The Rundown – City adopts new building codes

Published on September 10, 2025

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The Rundown is prepared by the City of Newton Communications Office to summarize the City Commission action and does not represent official Commission minutes.

7 p.m. Sept. 9, 2025, Newton City Commission meeting

At Tuesday’s meeting, the City Commission adopted updates to the City’s building codes to bring them up-to-date and more closely match the City of Wichita, where most Newton contractors also do business.

The updates included the 2024 editions of the International Building Code, the International Mechanical Code, and the International Existing Building Code, and the 2018 edition of the International Residential Code.

The new code adoption followed multiple work sessions to solicit feedback from local contractors and building owners. It also followed adoption of the new International Fire Code earlier this year.

Newton Next

The Commission also received an update on Newton Next, the City’s new comprehensive planning process. Newton Next is an update to the previous plan, ReNewton, which was developed in 2010.

Updates, communication and important information will be shared on the new project website, NewtonNextPlan.com. Community members are encouraged to sign up to join the Community Voices Team to provide insight into the plan and to take the community survey that is now available.

In-person events to gather input this fall include:

  • Visioning Workshop with the Community Voices Team – 6-8 p.m. Oct. 7 at Fire/EMS Station 3, 2520 S. Kansas
  • Public Open House – 6-8 p.m. Oct. 8 at Station 3

In other action, the City Commission:

  1. Authorized the sale of $5.5 million in General Obligation Bonds to finance infrastructure projects for Fox Ridge Addition, the First and Spencer traffic signal project, and Quail Creek Avenue street and water line extension. The Commission awarded the bid to Robert W. Baird & Co. with an interest rate of 3.82%.
  2. Approved an application for a temporary alcohol permit for the United Way Chili Cookoff on Sept. 27 on West Sixth Street.
  3. Approved an application for a temporary alcohol permit and City services for Blues, Brews & Barbecue on Sept. 27 in Athletic Park.
  4. Approved a request to close Main Street on Oct. 2 for the Taste of Newton.
  5. Approved a request to close West First Street on Oct. 3 for the Newton High School Homecoming Parade.
  6. Approved an application for a cereal malt beverage license for 5R Newton, the new owner of the Newell Truck Stop.
  7. Proclaimed Sept. 17-23 as Constitution Week and Sept. 17 as Constitution Day.

For more information, please contact Director of Communications Erin McDaniel at 316-284-6055 or emcdaniel@newtonkansas.com.

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