The Newton Board of Aldermen has given the Newton Chamber of Commerce approval to begin planning the 2022 Loose Caboose festival for April 9.
The approval was given during the board’s Dec. 21 meeting at the temporary city hall building on Hwy. 15 next to the old Pioneer Community Hospital.
Chamber Director Nena Hammond approached the board to get approval so that she can begin sending out vendor applications and start planning the entertainment for this year’s festival.
She said the later date worked out better for the event in 2021, and this year’s event is planned for Palm Sunday weekend, which should not conflict with any Easter events planned.
The 2021 events was the first event held in Newton since the beginning of the pandemic.
For more information on the event, contact the Newton Chamber of Commerce at 601-683-2201.
In other business, the board:
• accepted donations for the beatification committee in the amount of $1,000.
• Close City Hall on Dec. 27 to finish cleanup of the City Hall so that renovations can begin on the inside.
• approved paying Kone in the amount of $1,321.92 for maintenance on the elevator.
• Set a financial planning expo at the depot for Jan. 31.
• Approved a letter requesting matching funds from the state for ARP projects.
• Obtained an environmental quality assessment for the hospital.
• Paid Neel-Shaffer $884 on the Old Highway 15 Loop project.
• Gave Doug Everett a $2 per hour pay increase in spite of a freeze on raises passed by the aldermen. This pay increase was offered as an incentive from the previous administration to complete wastewater certification training.
