The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday passed five Resolutions, each, by a vote of six-to-one. The Council however, tabled a Resolution on approving the contract and bonds for a Hot Melt Asphalt Paving and Storm Sewer Improvement project, because the contractor, Carley Construction, of Avoca, had not yet returned its contract to the City.

Those projects which were approved Wednesday night include: a Portland Cement Concrete (P.C.C.) paving and storm sewer improvement project; the Sunnyside Park road resurfacing and parking improvements project; the Bull Creek Pathway resurfacing project, and City sidewalk repair project.

Councilman Kern Miller voted against the Bull Creek and City Park sidewalk repair projects, because he thought they should not have been paid for through the issuance of bonds. Miller said the council should have given the four-percent hotel-motel tax, which went into effect in January, a chance to build-up the funds to pay for the projects, since they are part of the City’s Park and Rec Program, which is funded in-part by proceeds from the tax. City Administrator Doug Harris said Henningsen Construction is expected to begin work on the Bull Creek Project June 18, and it should be completed by the 30th. Work on the Sunnyside project is underway, and should be finished within seven-to 10-days, depending on the weather.

In other business, the Council, by a vote of 6-to1, set June 15th as the date for a public hearing on a proposed internal advance and loan to fund a $125,000 incentive grant for Boulders Inn  and Suites. The  monies would come from the City’s Economic Development Fund.  Councilman Shaun Shouse, who is the Council’s liaison to the Finance Committee, said while a Development and Minimum Asssement agreement the City made with Boulders in May of 2010, has not officially been received…other than a faxed copy of the signed agreement, which is not binding…there is an understanding in place, and the contract is more or less, “in the mail.”

Shouse says the finance committee has met a couple of different times, most recently Tuesday evening, trying to fine-tune the agreement, and,  the attorney’s for both Boulders and the City of Atlantic have looked over the contract. The committee recommended the Council set a date for the hearing, based on the current status of the agreement.

Doug Harris says the latest proposal presented to Boulders’ developers, is for a $125,000 up-front grant from the City, and a total of $41,000 in tax rebates. The rebates would be spread out over the course of nine-years, rather than four, thereby allowing the City a better cash flow, and, he says, the ability to fund other, needed public improvements.

The developer would also realize  another $42,208 in tax avoidance savings. The incentives package would end up costing the City $247,464, or about $5,824 less than what the City offered last May.
In his report to the Council, Harris said work on the new wastewater treatment plant in Atlantic is progressing well, despite all the rain we’ve had recently. He said also, Roger Herring, the new Parks and Rec Director will be taking over for Travis Garrett, beginning Thursday. Garrett announced his resignation earlier this year.

Speaking of recreation, Doug Harris said the rates at the City pool, which opened Wednesday, are going up, but with the exception of the single-day passes, the rates have not been doubled, as some have said. He says the family seasonal rate was increased from $150 to $160, the single rate from $75 to $90, and the day pass, from two to four-dollars.