NEWTON, Kan. — Newton City Commissions at their Tuesday meeting approved the sale of about 20 acres of land in the Kansas Logistics Park to APAC-Kansas for $241,000. The site, west of Hillside between SW 9th and SW 12th Streets will be used for a $22.7 million rock and asphalt material production facility, which will be a direct supplier for GAF’s shingle manufacturing facility that is under construction
Tied to the sale is a development agreement where the city agrees to extend sewer and water mains, which will be paid for by APAC through special assessments, a street vacation, and granting access for an overland conveyor to move materials across a detention pond and a pipeline to move material under SE12th to the GAF facility.
The agreement also includes a good faith intention to grant a 10-year, 100% property tax abatement on the increased valuation of property improvements, and facilitate the issuance of Industrial Revenue Bonds.
APAC-Kansas President Shawn Riley said the new facility will mill down limestone aggregate to a powdered substance that will be used by GAF in its shingle manufacturing. “What I’m really excited about is, as we’ve gone through the process to put all this together, we have a lot of different vendors that are manufacturing certain products and machines to go in it, and almost all of those factories are in Kansas,” Riley said.
Construction of a 10,000 Square foot facility is expected to begin within three months and will add 23 full time jobs over the first three years. APAC Kansas, based in Hutchinson, already has a presence in Newton through an asphalt plant on SW 14th Street.
Because the Logistics Park is a partnership of the City of Newton and Harvey County, proceeds of the sale will be divided, with the city receiving 66% and the County receiving 34%.
The Commission took final action on a plan for the 2026 fireworks season. Fireworks sales will be permitted from 8 AM.-10 PM June 27-July 4. Vendors may purchase permits at $500 per day per location for any number of days during that period. Fireworks may be set off from noon-midnight July 1-4. These dates and times are expected to continue into future years. The Commission may choose to review the ordinance in July after Independence Day following receipt of reports from Fire/EMS and Police.
In other actions the commission following a public hearing authorized an application for a Community Development Block Grant for improvements to Themian Park, approved an amendment to the Shield Ag ground lease at Newton City-County Airport expand their leased area and concrete pad, and closing of Athletic Park Circle April 25th for the Newton Bible Christian School’s Eagle 5K along with hearing several annual departmental reports.
