(Please note: The meeting will be held at the Atlantic Senior Citizen’s Center, NOT in the Council’s Chambers)

The Atlantic City Council will gather during a regular session today (Wednesday), at the Senior Citizens Center in Atlantic, instead of in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall, due to renovation work.

During their meeting, their Council will hold public hearings on the 7th Street Traffic Signal Improvement – and, Sunnyside Tennis Court Reconstruction – Projects. The hearings will be followed by action on resolutions approving the awarding of a contract for those projects. City Administrator Doug Harris, who spoke with the traffic engineer associated with the project, will ask the Council  approve a resolution awarding the contract for the traffic signal improvements, to KWS, Incorporated, whose bid of $139,900 was the lowest out of the three received. All three bids were under the Engineer’s projected cost estimate for the project.

The Council will also hold the second reading of an ordinance amending the current ordinance, with regard to a change in the zoning classification of some lots in the Southern Heights 2nd Addition. The change proposes rezoning from R-2  (Single family) to R-4 (multi-family) housing. While the City of Atlantic’s Planning and Zoning Commission approved developer Don Sonntags’ stipulation that he not be required to provide any street connections which were envisioned in the Comprehensive Plan and shown on the original plat, City Attorney Dave Wiederstein is researching the matter and will advise the Council on their options, during Wednesday’s meeting.

Following a public hearing, the Council will also act on approving a “General Corporate Purposes Loan Agreement” not to exceed $90,000, for financing improvements and repairs to the City Hall. The improvements are part of the City’s Capital Improvement Plan. The Council will also hold a public hearing on an “Essential Corporate Purposes Loan Agreement” not to exceed $2.63-million, for the financing of construction and improvements to the streets and storm sewers, and the purchase of traffic control devices as well as police and street department equipment. A vote on the loan agreement will follow the public hearing. They’re also expected to act on approving a resolution expressing the intent to enter into a loan agreement and bond purchase agreement with Ruan Securities, that provides for the Debt Service Levy for Fiscal Year 2013-2014.

The Atlantic City Council meeting begins at 5:30-p.m.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office Tuesday, released its most recent report on arrests and incidents. Authorities say two people were arrested Monday. 30-year old Justin Joseph McConnell, of Humphreys, MO., was arrested on a Woodbury County warrant for OWI/2nd offense, following a traffic stop on Interstate 29 at around 12:10-a.m.  McConnell’s bond was set at $1,000. And, 20-year old Jessica Kay Scott, of Malvern, was arrested in Malvern at around 7:30-p.m., on a warrant for Failure to Appear on an Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drug charge. Her bond was set at $5,000.

On Sunday, deputies in Mills County arrested 36-year old Matthew Mark Blue, of Council Bluffs, on a charge of OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000. The arrest took place on I-29 at around 2:25-a.m.  And, there were two arrests last Saturday in Mills County.

Officials say 21-year old Kristina Mae Reeve, of  Silver City, was arrested Saturday night, for Driving Under Suspension. Bond was set at $566. Earlier that same day, 18-year old Dylan Ray McKeown, of Council Bluffs, was arrested in Glenwood on a charge of  Possession With Intent to Deliver Controlled Substance. Ray’s bond was set at $50,000.

The Shelby County Board of Supervisors approved the fiscal year 2014 budget. In a meeting this (Tuesday) morning, the Supervisors held a public hearing during which there were no comments from the public on the proposed Budget. In other business, the Supervisors gave an update on the Hotel/Motel Tax Dollars.

The fiscal agent, the Shelby County Auditor, received the remaining dollars, almost $56,500, from the Shelby County Chamber. The Supervisors also approved the hiring of Williams and Company to expand an analysis of the hotel/motel tax money from September 30th, 2012 through February 14th, 2013. The City of Harlan had hired Williams and Company for the previous audit of tax dollars and found no discrepancies.

Discussion about the audit centered around how the Supervisors planned to pay for it. Dawn Cundiff, Shelby County Chamber Director said an audit is not for tourism. She said“It is an audit. It is not directly, according to you guys, it’s used for 100% of tourism. That is an expenditure that is not geared toward tourism. That was your big thing with us on the 20% was not a tourism expense.”

Shelby County Auditor Marsha Carter contacted the Department of Revenue and indicated an audit would be a valid expense out of the tax money. The board approved the analysis. Afterward, Cundiff told the Board the Chamber did get legal council because their questions were not answered. Tensions mounted when it was mentioned that the Chamber did not receive their 20 percent administration fee from the 3rd and 4th quarters of 2012. ” You have acknowledged through your representation on the old committee on the 20 percent. You made a statement that pretty much you accused us of absconding with this money. Okay, my opinion,” said Cundiff.

Supervisor Schmitz told Cundiff they will not be receiving funds for those quarters. County Attorney Marcus Gross said the administration fee was found to be an improper expense and therefore stopped. Cundiff said the issue will have to go through the attorneys. At that point, a frustrated Supervisor Steve Kenkel chimed-in to ask the group to move forward and do what’s best for the people of the County.  He said “It is a negative cloud on the whole damn community. It is not just one entity. We all have to take ownership. If we have winners and losers, the whole county loses. It is time we move forward and work cooperatively together. I have a huge issue with the lack of cooperation. This whole county was built around working together and that is not what is going on now. It is very frustrating. As a group we have to move forward. It seems we take one step forward and then three steps back because someone else throws something else out there. We are trying to provide grants and good things for the whole community. That’s what this should be all about. And when I mean county, I don’t mean the supervisors and what we represent. I mean the people and what we stand for in this county.”

No other board action was taken on the matter.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)