The Atlantic City Council held a special session Wednesday evening at the Senior Citizen Center. During the meeting, the Council, after receiving no written or oral objections, adopted the Fiscal year 2014 Municipal Budget, and they passed a resolution awarding a contract for the reconstruction of the Sunnyside Tennis Courts, to Dostals Construction Company, in Gretna, NE.

During previous meetings of the Council, concerns were raised over how to pay for the $259,000 reconstruction project, but City Administrator Doug Harris said he recently came to realize that the costs could be included under “Essential Purpose” funding. He said he assumed Park projects were “Corporate Purposes,” but he learned only things like City Hall renovation can come under that type of funding. Knowing that they can come under Essential Purpose frees up some money for that and other park projects.

Parks and Recreation Department Director Roger Herring said it is essential to get the tennis courts done as soon as possible, so Atlantic can “Get back on the tournament trail.” With the tennis courts currently torn up in preparation for reconstruction, Herring said the Atlantic Trojan’s Tennis Tournament will take place in Harlan this year. He says Atlantic was also asked to host a District Tennis Tournament, but that couldn’t happen because of the condition of the courts prior to reconstruction. Herring says by finalizing the contract, the City will be eligible for a U-S Tennis Association grant and Missouri Valley USTA funds.