The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday evening, accepted the site plans for a single-family housing development project to be located along Ash Street, between 1405 and 1503 Ash. Boose Building Construction, L.C. has proposed the nearly $1.26-million dollar project, which includes six, single family residential homes, each spanning about1,400-square feet. The homes would feature three bedrooms, two baths, two car garages, and a poured basement. They would be valued at about $200,000 each. The City’s Planning and Zoning Commission approved the site plan during their meeting last week.

Boose is requesting a grant from the City in the amount of $80,000 in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) to aid in making the project a reality. The first payment of $40,000 would be paid when public improvements (grading, street, water, sanitary and storm sewer) are installed. Construction of the first house is slated to begin this year, with two more houses next year, and three houses to follow. The second TIF payment of $40,000 would be paid when the third foundation is in place. Boose says the last two houses they completed in past two years sold before they were completed, which is indicative of the need for more, single family homes, according to the company.

While the site plans for Boose were approved, the Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, tabled a site plan for a 6,183-square foot addition to the Heritage House at 1200 Brookridge Circle. The plan was approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission last week, but there were concerns at that time about storm water drainage. The same issue caused the Council to hold-off on approving the site plan until engineers can take a closer look. They should have a recommendation for the Council by the time of their special meeting next week.

And, Mayor Dave Jones reported the contracts for the Highway 6/7th Street reconstruction project have been signed by the company which was awarded the bid for it, but there’s still no word on when the detour signs will go up. A pre-construction meeting will be held soon. Council Chris Jimerson said the Public Safety Commission has proposed drafting an ordinance restricting parking on 10th Street during construction on 7th, as 10th street will be used as a major road for local traffic.

There would also be no heavy truck traffic on 10th, 14th and 22nd Streets, with the exception of local deliveries. Mayor Jones said the reason heavy trucks will not be allowed on those streets is because “They’re not build for it…it’s a residential area in there.” Jones also advised local farmers who normally bring their heavy equipment into town along 7th Street between Olive and Burger King, to plan now for an alternate route. He suggested “If you have to bring a combine in (for repair),” do so now and don’t wait until May.

A fiery semi tractor-trailer accident on Interstate 80 westbound in Cass County has the road blocked this (Thursday) morning at mile marker 64. The accident was reported at 3:34-a.m., with Anita and Wiota Fire and Rescue along with Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies responding to the scene. The semi, which was loaded with paper, was fully engulfed in flames under the bridge for County Road N-28 (the Wiota Road), and early reports were there may have been some sort of an explosion.

Flames were said to have reached 30-to 40-feet high, according to the person who reported the incident to Cass County Communications. Neither the driver of the semi,  Ferando Hernandez, of Los Angeles, California, nor his passenger, were injured. According to reports, for reasons unknown, Hernandez lost control of the semi, which hit an inside median guardrail before the rig jackknifed.

Traffic on the interstate west of Exit 70 was at a standstill, but the left lane was expected to have been re-opened to the stalled traffic only. The remaining traffic flow was being rerouted off the Interstate at Exit 70 south, to Anita and west to Wiota, then back north to I-80, while the wreck is cleaned-up.