(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City Council in Atlantic met in a regularly scheduled session this (Wednesday) evening. During their meeting, the Council paid special recognition to Assistant Police Chief Paul Wood, who has served as a member of the Atlantic Police Department for 20-years. Mayor Grace Garrett read from a statement provided by Atlantic Police Chief Devin Hogue, with regard to Assistant Chief Paul Wood’s background and experience.

Wood was promoted to Sergeant in the Atlantic Police Department 2011, Lieutenant in 2016, and finally to Assistant Police Chief, in 2022.

Atlantic Mayor Grace Garrett congratulates Assistant Police Chief Paul Wood for his 20-years of service on the City’s Police force.

Speaking of people with many years of valuable experience, Councilman Jim Behrens, during the Council Committee report portion of the City Council meeting, said he learned during Tuesday’s fire department meeting, the Atlantic Fire Department is losing four members whose experience will be sorely missed. One of those is Wayne Brosam, who is a Special Agent/Investigator with the State Fire Marshal’s Arson and Explosives Division with the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council acted on passing a Resolution setting Dec. 4, 2024, as the date for a Public Hearing on an Urban Renewal Plan Amendment, with regard to the Southeast Urban Renewal District. With the approval, the Council will adopt a development agreement for the use of TIF (Tax Increment Financing) for the Vision Atlantic housing development project, which City Administrator John Lund says is the largest such project in Atlantic since the Nishna Hills Final Plat was adopted in 1978.

The Council acted also on a Resolution authorizing City Administrator Lund to sign and execute a Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) SWAP Program and other Iowa DOT documents, as required by the Iowa Department Of Transportation, which allows the City to use over $1.056-million in the City’s accrued and borrowing from, future TIP (Transportation Improvement Plan) funds to fund the estimated $1.320-million in costs, for the reconstruction of West 22nd Street. That work is expected to begin next Spring and Summer (2025).

Another Resolution the Atlantic City Council passed, Wednesday, was with regard to the City’s responsibility for Community Sidewalks, and the Development of a Comprehensive Sidewalk Improvement Plan to maintain sidewalks in a safe, and hazard-free condition. John Lund says the Resolution leaves the City as the owner of sidewalks, and liable for damages resulting from failure to maintain them. Lund says the City can transfer liability, but each time it does so, a property owner must receive notice by certified mail requiring the owner to “repair, replace or reconstruct sidewalks within a reasonable time.”

The final item of business for the Council, was to act on passing the third and final reading of an Ordinance pertaining to “Prohibited Trees.” In his report, John Lund sounded a bit like the painter Bob Ross, when describing the 2023 Audit Report.

He said he’s proud of the Audit, and would enjoy talking about it.