The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday evening, approved an amendment to the City’s Personnel Policy. City Administrator Doug Harris explained one part of the amendment pertains to how close the city’s police officers must live with regard to their response time. The current requirement calls for officers to live within five-miles of the City limits, but after consulting with Police Chief Steve Green, and looking at other, legal requirements, it was determined the officers may live within a 25-minute response time.

The second change to the Personnel Policy, pertained to the parity between Union and Non-Union contracts, with regard to Personal Holiday time. The current contract allows non-union employees two-personal holidays per year. The proposal called for that to increase to three days per year, which would make the total number of holidays 11. That matches what Union personnel employed by the City, receive. The amendment was approved unanimously.

In other business, City Administrator Doug Harris said the Airport Commission has submitted their Capital Improvement Program (CIP) to the State of Iowa. He says if approved, the local share for the projects, the total cost of which is $2.62-million, the local share would end up being $875, 953. And, if it’s approved by the State, the Commission would have to request the Council consider a bond issue to finance some of the improvements, which by the way, were not included in the CIP Harris presented to the Council last month.

He said also, renovations on the Atlantic City Hall will begin next week, with the lobby area. Eventually, work will proceed into the Council Chambers, which will result in one of the regular council meetings in February having to take place at another location.

Officials with the Atlantic Community Promotion Commission (CPC) report they would like anyone interested in doing the downtown beautification project…which includes planting, mulching, weeding, watering, and other maintenance of the flower beds on Chestnut Street…to write a proposal, and send it to city officials by noon on Jan 30th. The CPC will discuss the proposals during its meeting in February.

Those who make the proposals are invited to attend the meeting February 7th, at noon, to answer questions from the CPC about the proposal. CPC members said they have requests from other parties about overseeing the project, and decided to ask for proposals from those interested this year. The project consists of flower beds in Chestnut Street median between Sixth and Seventh Streets and on the Chestnut Street corners from Second to Sixth Streets, however, $7,500 has been budgeted, and if funds remain after the Chestnut Street area is complete, other areas (for example, the corner at Seventh and Olive Streets) could be considered.

The CPC also notes that the flower bed in the median on Chestnut Street is irrigated. Proposals should detail plant types, color schemes, plant heights (keep drivers’ visibility in mind), maintenance schedule, volunteer involvement, and a breakdown of costs, and in addition to annual plantings, CPC members would like proposals to expand the use of perennials to save money in the long run. Because types of plantings aren’t specified, the project will be considered based on the overall value (bang for the buck) rather than lowest cost.

Maintenance should be ongoing with special attention given to downtown events – Customer Appreciation Days, Crazy Daze, Atlanticfest, Coca-Cola Days, Harvest Fest, etc., and proposals should include all labor, materials and equipment. Those submitting proposals are responsible for their own insurance. Volunteer involvement is not required, but there has been a volunteer planting day in the past. Those submitting proposals may want to continue with that, utilize volunteers to assist with maintenance instead (such as coordinating businesses or groups to “adopt” corners to weed), or eliminate volunteers all together.

Use of volunteers is at the discretion of those submitting proposals. Volunteers would be coordinated and overseen by those submitting proposals. For more information, contact Caryn Barbero-Just at 254-0989.

The trial for two Nebraska residents charged in connection with an arson fire in Atlantic in Dec. 2010 has been delayed until March. According to online court records, 27-year old William Kautter, of Omaha, faces a felony 1st degree arson charge, and six felony charges of Attempt to Commit murder. His wife, 29-year old Elizabeth Kautter, also of Omaha, faces a felony 1st degree arson charge. All charges stem from a Dec. 2010 residential fire at 601 E. 6th Street, in Atlantic.

The homeowners, Myron and Jolynne Gill, along with one of their adult children and three juveniles, were in the home at the time, but all escaped without injury. Investigators determined gasoline was splashed across the front door and porch of the house and then set aflame.
Complaints and Affidavits filed in coordination with the arrest of William and Elizabeth Kautter said prior to the fire, William Kautter had made several harassing phone calls, threatened physical harm and death to the Gill family. In addition, cell phone records showed the Kautter’s had traveled to Iowa from Omaha the night of the fire, and, Elizabeth Kautter was seen purchasing gasoline at an Atlantic area gas station on December 14th, 2010.

The Kautter’s have plead not guilty to the arson charges. Both trials were set to have begun Tuesday, Jan. 8th, but on Monday, Judge Jeffrey Larson agreed to extend the pre-trial conferences until Feb. 25th, with the both trials slated for March 26th. The couple remains free on bond. William Kautter had also been charged with Making Terrorist Threats, but he instead plead guilty to a reduced charge of 1st Degree Harassment.

The trial for an Atlantic man facing a felony charge of Willful Injury Causing Bodily Injury, and a Serious Misdemeanor charge of Domestic Abuse Assault Causing Bodily Injury, has been delayed until May. According to online court records, Judge Jeffrey Larson, on Monday, granted a request by attorneys in the case of 45-year old Rex Dean McDermott to delay his trial until 9:30-a.m. May 29th.

His pre-trial conference is set to take place earlier that same month.His trial was originally set to take place January 8th in Cass County District Court. McDermott entered a written plea on Monday, of Not Guilty to the charges, and is currently free on bond.

McDermott had been arrested in Oct. 2012, following an incident which allegedly occurred at R&B Feeds in Atlantic.