late this summer.
  2. Approved a request to close Athletic Park Circle on June 15 for the Cookie Daze 5K.
  3. Approved a request to close Centennial Park on May 4 for the Battle of the Schools 1-Mile Fun Run.

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