(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic City Council met Wednesday evening (11/16/22) and acted on approving several items on their agenda. The first was an Order to award a contract for the CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) Downtown Facade Improvement project to the lowest responsible bidder, which was Cornerstone Construction. Their bid was $454,044. The project covers Lloyd and Meredith properties that include 200-204 Chestnut Street. The owners were awarded a $400,000 grant in April, but the City is required to act as the grant recipient and the property owners as the subrecipient. The Council also approved a (Temporary) Easement Agreement for the 200-204 Chestnut CDBG project.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council passed a Resolution setting the date for a Public Hearing on the sale of real estate in Atlantic. More specifically, this applies to 301 Maple Street, which was once a dilapidated house that was acquired by the City and demolished. The City requested and received bids for the property, which were reviewed by the Personnel & Finance Committee. They in-turn recommended the lot be sold to Jamie Joyce, owner of JJ Design, LLC, in the amount of $10,000. He intends to erect a building to expand his business, with the purpose of warehousing, sign assembly, graphic application on vehicles, and business vehicle housing.

Having approved the aforementioned Resolution, the Council then proceeded to pass a Resolution approving the preliminary plat for the Prairie Hills Subdivision to the City of Atlantic. The Planning & Zoning Commission had already approved the plat and recommended it be approved as well, by the Council. City Administrator John Lund explained the preliminary plat is “Mostly just recording where a lot of the infrastructure and other details like the creating of parcels, will be done for the final plat.”

The Council heard an Annual report from Atlantic Public Library Director Michelle Andersen (We’ll have more on her report Thursday), and the passed the third and final reading of an Ordinance that calls for vacating a portion of a Country Oak Right-of-Way (ROW), between 2703 Country Oaks and 2605 County Oaks. And, the passed the second reading of an Ordinance amending the City’s Code of Ordinances with regard to changing the method of Storm Water utility billing from twice a year to once per year, beginning sometime next year.

They passed also, the second reading of an Amended Ordinance with regard to Zoning Regulations and removing the front yard setback for the Heavy Industrial District, and the second reading of an Amended Ordinance pertaining to Zoning Regulations that apply to removing the street yard setbacks prohibiting six-foot fences. The Atlantic City Council approved also, and Order to set the date of a Public Hearing regarding a platted Palm Street ROW as Dec. 7, 2022. Councilman Pat McCurdy quipped “It’ll be interesting, that’s all I’ll say.”

The property owners abutting an unbuilt City ROW on Palm Street, earlier this month sent the P&Za request for a hearing by the Council on the matter. The Council may determine if they wish the Planning & Zoning Commission to review the issue, or leave the ROW in its current form.  In his report to the Council John Lund discussed Property Tax, Street Finance and Department Head reports, and an upcoming Budget Session to focus on the financial matters that are ahead, with regard to legislative action that expected to come down the pike.