The Rundown – City tweaks bulky item pickup program

Published on November 13, 2025

At Wednesday’s meeting, the City Commission updated the City’s solid waste ordinance, including a change to the bulky item pickup service.

Previously, tree trimmings and shrubbery collected as a bulky item would count as one item out of the five allowed per pickup. Now, tree limbs will count as a separate pickup. So, if a customer has a pickup of both furniture and tree limbs, they will be charged for two pickups for $20. If they have only tree limbs or only furniture, they will be charged for one pickup for $10.

The change will help cover the City’s costs because of the need to make additional trips for tree limb pickups. Limbs and brush must be transported to a separate location from standard bulky items.

The update also added language about the Junk-Free Curbs program, which gives residents 48 hours to remove items from the curb or schedule a bulky item pickup.

Full text of ordinance

Newton Rec Center

The Commission approved a request from the Newton Recreation Commission to remodel the racquetball courts at the Rec Center. NRC staff said the popularity of racquetball has diminished in recent years, and the courts have not been used at all in the past few months. The NRC plans to turn the area into a multipurpose room to host activities like summer day camps, fitness classes, meetings, and room rentals.

The Commission’s approval was required because the City owns the Rec Center and must approve any alterations to the property, per the lease agreement with the NRC.

In other action, the City Commission:

1. Discussed ways to support vulnerable community members affected by the federal government shutdown. The Commission was specifically looking at suspending utility shutoffs for those affected by the pause in federal food assistance. That step was deemed unnecessary because Kansas recipients were issued their full November benefits last week. City Commissioners directed staff to continue working on a revamp of the City’s current utility assistance program, which is available to low-income seniors.
2. Recognized City Communications Director Erin McDaniel, who received the 2025 Kansas Communicator of the Year award from the Kansas Association of Public Information Officers (KAPIO).
3. Approved a request from Newton Lions Club to close Main Street on Dec. 4 for the Parade of Lights.
4. Repealed a section of City Code that was in conflict with the International Fire Code regarding exterior exit doors for buildings adjacent to public sidewalks that hold 50 or more people.
5. Reviewed results of the City’s annual sewer and tri-annual water system inspections from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The inspections found no deficiencies at the treatment plants or in the collection and distribution systems.