ERIN MCDANIEL
City of Newton
NEWTON, Kan. — Newton City Engineer/Director of Public Works Suzanne Loomis has announced she will retire in March after 28 years with the City of Newton.
Loomis joined the City of Newton in 1996, after working five years at the City of Wichita.
“The work has been challenging, rewarding, and a great blessing to me,” Loomis said. “I am extremely thankful for the experience and the great employees, retired and existing, who helped our department achieve great things during my time here.”
Some of the more high-profile projects during her tenure include construction of Sand Creek Station Golf Course and the new Newton Public Library; reconstruction of the public pool; the Sand Creek bank restoration project; and creation of the Public Building Commission and revitalization of Fischer Field. Much of her time was also spent planning for the growth of the community, including the infrastructure needed to support the City’s industrial development priorities.
“Those projects were exciting examples of great partnerships in the Newton community and a testament to how a city can grow and bring improvements for multiple facets of our population,” Loomis said. “It was rewarding to see them completed after years of planning and fun to watch the community enjoy the improvements.”
Most of the day-to-day work of Public Works is the vital but less noticeable maintenance and expansion of public infrastructure such as water and sewer plants, underground utility lines, streets, parks, and enforcement of codes to keep residents and visitors safe.
“Most of what we touch in my department is invisible to people if it’s working as it should. Keeping all of this infrastructure maintained and safe for our citizens is truly the mission,” Loomis said.
In her time at the City, Loomis also helped lead the partnership with three other Harvey County cities in forming the Public Wholesale Water Supply District #17 and permanently securing its water rights.
“Having the Wholesale Water District puts Newton and our neighboring cities in a good position for growth and long-term water supply,” Loomis said. “This is very important for the future of Newton.”
Loomis was also part of an employee team who helped implement a servant leadership culture at the City in the past 10 years.
“One of the most fulfilling things for me,” she said, “was working with our staff to develop our core values – serve others first, work hard, do the right thing, raise the bar, explore new ideas, and have fun. We have the best employees!”
City Manager Daniela Rivas said Loomis’ expertise and counsel will be missed at the City.
“On behalf of the City of Newton, I want to thank Suzanne for her long and impactful career of public service,” Rivas said. “Her career is marked by exceptional achievements and significant contributions to our growth as a city. She is one of the finest public servants I have ever known and leaves behind a legacy of servant leadership. We are blessed to have had her as long as we did.”
Loomis was a 2001 Newton Area Woman of the Year and 2008 winner of the George Williams Award for Excellence in Public Works from the Kansas Chapter American Public Works Association.
After retirement, Loomis plans to remain in Harvey County and will pursue career opportunities in the private sector.
“After 33 years of public service, it is hard to imagine my next chapter elsewhere, but I welcome the rest of the journey,” Loomis said. “I will be forever grateful for my time working in this community.”