City leaders in Atlantic are continuing efforts to bring high-speed, fiber optic internet service to businesses in the community, in an effort to retain those businesses and bring more businesses to town. City Administrator John Lund, Wednesday, brought the City Council up-to-date on talks with internet vendors Mediacom, Century-Link and Marne Elk Horn Telephone Company. Lund said he and Mayor Dave Jones met with Mediacom officials on Tuesday.

He said the representative will put together some numbers on how much it would cost to bring fiber-optic service to Atlantic. Using those numbers, Lund will work with a consultant who will, in-turn, work with an engineer who has handled a vast majority of the municipal internet projects in Iowa. They hope to sit down with the Council to discuss the matter before the end of this month.

Lund says the consultant will help to determine the lowest cost option, “While at the same time making sure that such a critical service for our major industries is being met.” Mayor Dave Jones said last month they met with representatives from Century Link On Monday, they met with Marne-Elk Horn representatives, and Unity Point the week before that.

Jones said there are four different options, but the consultant will help to determine if the City’s current infrastructure and support a fiber optic system, or if it becomes a utility unto itself, the investment would cost millions of dollars. He said they’re trying to get something accomplished to help business and industry, but at the same time “Not bankrupt the City with it.”

Efforts to bring fiber optic internet service in Atlantic began in earnest after a bond referendum for City Hall renovations failed during a vote on Nov. 3rd. Local businessman Jim Tyler suggested the $100,000 that was already set aside for a part of the project be used instead to get the ball rolling on fiber optic lines for businesses, schools, the County and more.