East Central Reporter

City of Newton Finance and Audit Committee met Nov. 4.

Here is the agenda provided by the committee:

1. CALL TO ORDER: Joshua J. Kuhl, Mayor

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE led by Alderman Kaleb Wright

3. ROLL CALL: Maggie McDonald, City Clerk

4. ADOPT OR AMEND AGENDA

5. APPROVAL OF REGULAR MINUTES of October 21, 2025

6. PUBLIC COMMENTS/COMMUNICATIONS:

7. COMMITTEE REPORTS OR COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS:

• Police and Building Permit Committee Meeting on Wednesday, October 29, 2025 at 5:45 PM.

• Finance and Audit Committee Meeting on Wednesday, October 29, 2025 at 6:00 PM.

• Electric Committee Meeting on Wednesday, October 29, 2025 immediately following the Finance and Audit Committee Meeting.

• Finance and Audit Committee Meeting on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 at 5:30 PM.

8. OLD BUSINESS:

A. Consider and act on authorizing an Agreement with IDOT and the Indiana Rail Road for Railway-Highway Grade Crossing Improvements on S. 1st Ave., Sycamore St. and West End Ave.

B. Consider and act on authorizing the waiver of the sewer connection fee for 1107 S. Van Buren St., under incentives of the Enterprise Zone.

C. Consider and act on authorizing the TIF Application submitted for Lot 7 in the Industrial Park by Belcher Self-Storage, LLC.

D. Consider and act on awarding the bid for the 2012 Dodge Charger, posted on govdeals.com, to Cliff Kinkade in the amount of $3,550.

E. Consider and act on authorizing the City of Newton to seek bids online at govdeals.com for

a 2011 Ford Crown Vic, as recommended by the Police and Building Permit Committee.

This bid will run from November 5, 2025 – November 17, 2025.

F. Consider and act on authorizing the invoice from Frohning Bros., Inc., in the amount of $11,720 for the TIF funded construction project at the Retention Pond in Five Aprils Subdivision.

G. Consider and act on awarding the bid for the TIF funded Watermain Replacement Project on East Reynolds St. to B & T Drainage, Inc. in the amount of $262,923. (Bid opening was held Thursday, October 30, 2025 at 9:00 AM at Newton City Hall.)

H. Consider and act on authorizing the disbursement of funds in the amount of $10.090.00 to Jim Zuber for the Demolition Reimbursement Application submitted for 603 W. End Ave.

9. NEW BUSINESS:

A. Discuss Notices of Dangerous and/or Unsafe Building/Structure.

B. Consider and act on authorizing certified commercial appraiser, Corrie Appraisal and Consulting, Inc, to appraise the city owned property in the Industrial Park for an estimated cost of $2,000.

C. Consider and act on authorizing the Dumpster Reimbursement Application submitted for 607 Arca by Kent Greeson up to the amount of $1,500, as recommended by the Finance and Audit Committee.

D. Consider and act on authorizing flu shots for all part-time and full-time city employees.

E. Consider and act on authorizing all part-time officers of the Newton Police Department a pay increase to $27.27/hour.

F. Consider and act on authorizing the hire of Justin Holmes as a full-time officer of the Newton Police Department, contingent on the passing of POWER testing, lie detector test and psych evaluation, as recommended by the Police and Building Permit Committee.

Start date will be December 9, 2025.

G. Consider and act on authorizing the hire of Tyler Plummer as a full-time officer of the Newton Police Department, contingent on the passing of POWER testing, lie detector test and psych evaluation, as recommended by the Police and Building Permit Committee. 

Start date will be December 9, 2025.

10.STATEMENTS BY: Council Members, City Attorney, City Treasurer (Tax Levy), City Clerk (1 PO Electric Department), Mayor

11.NEXT REGULAR MEETING: November 18, 2025 at 6:00 PM

SCHEDULED COMMITTEE MEETINGS:

12.EXECUTIVE SESSION: Personnel and Potential Litigation

13.ADJOURNMENT:

https://jaspercountyillinois.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/251104-CC-Agenda-REVISED.pdf