The City of Atlantic’s Community Protection Committee (CPC) will discuss and take input from the public on, a proposed speed limit reduction for 22nd Street. The Ordinance calls for the speed limit on East 22nd Street (from Highway 71 to Olive Street), and on West 22nd Street (from Chestnut to Highway 6), to be reduced from 45- to 35-miles per hour.  Following public input on the matter, the CPC will forward its recommendations to the City Council for a vote during their next regular meeting.

The Committee will also discuss deer hunting, within the Atlantic City limits, in an effort to cull the herd. The meeting takes place at 4-p.m. Friday, Feb. 24th, in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall, in Atlantic.

A mechanical malfunction of some sort was to blame for a semi trailer fire early this (Thursday) morning on Interstate 80, in Cass County. Firefighters from Atlantic and Marne were called to the scene located on I-80 westbound at the 52 mile-marker, at about 5:49-a.m.  Atlantic Firefighter Gene Schmelling told KJAN News a tire burned out on the trailer of the semi which was hauling lime. The flames spread to the rest of the trailer, causing a substantial amount of damage to the rear. The semi’s driver managed to separate the tractor from the trailer, and prevent further damage. Firefighters were on the scene for about an hour. No injuries were reported. The DOT reported the right lane of I-80 westbound was blocked for a little more than four-hours this morning, while crews worked to remove the damaged trailer and clean-up the mess. Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon says the wreck was finally cleared by around 11:45-a.m. 

Firefighter Gene Schmelling said it’s not clear how the fire began, but it was most likely caused by a blow-out, bad brakes or worn bearings.

Semi Trailer Fire (Mike Kennon/Cass Co. EMA photo)

Trailer Fire on I-80 WB at mm 52 (Mike Kennon photo)

The Atlantic City Council Wednesday evening approved a proposed $10.1-million dollar Fiscal Year 2013 budget. Mayor Dave Jones says the Council has spent many hours over the past couple of days preparing the budget, which will be open for a public hearing, on March 7th, 2012.  City Administrator Doug Harris said there were some last minute changes to the budget Wednesday, because the Atlantic School District has agreed to pay part of the cost to refurbish the tennis courts at Sunnyside Park, which are in bad shape and need to be resurfaced, especially before district tennis action can be held. Atlantic Parks and Rec Director Roger Herring had said earlier, grants would be available to pay for a portion of the City’s cost to repair the tennis courts.

The School has agreed to pay $88,000 as its share of the cost to repair the tennis courts, which amounts to $44,000 per year for Fiscal Years 2013 and 2014. That means the City will have  to pay upfront, the first-half of the $44,000 it will receive from the District, in order to pay for the repairs in the upcoming Fiscal Year. Because of that, Harris says he’s worked with Roger Herring to modify some of his planned project start dates, and will be dipping into his fund balance for any potential losses due to storms. Those projects and/or funds will be reimbursed, but not until Fiscal Year 2014.

The proposed Fiscal Year 2013 Budget adopted by the Council Wednesday also includes $13,055 for change orders on the City’s new waste water treatment plant. The budget night can be lowered following the public hearing, but it cannot be increased. The $10.1-million dollar budget includes $725,000 for the new waste water treatment plant and $190,000 for the storm water improvement system. The adopted budget will result in a slight increase in property taxes, to cover increases in the City’s employee benefits fund & Workman’s Compensation Insurance,  as well as an increase in the Debt Service tax levy.  Residents with an assessed property valuation of $100,000, for example, would see an approximate $31 increase in their taxes, factoring-in the rollback.