Members of the Atlantic City Council have a full slate ahead for their meeting Wednesday evening at 5:30.  First-up, is action on an Order to Close the alley behind the Fireside Lounge on August 29th, from 8-a.m. until midnight, for a Street Dance. The event is nearly identical to one the Council approved last month. They’ll also act on a request from Atlas Cinemas on W. 5th Street, to place a Pepsi vending machine on the sidewalk, abutting their property. City Code allows for such requests provided goods do not extend over three feet from a building. Placement of the pop machine would still leave eight-feet of sidewalk space for foot traffic.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council will hold a Public Hearing on the sale of a vacated Linda Drive right-of-way, followed by action on a Resolution approving the disposal of the land to a nearby resident for just One-dollar. The Council will also discuss the partial vacating of a right-of-way between Hemlock and Sycamore Streets, south of E. 18th Street, and likely act to refer the matter to the City’s Planning and Zoning Commission.

In other action, the Atlantic City Council is expected to approve the third, and final readings of Ordinances pertaining to: Licensing of tree trimmers; Peddlers, Solicitors and Transient Merchants; Businesses or Individuals who wish to do business with or contract for, the City; and an Ordinance with regard to Truck and Large Vehicle parking. They will also hold the first reading of an Ordinance (#997), “Amending Provisions to Chapter 169,” with regard to persons residing on land in residential neighborhoods, when there is no proper home, and/or working plumbing, yet are still being occupied.

City Administrator John Lund says neighbors are “Fed up with seeing people occupying property in their neighborhood and living like it is a third world country.” The Ordinance, as it currently stands, has prevented Atlantic Police from removing those persons from the premises. The amended ordinance, developed by Code Enforcement Office Kris Erickson and Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson, would be broader than the current scope, and allow authorities to deal with such issues in the future. It’s likely the Council will approve the 1st reading, and waive the 2nd and 3rd readings, so that the Amended Ordinance may be in place and enacted upon, prior to this weekend. If all three readings are required, the earliest the ordinance would become effective is Sept. 4th.

The Council is also expected to set 5:30-p.m. Aug. 22nd, as the time and date for a Work Session on the “Standards, Building and Property Codes for Atlantic.” Representatives from SWIPCO and the City’s Code Enforcement Department, as well as others, will be on-hand to discuss property maintenance and conditions enforcement, and the proper tools with which to legally handle such issues as they pop-up. Persons planning on attend the session in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall, must wear a face mask, or they will be offered a disposable mask upon entry to the room. They meeting will also be televised. The public may contact City Hall or their elected representatives in advance of the meeting, to pose any questions or concerns.

Council Bluffs Police, Saturday night, arrested 25-year old Benjamin Merksick, of Council Bluffs, after they were called to a shots-fired incident, outside of a bar. Merksick faces charges that include Attempted Murder, Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon, and Going Armed with Intent. He was being held in the Pottawattamie County Jail.

Benjamin Merksick

Authorities say Officers were called to Sugars Lounge int the 2700 block of E. Kanesville Blvd. at around 11:23-p.m., Saturday, in reference to a male party shooting a gun in the parking lot. When officers arrived, they noticed that two patrons had the offender, Benjamin Merksick, on the ground. Officers were able to take Merksick into custody. After further investigation it was determined that Merksick had gotten into an argument inside the establishment and went outside to his vehicle to grab a rifle. Merksick then shot the rifle several times in the vicinity of many patrons. As Merksick was attempting to reload, two of the patrons were able to take Merksick to the ground before officers arrived. There were no injuries reported at the time of the incident.

If you have any information pertaining to the incident, please contact the Council Bluffs Police Crime Stoppers at 712-328-STOP. The incident is under investigation by the Criminal Investigation Division.

Police in Red Oak, Saturday, arrested a man from Stuart on a Dept. of Corrections warrant for Violation of Parole. Authorities say 27-year old Jesse Patrick Beaman was taken into custody at around 7:30-p.m. in the 200 block of W. 3rd Street, in Red Oak. Beaman was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail. Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies assisted in his arrest.

A Creston man seen walking in the 2000 block of Highway 34 in Montgomery County early this (Sunday) morning, was questioned and then taken into custody on a Union County warrant for Failure to Appear on a charge of Assault on a person in a certain occupation. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports Anthony Wasson was arrested at around 4:30-a.m., and transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where he was being held on a $1,000 bond. Red Oak Police assisted Deputies in handling the arrest.