(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Mayor Grace Garrett, this (Wednesday) evening, administered the Oath of Office to the City’s newest Police Officer. Adam Roberts, who was hired in April 2024, and is a graduate of the Clarinda High School. Roberts will complete his field training at the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy at the end of August. His family was present in the Council’s Chambers to witness the event. Officer Roberts has served as an assistant coach for the Atlantic Archery team for the last several years. He and his wife Megan moved to town in 2010. The couple has four children.

Mayor Garrett congrats Officer Roberts following the Oath of Office.

The Council then proceeded to act on an Order to close 6th Street, between Poplar and Chestnut, every Thursday from 3-until 7-p.m., effective June 1st through Oct. 10th, for Produce In the Park. Additionally, during that same period, from 4-until 6:30-p.m. Chestnut Street will not be closed for other events. It also allows a Produce In the Park banner to cross Chestnut Street, from late May though mid-October.

The Council approved a Collective Bargaining Agreement with the International Union of Operating Engineers, representing the City’s Public Works Department (Street Dept. & Wastewater Dept.). The agreement was previously ratified by Union membership, and is in effect from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council held the second reading of an Ordinance amending the City’s Code of Ordinances, with regard to RAGBRAI ®, to help the local RAGRAI Committee deal with the public health and safety issues that can be created by an influx into the City of a large number of people. RAGBRAI arrives in Atlantic on July 22nd. Riders will depart the following day. The Council approved an update to the City’s Comprehensive Plan, as unanimously passed by the Personnel & Finance Committee, and is recommended for updates every five-years.

They’ll also passed an Order to refer a request for vacating a “Phantom” right-of-way (ROW), to the Planning and Zoning Commission. Mayor Grace Garrett:

The request is for an area that begins at the corner of W. 4th and Laurel Streets, terminating westward, at a phantom railroad ROW. The Atlantic City Council reviewed and acted to approve the Contract and Bonds for the Sunnyside Park Splashpad project. The contracts & bonds had not been made available to local project manager Snyder & Associates Engineers, in time for the Council to review the documents. Snyder’s Dave Sturm:

The Council previously passed a resolution awarding the project to the Hensley Group, LLC, out of Muscatine, in the amount of $552,084. They also passed a resolution approving updates to the City’s accounting, record-keeping, human resources management, bank reconciliation, financial reports software, and the FY 2024 Budget Amendment to pay for the update. Councilperson Elaine Otte said the Personnel and Finance Committee took a look the current gWorks Program.

A resolution passed approving the “PRN (Pro Re Nata, or “as the situation demands”) Status Police Officer Opening, Job Description, and Compensation,” as explained by Councilpersons Sarsfield and Otte. Councilman Sean Sarsfield:

Councilwoman Otte added:

In her report to the Council, Mayor Garrett reminded residential and commercial property owners not to blow their grass clippings into the street. The clippings make it dangerous for bicyclists and motorcyclists, and is prohibited in the Code of Ordinances. Several locations on 5th and Mulberry Streets (to name a few) had grass clippings on the street, Wednesday evening.