The Atlantic City Council will hold an in-person session in their Chambers at City Hall, 5:30-p.m., Wednesday (Jan. 20th). On their agenda, is recognition of Kirk Knudsen, for his 35 years of employment with the Atlantic Street Department. The Council will act on a Resolution to set the date for a Public Hearing on the sale of real estate at 403 W. 14th Street. The City, in April 2019, adopted a resolution for the disposition of City-owned properties, that outlines how properties may be disposed of.

In this case, owners of an abutting property have submitted a bid for $10,000 to acquire the property at 403 W. 14th, but a hearing is required before the agreement can be signed-off on. On a related note, the Council will act on a Resolution “Amending the Policy for the Disposition of City Own Properties,” which clarifies that in such matters:

• City Staff should advertise the availability of the lots.
• When multiple parties are interested in a property, sealed bids and a review by the Council or designated Committee are appropriate.
• Additional language is added with regard to securities for buyers interested in building a home on the property. Those persons must place a down-payment to secure their interest and promise to build.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council will act on the Second Reading of an Ordinance with regard to the Collection of Solid Waste, and the First Reading of an Ordinance amending sections of the Code of Ordinances entitled “City Clerk,”and “City Attorney,” that would eliminate the current two-year reappointment schedule, and make the City Clerk and Attorney permanent employees.

And, in his report to the Council, City Administrator John Lund will present a Budget Overview, including “Recommended Tax Levy, Proposed Program and Funding Changes.”

Police in Red Oak, Sunday, arrested a Council Bluffs woman for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. 20-year old Madison Jane Franzen, was taken into custody at around 9:23-p.m. and transported to the Montgomery County Jail. Her bond was set at $300.

(Radio Iowa) – The chairman of the Iowa G-O-P says having President Trump at the top of the ticket in 2016 and 2020 obviously helped Iowa Republican candidates, but Jeff Kaufmann says the state party is led by its Republican governor. “This was never Trump’s Republican Party,” Kaufmann said. “This was Kim Reynold’s Republican Party.” Kaufmann has been the Iowa Republican Party chairman since June of 2013 and on Saturday the Iowa G-O-P’s governing board voted to keep him in that role.

Kaufmann says his focus now is on reelecting Reynolds and Senator Chuck Grassley in 2022. “I can’t think of a time when (Iowa Republicans) have been stronger,” Kaufmann said. “I mean we are at an absolute peak right now.” Kaufmann is also focused on the lobbying effort to keep Iowa’s Caucuses first in the nation. Kaufmann says it’ll be up to citizens to decide if Donald Trump makes a political comeback in the 2024 Iowa Caucuses, but Kaufmann says he’s currently getting phone calls, texts and email from Iowa Republicans expressing continued support for Trump.

“I mean we are bombarded here, I mean literally bombarded,” Kaufmann says. “Yes, I think he still has a great deal of support in this state.” Kaufmann says he won’t gloss over the disappointment that Trump has not been reelected, but Kaufmann says the focus now is on the next election. That includes next week’s special election for a state senate seat in the Ottumwa area.

(Radio Iowa) – It was an uneventful Sunday at the Iowa statehouse where there’s enhanced security after an F-B-I warning there could be armed protests at all 50 state Capitols in the days leading up to the Inauguration. An online posting indicated there would be a midday march at the Iowa Capitol. A business nearby closed as a precaution, but a security official on the scene said only three people arrived around noon and were gone by 12:30.

K-C-C-I T-V reports one of the three Iowa Capitol protesters was armed with a knife and had a bull horn. The largest protest yesterday (Sunday) appears to have been at the state Capitol in Michigan where several dozen gathered, some of whom were armed with guns. Fewer than a dozen protesters were outside Minnesota’s Capitol.

(Radio Iowa) – Members of the state legislature were notified Friday night that someone “associated” with the Iowa House had tested positive for Covid. The notification indicated the person had been in the state Capitol on Wednesday and, although there is not requirement to do so, the person had been wearing a face covering. The person’s identity or condition isn’t being revealed.

Democrats have argued the 2021 legislative session, which began LAST Monday, will become a super spreader event if Republicans in the majority don’t take more steps to stop the spread of the virus. G-O-P leaders say under state constitution, they do not have the authority to require that elected officials wear a mask.

The Iowa legislature is not meeting today (Monday), in observance of the Martin Luther King, Junior holiday. The MISSOURI House of Representatives is not meeting at all this week after a covid outbreak among lawmakers. The Missouri legislature also began its session a week ago.