The Atlantic City Council Wednesday evening adopted on the second reading and approved on the third and final reading, an amendment to the Code of Ordinances, with regard to Urban Deer Control. The Community Protection Committee had recommended several changes to the ordinance in order to make it more effective. The changes include allowing hunters who take an anterless deer within the City limits to also take an antlered deer. It also stipulates that once a hunter has qualified to bow hunt deer in Atlantic, that they will remain qualified in future years, as long as the requirements are met.

The Council also passed the first reading of an Ordinance entitled “No Parking Zones,” with regard to U-S Highway 6 (7th Street), on the west side of Atlantic, in front of the KFC Restaurant and Casey’s General Store. Jim Bane, DOT District Maintenance Engineer, had indicated in a letter received last month, that there is a “Reccuring safety and maintenance problem on the shoulder of U-S 6,” when “Vehicles park on that shoulder and interfere with the visibility of vehicles attempting to turn onto U-S 6.” Bain said “In addition, trucks that are parked on (the) shoulder (of the road), are causing damage” to the area, and increasing maintenance costs.

Often times, truck drivers park on the shoulder to grab a quick bite at Casey’s or the other establishments nearby. Councilman Shawn Shouse questioned if establishing a No Parking Zone along the shoulder doesn’t merely transfer the problem of damage caused by trucks to another section of the roadway, and where trucks would pull over. The Council decided it would be better to try and get more input from the public, truckers and others affected by the potential change, before the Ordinance is enacted.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council approved a Grant Agreement with the FAA and related matters, with regard to a just over $1.04-million grant for the Airport Paving and Lighting Project. City Administrator Doug Harris said the City’s share of the project is $156,214. A bond issue for airport improvements was approved in 2006 has helped to pay for grading and other paving projects. There are still funds available to pay for the City’s share of the grant and other possible improvements. The total project cost of about $1.196-million.

And, the Council Wednesday approved a resolution setting Building and Zoning Fees, as recommended by the Finance Committee. The Committee has recommended the lowering of permit fees for unattached garages, gazebos, sheds, decks and similar accessory structures over 100-square feet, from 30-cents per square foot, to 15-cents/psf, but not to exceed $500. In addition, the fee for moving existing dwellings and structures to a new address, would be raised from $100 to $200, due to the number of City services required to assist in making such a move possible.