The Newton City Council convened for its regular session this past Tuesday evening. The following actions were taken:
- TIF Application for 105 Marshall Drive: The Council, based on the recommendation of the Finance and Audit Committee, approved a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) application for 105 Marshall Drive. The approved amount is 15% of the total project cost, up to $158,908, to be reimbursed annually based on the incremental tax increase after the project’s completion.
- New Police Chief Appointment: In a 4 to 1 vote, the Council authorized the appointment of James Riddle as the new Newton Police Chief, along with a one-year contract agreement.
- Demolition Reimbursement Application: A 3 to 2 vote led to the rejection of the Demolition Reimbursement Application for 801 West Jourdan Street, which was resubmitted for consideration.
- Police Officer Resignation: The Council accepted the resignation of Police Officer Adam Bridges, with his last working day set for Friday, January 10th.
- Membership with Illinois Municipal Utilities Association: The Council approved a one-year membership with the Illinois Municipal Utilities Association at a cost of $3,957.
- Grant Writing Agreement: A grant writing agreement was approved with the South Central Illinois Regional Planning and Development Commission for an Officer Recruitment & Retention Grant.
- Police Department Training: The Council agreed to send Police Department personnel to the upcoming Southern Illinois Criminal Justice Summit on February 26-27 and the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System Conference on March 30-April 1.
- Weather Response: The Council acknowledged and commended the hard work of city employees over the past several days and nights in response to recent weather conditions.
The next regular meeting of the Newton City Council is scheduled for Tuesday, January 21st.