The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, set March 4th as the date for a public hearing on an amendment to the City’s Urban Renewal Plan. City Administrator John Lund explained the hearing is just the first step on the City’s end in utilizing Tax Increment Financing (TIF) as an economic development tool. In the immediate future, it would impact a request from developer Don Sonntag for a TIF to support his Southern Heights View development project.

He says the amendment is part of the changes made with regard to TIF by the Iowa Legislature over the last four-years. Following the public hearing, a Resolution will be acted upon to change the Urban Renewal Plan for the southeast side of Atlantic, which will allow the City to apply TIF to that area.

In his report to the Council, Lund said he and Deb Field have been hard at work preparing the budget, which he says will have some “pleasant surprises,” and “will be exciting.” Lund reminded the public also, about removing their vehicles from City Streets within a 72-hour period following a heavy snowfall. The same applies to removing snow from public sidewalks.

Police Chief Steve Green said tickets and tow notices will be issued to persons who have left their vehicles on the street, making it difficult for the snow plow crews to do their jobs. Green said the City will always make a good faith effort to contact vehicle owners before issuing tickets or tow orders. He said the City has a Snow Emergency Ordinance in-place, but it hasn’t been used in years because it is more confusing and hard for the public to keep up with.

During the Council Committee Reports, Councilperson and Mayor Pro-Tem for the Wednesday evening meeting Kathy Somers said the Cass County Landfill Commission Tuesday night discussed but did not take action on a rate increase at the Landfill for next year, and since they may not be able to keep the big green recycling bins in the parking lot next to the Armory building much longer, the Commission is looking for public property to place the bins on. The move may be necessary since the property is owned by ARISE, and not the City of Atlantic.

Somers said also the landfill is taking care of roofing shingle recycling. The finely ground up material will be used as part of asphalt paving on the roads. Somers suggested if you are putting new shingles on your roof, take the old ones to the landfill so they can recycle them.