In a 5-1 vote following two closed sessions Monday night, the Newton City Council passed an agreement with the county for development of a 400-acre Industrial Park on the northeast side of town. The resolution passed shortly before 10 p.m., with city council members Stacy Simbro and Melissa Dalton indicating the agreement passed based on faith each side would follow through on what they’ve agreed to. Simbro cast the vote against moving forward.

“I really hope the draft things we have talked about, that the county said they would come to the table on,  come to fruition. Because a vote for “yes” and those things not happening in the most positive way possible, is going to be extremely disappointing to me and anyone else I represent.”

Meanwhile, At-Large Councilman Randy Ervin is optimistic this project will be a big win for Newton. 

“I have already received texts from people around the state who are looking for us to approve this. We are also looking at an opportunity to move this city forward. I will say it again, this is probably the biggest project in  Newton’s history. Are there risks, yes. We can not let our citizens down on this one.”

The Jasper County Board of Supervisors will now take the next steps in the project, which also involves Iowa Interstate Railroad and Alliant Energy. The County needs to acquire 249 acres to go along with land the Iowa Interstate Railroad owns to form the industrial park. The railroad and Alliant Energy are private partners in this project, and will contribute financially to the development of the site just southeast of the TPI wind blade plant.