MAYOR MARK'S REMARKS

Greetings!

When is the last time you saw four construction projects going on at the same time along the two highways in Newton?  EVAPCO, B & C Video, St. Thomas Church and Peoples State Bank are all expanding and/or replacing buildings.

Hopefully this is just the beginning of many great things to come.  We'll break ground on our new aquatic center in August, and we have several other projects in various stages.

I am blessed to have such good people working with me for the betterment of this community.  They're all doing a great job!

With economic concerns all around us, we are fortunate to continue to have our three major new car dealers.  How many towns of 3100 population do you know that can make this boast, along with three major farm implement dealers?

I know I'm only touching on a few of our positives.  There are many more.

Catch the Spirit!  Live the Dream!

I am so thankful for the team of community leaders around me.   The accomplishments are many and many are still in progress:  1) replacing an old sewer plant that was in violation with E.P.A. with a new state-of-the-art, award-winning wastewater treatment facility through a matching grant 2) a 1925 water plant with open vessels and being held together only by the wisdom and expertise of its department head and employees to be replaced this year using an up to 75% matching grant  3) an electric system in the midst of a 3-year upgrade that will bring us into the 21st century being accomplished with city money that has been saved up just for this purpose and will leave us enough money to be self-insured  4) approximately $400,000 worth of old, unhealthy, small diameter water line replaced using a matching grant  5) a $50,000 annual budget established to reline sanitary sewer line that is cracked and taking on storm water  6) a $350,000 grant applied for to rehabilitate housing near Dufrain Park  7) a $400,000 OSLAD grant to help pay for our new state-of-the-art aquatic center  8) a new skateboard park  9) new waterline extensions  10) a new canoe ramp paid for by a 100% grant from I.D.N.R.  11) a $20,000 grant received to develop our city/county multi-purpose trails plan  12) helping Evapco come into our community (40 jobs)  13) helping to retain Superior Fuels and Dirtbuster in our community  14) a new Mexican restaurant  15) a brand new NAPA store on West Jourdan Street  16) working to accommodate G.S.I.'s growth with a new road and parking lot  17) continuing work with 2 businesses to bring them into our south town industrial park  18) encouraging demolition of many old, dangerous and dilapidated buildings  19) encouraging property maintenance  20) a matching grant obtained for security cameras at Jasper County Junior High  22) the establishment of tax abatement, enterprise zones, zoning and a TIF district to attract more housing and job growth, and to retain the good that we have  23) four intergovernmental agreements with the county  24) a golf cart ordinance passed during the high fuel price crisis  25) working to ensure the Boy Scouts will always be part of our community  26) being considered as a location for an assisted living facility  27) no tax increases imposed  28) and the list goes on.

It is overwhelming what can be accomplished with a great group of people and a positive attitude and still continue to maintain a balanced budget.

Catch the Spirit!  Live the Dream!

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Newton is located a short drive from two major interstates and several airports accommodating small planes as well as commuter flights. Locally, state routes 33 and 130 are both class two truck routes and rail services are provided by both the Indiana Railroad and Illinois Central Railroad.

Friendly neighborhoods and a progressive school system make you feel at home right away, and there is always something to occupy your time. Hunting lodges, two parks, a golf course and a drive-in are just some of our recreation options.

If you are thinking of making Newton your home or the home of your business, or if you are just passing through, we hope you enjoy our mix of small town ideals and big city ambition!