(Atlantic, Iowa) –The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday evening (June 5th), set the dates for citizens to use fireworks over the Independence Day Holiday. By a vote of 6-to 1, with Councilman Gerald Brink voting no, the Council set Wednesday, July 3rd through Saturday, July 6th, from Noon until 11-p.m. each day, as the dates and times for fireworks to be allowed within the City Limits.

Brink said he had received comments from people who wanted the fireworks to be reduced to two nights only. Councilperson Emily Kennedy said the Community Protection Committee felt most people will have get together’s over the weekend, because people do celebrate Friday and Saturday. The Council has essentially the same discussion last year at this time. According to City Ordinance (Chapter 41.13):

• A person shall only discharge a fireworks device on real property they own or on property where consent has been given.
  (1) Exceptions: Snakes, sparklers, or caps can be discharged on a public place so long as all trash, wrappers, and wires are properly disposed of.
• Sky lantern open flame devices are not permitted to be released within the city limits, except if tethered by a retrievable rope so long as the person discharging has control over the sky lantern.
• No fireworks of any time shall be discharged within 300 ft. of any Public school building, assisted living facility, or hospital.

Any person who violates the provisions of the fireworks discharging ordinance or without reckless intent causes injury, property damage or a fire shall be guilty of a scheduled municipal infraction punishable by a $250 fine in addition to established court costs. Persons who violates the discharging fireworks ordinance after having been found guilty of a previous municipal infraction involving fireworks shall be cited for a municipal infraction with a fine of $600 plus associated court costs.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council heard from officials with Vision Atlantic with regard to a proposal to utilize Tax Increment Financing (TIF) for the Camblin Hills Development and Child Development project. During their meeting on May 15th, the Council adopted a resolution to sell City-owned property purchased from the Comes Family Trust in 2022, to Vision Atlantic for the sum of One-dollar, in exchange for what City Administrator John Lund says is “A tremendous amount of capital investment into the area”: More than $4.1-million in infrastructure; $48.8-million in housing, and a $10.7-million child development center on the land. Part of the proposal includes a TIF rebate not to exceed $10.5-million over a period of 15-years. Lund says “This would be the largest project, and the largest multi-entity partnership ever seen in Atlantic’s history. The scale of capital investment is enormous.”

Atlantic City Council mtg., 6/5/24

Following discussion, the Council acted on approving on an Order allowing for a Low-to-moderate Income (LMI) Reduction Waiver Request to be filed with the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), on behalf of Vision Atlantic and the aforementioned development project.

The Council also approved a Professional Services Agreement with Snyder & Associates (at a cost of $25,000), for a Downtown Treescape Improvement Master Plan, which includes options, public engagement and Budget estimates.

The Council set June 19th at 5:30-p.m., as the date and time for a Public Hearing on an Amended FY2024 Budget. The hearing takes place in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall.