The Atlantic City Council is expected to act Wednesday evening, on accepting bids for two, City-owned properties acquired through the condemnation process. During the Council’s last regular meeting, resolutions allowing for the sale of properties at 1200 Birch and 1106 Poplar via sealed bids, were approved. Bids will be accepted through 5-p.m. Wednesday (Nov. 5th).

One of the properties is currently an empty lot. The other has a two-story home on the lot. The house is filled with junk and the buyer will need to remove the structure and its contents, according to a demolition agreement the purchaser is required to sign. If no bids are received for either property, or if the Council feels either bid is inadequate, it may reject the offer/offers, and table the matter.

In other business, Interim City Administrator John Lund is expected to report on his recent visit with Ed Morrison, from the Iowa Municipalities Worker’s Compensation Association. Lund says Morrison had good news, in that measures taken by the City to adopt certain policies, have resulted in a roughly 66-percent decline in the number of Worker Compensation claims over the past 5-years. The policies include seat belt or restraint use, using a designated physician and a Return to Work program.

As a result of having fewer claims, Morrison told Lund the City is being moved out of a higher risk bracket and it is now eligible for insurance premium discounts, which Lund says will be less than what a City the average size of Atlantic, pays.

Near end of their 5:30-p.m. meeting, Wednesday, the Council may elect to enter into a Closed Session per Iowa Code, to hold a Collective Bargaining strategy session, with regard to the City’s Road and Wastewater Treatment system employees’ contracts, which are set to expire June 30, 2015. Lund said rather than using a labor attorney to facilitate the discussions, he would try and meet with Union leaders prior to the Council’s meeting.