The City of Atlantic’s Personnel and Finance Committee is beginning a search for a new City Attorney. The Committee met Wednesday evening at City Hall, to review the contract of current City Attorney Dave Wiederstein, and their options for a future City Attorney. Committee Chair Kathy Somers said while Wiederstein has not formally given a 30-day notice of intent to resign, he did mention to her that he “Really does not want to be the City Attorney past December 31st,” but he added that he would be “Willing to make an extension of that for one-month, for reasons he also gave in a letter to Somers.

From left to right: Interim City Administrator John Lund; Mayor Dave Jones: Councilpersons Jimerson, Somers & Halder. (Ric Hanson/photo)

Wiederstein is running for Cass County Attorney in the November General Election. He also serves as attorney for the City of Audubon. Somers said he provided the committee with a list of qualifications in a letter that they should look for in a new City Attorney, including having someone who is local, experienced in municipal law and real estate. Wiederstein said the attorney should be “Responsive,” also. Meaning a higher priority should be given to City matters over the attorney’s other clients.

The Committee, comprised of Somers, Councilmen Dana Halder and Chris Jimerson, along with Mayor Dave Jones, made it clear they want whomever is selected to attend at least 90-percent of the Council meetings.

The Committee decided to send letters of Requests for Proposals (RFP’s) to law firms located within Atlantic, informing them of the opening, and allowing them until November 21st to submit a sealed bid. The Committee will open the bids at a meeting in early December and present them before the Council during their meeting on December 3rd, along with a recommendation.