The City Council in Atlantic will discuss the future of the Atlantic Senior Center during their meeting 5:30-p.m. Wednesday, at City Hall. As previously reported, the City’s Personnel and Finance Committee met Jan. 23rd to try and answer two questions: Is the City interested in selling the building located immediately south of City Hall? If so, should consideration be given to the Elks organization, which has expressed interest in purchasing the building “As is”?  One of the options the Committee discussed, was to sell the building, with protections given to the Senior’s group so they would not be kicked-out. The other was opposing the sale outright.

The Elks have offered to buy the Senior Center and make the necessary repairs to the roof, and share the facility with Senior Citizens during the day, as is currently the case. The fair market value of the building, as is, would be $59,000 to $63,000. If the City pays for the roof repair, that would up the value to between $86,000 and $88,000. The roof has been leaking since last August, and must be replaced. The cost of that project was estimated at $36,255. In addition to the roof factor, the City receives about $2,000 per year in revenue from the Senior Center. Operating costs range from $4,244 to $4,323. Officials say payback on the roof “Is not mathematically feasible from ongoing revenues. The Fund balance for the Senior Center Fund at the end of FY 2018, was $11,069. The City admits the building has not been  a high priority on physical updates, and while the structure itself is solid (minus the roof issue), it could use additional investment.

City Administrator John Lund said at the Committee meeting in January, that the City could retain ownership of the building and pay for the roof repair if the City Council activates a tax levy amounting to 13.5-cents per thousand dollars valuation. Accordingly, the City would lower the employee benefits levy by the same amount. Those funds ($30,000), combined with the remaining balance of the Senior Center Fund, would allow the roof to be repaired. And, the Council could allow the Elks to use the facility without charge in the evenings. It would no longer be rented out for other purposes. The option would still allow the Senior Center to be used from 10-a.m. to 3-p.m. as it is today. Some benefits of selling the building if the Council decides to do so, according to Lund, is that it would be brought onto the tax rolls, the City will receive compensation for the disposal of real estate, and the Elks have time to get approval from their hierarchy for the purchase.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council will receive a presentation from John Lund, with regard to the Fiscal Year 2020 Budget and 10-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The proposed budget for FY 2020 is $16,520,747, which is a decrease of $129,388 (-.78%), from the FY 2019 Revised estimate of $16,650,135. Lund will tell the Council that: the City’s combined property tax levy remains unchanged; The overall budget accomplishes key priorities of the Mayor and Council, however, it has resulted in a deficit in key funds that will require stricter fiscal policy in the following year’s budget in order to avoid a trend of deficit spending; and, that the City is now budgeting any excess cash growth beyond required minimum towards “inevitable liabilities in specialized funds, moving them away from operating budgets, and also to minimize future debt assumptions.

The budget also says there will be no increases for existing fees, and utility rates remain unchanged. He concludes by saying “Altogether, the FY 2020 Budget establishes a solid plan for the next decade of life in Atlantic. It positions our community to capitalize on its strengths, address its challenges and continue to build a community that is welcoming to families and business.”

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports just one arrest over the past week. On Saturday, 46-year old Bobby Glenn Agan III, of Stuart, was arrested for Violation of a No Contact Order. Agan was released the following day on a $300 bond.

Officials with the Glenwood Police Department said today (Tuesday), 35-year old Travis Long, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Monday, for Driving While Barred, and Violation of a No Contact Order. He was being held without bond on the latter charge until seen by a magistrate, and a $2,000 bond for the DWB charge.

Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County say a man being held in the Pott. County Jail on a $2,000 bond for Probation Violation, was presented with a warrant Monday, charging him with felony Sexual Abuse in the 3rd Degree. 22-year old Ramon James Scarpino, of Council Bluffs, was read the warrant and then returned to his cell. He was being held without bond on the latest charge. And, 36-year old Mark David Dahl, of Council Bluffs, turned himself-in to the Pott. County Sheriff’s Office Monday morning. Dahl was wanted on a warrant for Failure to Comply with the Iowa Sex Offender Registry, the bond for which was set at $5,000. He was transported to the Pott. County Jail and turned over to Corrections staff.

(Radio Iowa) — Republicans at the statehouse have unveiled a proposal to give the legislature and governor more authority in choosing Iowa judges. Iowa governors would continue nominating eight members of the panel that interviews and recommends a slate of nominees for judicial openings, but senators would no longer review and vote on the governor’s appointments. And the Iowa Bar Association — representing the state’s legal profession — would no longer name the other eight members of the Judicial Nominating Commission. Representative Steve Holt of Denison says under the G-O-P alternative, the top four legislative leaders in the House and Senate — from both parties — would nominate half of the commission members.

“Much more accountability for the people,” Holt said, “because now everyone in this process that would be naming people to this commission would be elected representatives of the people.”

Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike Cady, author of the 2009 opinion that legalized same-sex marriage in Iowa, was elected by the other justices as their chief eight years ago. The G-O-P’s plan also would require Iowa Supreme Court Justices to vote every two years on who among them should be chief justice.  “And we think that just brings more accountability to him from his own justices on the court,” Holt says.

Senate Democratic Leader Janet Pedersen says Republicans are trying politicize Iowa’s court system because they’ve never gotten over the court’s 2009 same-sex marriage ruling.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — After decades of failed attempts, work has begun on a $73 million project to restore a once elegant but long abandoned hotel in Sioux City. The Sioux City Journal reports that developer Lew Weinberg and real estate company Restoration St. Louis are working to restore the Warrior Hotel. The hotel was built in 1930 but closed in 1976. The adjacent Davidson Building is also being remodeled, and the two sites are slated to be turned into a hotel, luxury apartments and retail spaces.

Amy and Amrit Gill own Restoration St. Louis. The Gills are researching the hotel’s Art Deco design, with the goal of depicting some of the building’s original style in some areas while also adding modern amenities.
Work is expected to be completed in 2020.