Chad Frey Newton Kansan
Midwest Transformers is growing and is seeking to purchase approximately 15 acres of city-owned land west of the Newton City/County airport.
Midwest Transformers intends to expand the property with a 6,000 square foot building – pending approval of the sale by the Newton City Commission.
“I’m definitely in favor of moving forward,” Commissioner Leroy Koehn said. “It’s one more development, and more jobs.”
Midwest Electric Transformer Services, established in 1981, currently operates out of a building on the north side of Newton City/County Airport. The company specializes in the sale, repair and recycling of oil-filled electrical equipment.
The city owns two 7.57-acre lots, for which Midwest Transformers is offering $8,000 per acre. If the sale is approved at the next city commission meeting, the city would receive $121,120. The city would deposit these funds in an economic development fund.
The city commission considered a purchase agreement this week, with the intention of finalizing the deal at an upcoming meeting.
The contract also contains a covenant that if for any reason Midwest Transformers does not make $50,000 in property improvements or complete construction of a 6,000 square foot building within four years, the property will return to the city.
“The city sells it on the basis that the person is going to build on it and not necessarily sit on it,” said Chris Towle, city attorney.
The expectation also includes the construction of a “depot” space within a year. This would serve as a rhythm for deliveries and storage.
In other cases:
• Set dates for the sale and unloading of pyrotechnics from June 27th to July 4th. Sale and unloading can take place from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. from June 27 to July 1. until midnight each of these days.
• Approval of a memorandum of understanding for the creation of a program on Main Street. The Kansas Main Street program aims to preserve and revitalize the organization, design, promotion and economic restructuring of downtown neighborhoods.
• Approved the closure of part of Main Street on May 7 for the Newton Downtown Car Show.
• Dissolution of a memorandum of understanding with Hope Home Repair. The organization and the city used Community Development Block Grant funds to provide low-interest or interest-free loans to low-income homeowners for home repairs. Hope Home Repair has ceased operations. Remaining funds in the program will be used for a winterizing pritram of homes in the city.
• Modification of the loan agreement with KDHE used to upgrade the sewage treatment plant. This amendment provides the city with a new repayment schedule reflecting an additional $1 million payment made in December. The city will continue to make additional payments so that the payment is still on schedule for 2026, several years earlier.
• Selection of Newton Kansan as the city’s official newspaper for the publication of legal notices. The Kansan was the lowest bidder at $2.25 an inch. Harvey County now offers $6 per inch.