Improvements are on the way for the 1st and Kansas K&O Railroad Crossing in Newton. Newton City Commissioners were updated Tuesday evening on a project that has been under development since last fall. Public Works Director Ed Bonham said WATCO staff indicated before the crossing could be repaired the railroad would have to adjust a hard bank caused by a curve in the tracks south of 1st Street, work that began last week.
The next step will be a flattening of the tracks at the crossing and installation of new apron, which will require a 2-3 day closure of the crossing. At this point, City crews will then replace street concrete for several feet either side of the tracks to smooth out the transition. During this phase, which will begin after school is out for the summer, 1st Street will close for about two weeks.
Commissioners awarded a $2.16 million contract to Nowak construction for the Sand Creek Station 5th Addition infrastructure improvements, which will be funded through special assessments. It also approved an amendment to the Shield AU ground lease at Newton City/County Airport to expand the lease area and concrete pad to cover 9.98 acres, along with a subordination request from CD Custom Enterprises related to Industrial Revenue Bond, to put them behind a mortgage from their SBA lender.
It approved releasing a buy back interest on property it sold Mennonite Housing in 2022 for the first phase of the Harvest Pointe development after the obligation to building 32 housing units was fulfilled. Construction is about to begin on Phase 2, which will construct an additional 28 housing units.
Temporary alcohol permits and use of city services were authorized for the Unity in the Community Event May 9th and the Rockets and Rails Independence Day Celebration July 3rd, both at Athletic Park, and for city services connected with New Jerusalem Missions’ BBQ for Bricks fundraiser March 2nd.
