(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Mayor of Atlantic and two council members were recognized during the Council’s meeting Wednesday night. City Clerk Barb Barrick prefaced the announcement by reading a statement from the Iowa League of Cities, with regard to the CEMO program.

“To recognize elected officials who are committed to continuing their professional development as elected officials, the Iowa League of Cities established the Certified Elected Municipal Official (CEMO) program. This voluntary recognition program utilizes existing League training opportunities, such as the Annual Conference & Exhibit and the Municipal Leadership Academy, allowing attendees to build towards the CEMO designation while receiving meaningful, informative and useful information on topics that expand the elected official’s knowledge and capabilities. Fifty credits are needed to obtain the CEMO designation; this includes a mix of required core and elective credits. Credits for training are only available for events attended after January 1, 2012. Credits can be used only once for each training.”

Barrick said “I’m very very proud to say that we [The City of Atlantic] recently had three elected officials receive this [CEMO] designation.” That includes Mayor Grace Garrett, Ward 1 Councilman Jim Behrens and At-Large Councilwoman Elaine Otte.” She said other council members are close to the designation.The designation, she said, “Speak highly of Atlantic,” and she thanked those three for attending the training.

In other business, Councilman Gerald Brink [and Councilwoman Otte] both say they had a person approach them and question if the Council was nothing more than a bunch of “yes men/women]”. Brink said he’s not afraid to vote against an issue on the agenda. The other councilpersons and Mayor agreed. Brink said the perception was troubling for him to hear.

CADCO Executive Director Jennifer McEntaffer said some in the community may not understand, that the items the council votes on, are thoroughly researched and vetted by committees (each of which have at least one Council liaison), before a recommendation to approve or disapprove a matter comes before the Council for a vote. Mayor Garrett said also, from the beginning, the Council was in agreement on what direction they were focused on, and taking the City in that direction.

The Council receives prepared packets of information for them to review and conduct additional research or ask questions about, before their meeting is held. She said “We don’t always have the same ‘yes’ all the time. We are willing to vote against something if we vote our conscience and convictions, and that’s what I have seen in this Council, and I appreciate that so very much.” She said the Council is not afraid to vote against each other when they have done their homework on the issues, and are certain their decision takes the City in the right direction.

As part of the action items on their agenda, Wednesday, the Atlantic City Council passed:

• The 2nd Reading of an Ordinance “Vacating that Portion of Country Oaks Right-Of-Way (ROW), between 2703 Country Oaks and 2605 Country Oaks. The first hearing was held Oct. 16, 2022 and passed without public comment.
• The 1st Reading of an Ordinance that amends the City’s Code of Ordinance, with regard to Storm Water Utility Billing,” and a change of bi-annual billing to annual billing, beginning in early 2023, with no change to the rates.
• The 1st Reading of an Ordinance amending zoning regulations with regard to removing the front-yard setback in the I-2 (light industrial District) along State Street.
• The Council also passed a Resolution “Obligating funds from the Southeast Urban Renewal Area Revenue Fund for Appropriation to the Payment of Annual Appropriation Tax Increment Financed Obligations Which Shall Come Due in the Next Succeeding Fiscal Year.” Essentially, it means that it will allow the City to utilize TIF money to repay its internal debt, which is an authorized part of the annual appropriation process.
• And, they passed a Resolution allowing the City to capture taxes paid by the Whitney Group, using TIF. The appropriation is an annual feature until the City either pays-off the $750,000 maximum payment or 20-years expire, whichever comes first. An identical Resolution was adopted by the Council in Nov., 2021.