(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic City Council is expected to act Wednesday, on a request by Produce in the Park organizers to extend the closure of 6th Street, from Chestnut to Poplar, through Oct. 14th. Their meeting begins at 5:30-p.m., in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. If the request is approve, the street would be closed for Produce in the Park held on Thursday’s at the downtown City Park. On May 5th, the Council approved closing 6th Street from June through Sept. 30th.

The Council will also act on Resolution “Granting 60365 Glacier Road permission to connect to the City’s Sanitary Sewer System.” A new business – Nextlink Internet, from Texas, has signed a lease for the building on the City’s northwest side, that will create 10-to-12 jobs, and is requesting a sanitary sewer hook-up. The company covers five states from Texas through the Midwest, supplying rural wireless internet. The building may be divided into three sections so that three separate businesses may operate out of it. City Code requires that property outside the City Limits must receive permission by the City Council to connect to the sanitary sewer system. The City’s Personnel and Finance Committee met Monday evening to review and act on a recommendation to the City Council, with regard to the request. Upon receiving the recommendation, the Council may deny the request, approve the request with conditions, or grant it without conditions.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council will act on an Order to approve a change order pertaining to the Downtown Revitalization Project. The project initially started as a facade improvement for participating downtown businesses, but was expanded to include projects to improve the safety and historically significant architecture of some buildings, both inside and out.

This most recent Change Order amounts to $5,065, and brings the contract total to $516,280. The request is with regard to the following improvements:

• 511 Chestnut Street: Interior masonry repointing ($1,980). [Repointing is the process of renewing the pointing, which is the external part of mortar joints, in masonry construction. Over time, weathering and decay cause voids in the joints between masonry units, usually in bricks, allowing the undesirable entrance of water.]
• 403 Chestnut: 1) provide sealant and repairs ($907), and 2) provide additional repairs ($1,628).
• 421 Chestnut: Repairs to the ceiling at interior storm ($550).

John Lund says the FY2021 Budget approved by the Council on March 18, 2020, had construction for the project to be $713,519. With professional services included, the City was expecting the total project cost was $902,519, but because several participants droppedout of the program at the onset, the costs fell dramatically. Lund says also, the change order costs are not shouldered by the City, alone. For every additional dollar of cost the property owner commits to the project, the City matches that with a dollar, and the Feds match it with two-dollars.

The final order of business, Wednesday, is the appointment of At Large Councilperson Grace Garrett to the Beautification Committee, which has been dormant since the addition of banners and street signs they had requested, were implemented a few years ago. John Lund says there remain many recommendations on the original report, with new ideas and opportunities possible. He said, by July 2022, the City will have committed an additional $45,000 towards ongoing improvements to the community.

The Atlantic Police Department reports officers will be working with Cass County Sheriff’s deputies this Thursday, September, 2nd for a special traffic enforcement project. The project will be taking place both within the City of Atlantic and on County roads. Residents can expect heightened traffic enforcement on this date throughout the county.

(Radio Iowa) – A few hours after the last U.S. troops left Afghanistan, Florida Senator Marco Rubio told a crowd in Iowa the Biden Administration’s handling of the withdrawal was horrifying and indefensible. Speaking at an Iowa G-O-P fundraiser at the Mason City Municipal Airport last (Monday) night, Rubio said the pullout plan was based on assumptions that were not real.

“Why were those assumptions made? Number one, because of arrogance, because they knew better. They know better than everybody else, they went to certain schools, we’re the grown-ups, we’re in charge now, we’re the opposite of the people that were here before. We know what we’re doing, we’ve got this,” Rubio said. “That’s what they told everybody.” Rubio says the Biden Administration’s August 31st deadline for withdrawal had nothing to do with the safety of Americans and our allies there.

“They wanted a press conference on 9-11…just like they wanted a press conference right before July 4th to tell everybody the pandemic was over. The new freedom Independence Day…that was about, what, 10 days before they told everybody they had to wear three masks,” Rubio said and the crowd laughed. “So now, it’s the same thing with this.” Rubio says the country’s credibility has taken a huge hit over the past two weeks as the world watched what was happening in Kabul.

“This is so damaging to our country, so humiliating, so embarrassing on the world stage, and so immoral,” Rubio said. “…so immoral.” Rubio compared Biden’s handling of the situation to the failed attempt to rescue hostages from the U.S. Embassy in Iran after it was seized in 1979.  “It’s really inexcusable and both sides know it. Even Democrats know it and you don’t see them rallying to the White House’s defense,” Rubio said. “You cannot defend what is so horrifying and indefensible.”

Rubio finished third in the 2016 Iowa Caucuses behind Ted Cruz and Donald Trump. He was asked during last (Monday) night’s event if Iowa’s Caucuses should go first in 2024 and Rubio said yes before the host got done asking the question. Former President Trump told radio talk show host Todd Starnes yesterday that he plans to visit Iowa soon as well.