The Newton City Commission on Nov. 12 approved a series of routine agenda items, including a Recreation Commission request to convert racquetball courts at the Newton Recreation Center into multipurpose space and two city-code ordinances.

The commission approved the minutes from its Oct. 28 meeting by voice vote. The body then considered a request from the Newton Recreation Commission to remodel racquetball courts into space that could be used for classrooms and tumbling. City staff told commissioners the Recreation Commission would pay for the remodel and that the city, as owner, must sign off before work begins. A motion to approve the request passed by voice vote after a motion from Commissioner (Speaker 6) and a second from Commissioner (Speaker 4).

Staff reported the Kansas Department of Health and Environment inspections for the city’s wastewater and water treatment facilities showed zero deficiencies; a handful of nonbinding recommendations were already being addressed. The commission moved to receive the report and approved that motion by voice vote.

The commission adopted an amendment to Chapter 18 of the city code related to solid waste (discussed as ordinance 5183-25) after a motion by Commissioner (Speaker 3) and a second from Commissioner (Speaker 6). The body also approved repeal of local code section 20-4-10, which previously barred doors from opening into a public right-of-way; staff said the repeal resolves a conflict with the adopted fire code’s requirement that certain exterior doors swing outward (discussed as ordinance 5184-25). Both ordinances passed by voice votes.

Denise (Speaker 2) presented a Lions Club request to close Main Street from 5 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 4 for the annual Parade of Lights; KDOT had already approved the closure. The commission approved the street closure by voice vote.

All passed votes on routine business were taken by voice vote at the Nov. 12 meeting; no roll-call tallies with individual member votes were recorded in the transcript text.