The Atlantic City Council is expected to act on passing a resolution approving the contract and bonds for the construction of a Portland Cement Concrete Trail circling Lake 1 in the Schildberg Recreation Area, Wednesday. City Administrator Doug Harris reports the Iowa DOT has accepted bids for the project, and determined that Howrey Construction of Rockwell City provided the lowest bid, amounting to $59,291.The bid was nearly 28-percent lower than the next lowest bidder.

The project will be funded through a State Transportation Enhancement Grant, that covers 80-percent of cost. If approved by the council, the remaining 20-percent local match will come from the city’s Local Option Sales Tax Progress Fund.

The City Council will also consider a request for direction from the Community Development Committee, with regard to the need to establish a Property Maintenance Ordinance. Doug Harris says the City is trying to curb the proliferation of dilapidated and dangerous structures, which have an adverse affect on surrounding property values.

Harris says the objective of such an ordinance, were it to be established, is to keep properties from deteriorating to the point where structures become dilapidated and dangerous, by requiring property owners to keep those structures in reasonably good repair. The CDC is not considering International or Uniform Property Codes, which would apply extensive building, plumbing and mechanical code requirements to existing structures. Harris says the Committee wants to look at a creating an ordinance which focuses only on preserving the outside envelope of buildings in good repair.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council Wednesday evening, will consider and act on a resolution amending a section of the City Administrator’s contract with the City, with regard to providing a monthly car allowance, instead of a city vehicle. Doug Harris says he rarely uses a vehicle the City provides, because it’s often times being used by the Police Department to conduct surveillance and other Police business. He says Police Chief Steve Green should be allowed to take the vehicle home at night, so he can respond to emergencies in that vehicle, instead of using his own car.

Harris says he’s been using his own vehicle for city business over the past 18-months, without compensation, and is requesting a separate line item in the FY 2012 budget to provide him with a $175 per month car allowance. The City’s Finance Committee is scheduled to review the proposal prior to making a recommendation to the Council during its meeting at 5:30-p.m., Wednesday.

Lost Dog –

A black Chihuahua w/a white chest & long hair. “Cheeka” was last seen July 3^rd, in the vicinity of 70324 Richland Road in Cass County. She is wearing a pink collar and has a black leash. 

Police in Red Oak report an 86-year old woman was injured when the car she was driving was hit broadside by another vehicle Monday evening. The vehicle driven by Marilyn Jean Mullins, of Red Oak, was hit as it was crossing Highway 34.

Officials say Mullins was traveling north on Eastern Avenue when the crash happened at around 6:30-p.m. Her vehicle was struck by a vehicle driven by 42-year-old Jeffrey James Blount, of West Des Moines.

The extent of Mullin’s injuries were not made available. Officials say Blount was not injured in the crash, which remains under investigation.

Authorities in Red Oak say a 35-year old man was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $5,000 bond, after he was taken into custody Monday night on an OWI charge. Red Oak Police report Arturo Lemus-Ramos, of Red Oak, was arrested around eight-p.m., on charges of Operating a motor vehicle While Intoxicated, 3rd offense, and driving without a license.

We hear a lot about how many children are going hungry in this country, but a new campaign aims to raise awareness about low-income senior citizens who routinely skip meals or buy poor quality food to survive. Jo Ann Jenkins, president of the AARP Foundation, says Iowa is among the better states for an elderly person to live, according to a new study.

“Iowa ranks 41st out of 50 states who face the threat of senior hunger,” Jenkins says. “There are roughly four-percent of seniors in the state who face the threat of hunger every day.” Through the national effort called Drive to End Hunger, Jenkins says Iowans can help to tackle the problem.

Jenkins says, “We want to really engage people at all levels, whether you’re an individual who can make a donation to our DriveToEndHunger-dot-org website, or bring food or volunteer at a local food bank, or if you’re a corporation, we want you to join with us.” The study finds more than six-million Americans over the age of 60 are facing the threat of hunger daily. That number is expected to increase by 75-percent by 2025.

“These statistics are from the latest research from Meals on Wheels,” she says. “Meals on Wheels is one of the organizations who actually goes out and delivers a nutrutional hot meal to seniors across the country so we use their statistics for this information.” Whether you give five-dollars or five-thousand, or have five minutes or five hours to volunteer, she says every bit counts.

(Matt Kelley/Radio Iowa)