Newton City Commissioners have approved vacation of a portion of Highland Avenue between West 2nd and West 3rd Streets to give Millennium Machine & Tool more room for a planned expansion. The street in question, while platted, has never been opened and the city has no intention of doing so.
Millennium President Kris Wondra told the Commission at Tuesday’s meeting the Newton-based manufacturer of machining and tooling parts is expanding for the fourth time in 28 years and recently purchased the house on the southwest corner of 3rd and Highland.
They requested the street vacation so they will have more room to build on the property once the house is removed. It currently has about 77,000 square feet of manufacturing space on their property, which extends south to 1st Street.
Neighbors to the east of Highland expressed concerns about additional construction and said they’d prefer the property to remain as it is. Wondra said the company was committed to being a good neighbor and would follow all building and zoning regulations. They do not plan to add any entrances or exits on that side of the property.
Although the street is being vacated, the city is retaining a 35-foot utility easement where there is an existing water line. A gas line on that property is being relocated. .
In other action, the City Commission:made multiple appointments to advisory boards and commissions. Tim Buller, Carl Harris, Greg Hanson, Arlan Newell and Trevor Kauffman were appointed to the Planning Commission, with Brittany Stevens and Mark Ekerberg appointed to the Library Board, and Jason Greever was named to the Substance Abuse Board.
Bob Myers was appointed to the Wholesale Water Supply District #17 Board, with Chip Westfall, Casie Powell, Alex Carbajal, Dan Harder, Bob Myers and Bill Unruh appointed to the Land Bank Board, and Julie Hendricks and Ken Knepper named to the Law Enforcement Advisory Panel.
Commissioners approved requests to close Oak Street between Fifth and Seventh Streets on June13 for Newton Open Streets and East Sixth Street between Main and Oak on third Thursdays from May to September for the Main Street Makers Market.
Commissioners also approved temporary alcohol permits for the CPRA Rodeo on July 31-Aug. 1 and for Bulls & Barrels August 8th and received the 2027 budget request from Newton Senior Center for $25,000.
It also tabled an agreement for Ballard Aviation to lease about 17 acres of farmed land at Newton City/County Airport until after wheat harvest is complete.
