(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City Council in Atlantic, Wednesday, passed a Resolution approving the Amended Calendar Year (CY) Budget for the Atlantic Municipal Utilities (AMU).
AMU General Manager Steve Tjepkes said during the meeting, that the main reason for the amendment, is the increased costs of their purchased power. The wholesale market price of power in our area, he said, increased 67%, resulting in $1.8-million dollars in higher purchased power costs.

Despite the huge increase, Tjepkes said there is some good news….

He says there will not be an increase in electric rates for 2023, but for the first time in the last 3-years, the AMU Board of Directors has approved a slight increase in water rates, beginning with your February 2023 billing cycle. The increase is necessary, he said, due to a failing underground storage tank

Tjepkes said they will be replacing an underground water holding tank with an above ground tank. The project is expected to cost $1.8-million.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council approved a Class-C Liquor permit for Weitzel’s Restaurant, and the appointments of: David Schwab to the Atlantic Library Board of Trustees; Bill Garrett to the Atlantic Airport Commission, and Kyle Steffens to the Planning and Zoning Commission.

They also passed a Resolution approving the sale of City-owned property at 301 Maple Street (the structure was demolished and only the lot remains). Jamie Joyce has agreed to purchase to property for $10,000, with the intent to expand his graphic and design business.