A five year process to get the roof on the Newton Public Library replaced is one step away from formal completion. At Monday’s Newton City Council meeting, council members will consider approving a resolution accepting the project’s completion.

Following a facility assessment report conducted by the Architecture firm Studio MELEE of West Des Moines in 2019, it was determined the Newton Public Library roof was at the end of its useful life and had to be replaced. In 2022, the Newton Public Library Board hired Studio MELEE to design and release bid documents to replace the roofing systems on the Library. The Library Board voted to move forward with the low bidder, Hopkins Roofing of Pella, at their board meeting on December 15th, 2022. The Newton City Council then passed a resolution on December 19th, 2022, awarding the project to Hopkins Roofing for $772,815. City staff now say architects from Studio MELEE have signed the Certificate of Substantial Completion Form stating the project has been substantially completed in general compliance with the contract’s terms, conditions, and stipulations. 

The Newton Public Library Board approved completion of the project at their September 26th, 2024, meeting.