(Atlantic, Iowa) – When the Atlantic City Council meets at 5:30-p.m. Wednesday, they’ll have a lot of items to act on. First up, is approval of a Class-C Liquor permit for Weiztel’s Restaurant. The Council denied the license during their Aug. 5, 2022 meeting. Weitzel’s appealed and a hearing was held with an Administrative Law Judge, who ruled in Weitzel’s favor, and reversed denial of the liquor license. The Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division (ABD), has informed the City that the matter needs to be placed back on the Council’s agenda for approval.

The Atlantic City Council will also act on passing a Resolution approving the Amended Calendar Year 2022 Budget for Atlantic Municipal Utilities (AMU), and the Utility must follow suit. AMU General Manager Steve Tjepkes has stated the “Wholesale market prices of power increased 67% in 2022,” which resulted in “much higher purchased power costs ($1.8-million),” hence the need to amend AMU’s budget filed with the State of Iowa, that reflects the additional costs. Along the same line, the Council will act on approving the CY 2023 Budget for AMU, which has already been approved by the Utility’s Board of Directors, and is essentially a formality.

In other business, the Council will act on three Mayoral appointments:

• The appointment of David Schwab to the Atlantic Library Board of Directors. The move will fill a position left open by the resignation of Adam Skog, whose term would have expired on July 1, 2024.
• The Council will act to approve Bill Garrett to the Atlantic Airport Commission. Garrett was appointed by the Council in Dec., 2021, to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Dr. Trewet.
• And, they will act on appointing Kyle Steffens to the Planning and Zoning Commission, as a replacement for Geoff Barrick, who has resigned, and whose term expires April 1, 2027.

A public hearing will take place during the Council’s meeting, Wednesday, at City Hall, with regard to the sale of the 301 Maple Street property to Mr. Jaime Joyce, in the amount of $10,000. A house on the City-owned lot was demolished as part of the City’s effort to cut down on blighted properties and open up the parcel for purchase. Joyce – who owns JJ Design, LLC – proposes the construction of a building with the purpose of warehousing, sign assembly, graphic application on vehicles, and his business vehicle housing. The Council previously acted to approved a site plan for the building and the property was rezoned.

A public hearing will also be held with regard to the vacating of City Right-Of-Ways (ROW) on properties abutting Palm Street, whereby the property owners disagree on the use of the public ROW. The Council is being advised by City Administrator John Lund, to reach a consensus on the proper use of the property, to benefit the City and act accordingly, with deferred action, only if they refer the matter to the Planning and Zoning Commission.

And, the Council will hold the Third and Final Readings, Wednesday, on previously reported amended ordinances pertaining to: Billing for Storm Water Utility; Zoning Regulations for the area of 4 State Street, and 601 East 8th Street. Their final order of business is to act on a Resolution establishing the procedures for Collection, Interest and Penalties, for Delinquent Storm Water Bills, with regard to the proposed new billing schedule.