(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday evening, bid farewell to the City’s Parks and Recreation Department Director. Bryant Rasmussen tendered his resignation earlier this month. Friday is his last day. He been with the Parks and Rec Department since Nov., 2018. Rasmussen has accepted a position with the USDA’s Soil and Water Conservation District, in Mills County.

Bryant Rasmussen

Mayor Grace Garrett said “Bryant’s accomplishments over the past over the past four-years are too numerous to mention in detail,” but she went on to mention a few. She called one of his greatest accomplishments the spearheading of the Bull Creek Restoration Project, which had been in discussion for decades because the financial resources could not meet the regulatory requirements. The Mayor said “Bryant’s vision and expertise in earth science resulted in the project finally getting done. And I must say, it looks great,” she said. Garrett said Bryant will “be greatly missed.” She recognized him for “his contributions in making our parks and recreation opportunities a point of pride for the community.”

In other business, the Council:

• Passed (6-0, with Councilman Pat McCurdy abstaining) a Resolution “Releasing the remainder of the Insurance Proceeds due to property located at 611 Locust Street, to the property owners.” The step was necessitated by the insurance carrier so that retainage of funds intended for the demolition and removal of burned and severely damaged structures, can be released by the City to the property owner. The rental home at 611 Locust was destroyed by a fire on May 10, 2022.
• The Council passed – by a vote of six-to-one – a Resolution authorizing and approving a loan agreement and providing for the issuance of $500,000 in taxable general obligation land acquisition bonds and the levy of taxes. This is with regard to the purchase of land for housing development in the City. Councilman H. Lee Sisco was the loan “Nay” vote.
• They passed (7-0) the first reading of an Ordinance amending the City Code, by changing the zoning classification of certain real property from R-3 (High Density Single Family Residential) to C-1 (Highway Commercial District), and changing the zoning map to reflect the change. They then proceeded to waive the second reading and pass the ordinance on the third and final reading.
• And, the Council passed (7-0) the first reading of an Ordinance that calls for Vacating that portion of Country Oaks Right-of-Way, between 2703 Country Oaks and 2605 Country Oaks.

City Administrator John Lund was unable to attend the Council meeting Wednesday evening, but Mayor Garrett spoke on his behalf. She mentioned Lund wanted the Council to know that the City of Atlantic Animal Shelter was given a State Inspection score of A++. Garrett said “I think we can be very proud of our City Animal Shelter.” She congratulated Shelter Director Kris Erickson for her work in making the score as high as it was.

The Mayor said citizens of the community, that with the changing of seasons, comes a reminder of the Snow Ordinance, the proper places to park your vehicles during appreciable accumulation of snow, and, that residents must clear snow and ice from your entire sidewalk within 24-hours of the cessation of snow/ice fall.  If you are unsure of what your responsibilities are, please call the Atlantic City Hall.