(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic City Council will meeting in regular session, 5:30-p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2nd, at City Hall. Action items on their agenda include the following:

• The 2nd Reading of an Ordinance “Vacating that Portion of Country Oaks Right-Of-Way (ROW), between 2703 Country Oaks and 2605 Country Oaks. The first hearing was held Oct. 16, 2022 and passed without public comment.
• The Council will hold the 1st Reading of an Ordinance that amends the City’s Code of Ordinance, with regard to Storm Water Utility Billing,” and a change of bi-annual billing to annual billing, beginning in early 2023, with no change to the rates.

The Atlantic City Council will hold a Public Hearing on an amended Ordinance with regard to Zoning Regulations, specifically affecting the area of 4 State Street, which is owned by Gary Richter, with Richter & Son Towing, and Richter Properties LLC. Mr. Richter wishes to demolish a portion of his industrial building on the south side, and replace it with a large addition. The problem is, that part of the property is zoned Heavy Industrial, and as such infringes on the front yard property setback. City Administrator/Zoning Commissioner John Lund, said after much discussion with the Planning/Zoning Commission, they recommend the Zoning Ordinance be amended, to remove the front yard setback in the I-2 District.

A public hearing will be held on the amending of another, Ordinance, followed by the 1st Reading of the Ordinance, pertaining to the construction of six-foot fence around the side of a property to the back yard at 601 E. 8th Street, in Atlantic. Because this is a corner lot, any fence on that type of lot, cannot exceed 4-feet in height, unless certain requirements are met.  The P&Z Commission met Oct. 11, 2022, and are recommending to the Council, the Zoning Ordinance be amended to remove the street yard setback prohibiting six-foot fences.

In other business, the Council will act on passing a Resolution “Obligating funds from the Southeast Urban Renewal Area Revenue Fund for Appropriation to the Payment of Annual Appropriation Tax Increment Financed Obligations Which Shall Come Due in the Next Succeeding Fiscal Year.” Essentially, it means that it will allow the City to utilize TIF money to repay its internal debt, which is an authorized part of the annual appropriation process.

On a related note, the Council will act on passing a Resolution allowing the City to capture taxes paid by the Whitney Group, using TIF. The appropriation is an annual feature until the City either pays-off the $750,000 maximum payment or 20-years expire, whichever comes first. An identical Resolution was adopted by the Council in Nov., 2021.

The final order of business, is a report on the Atlantic Animal Shelter, which as we’ve mentioned, was given a State Inspection Score of A++.

The Board of Supervisors in Montgomery and Shelby Counties will hold their respective regular, weekly meetings, Tuesday morning, November 1st, in Red Oak and Harlan. In Red Oak, the Montgomery County BOS will meet at 8:30-a.m. in their Courthouse Supervisor’s Meeting Room, and electronically, via Zoom. During their session, the Board will receive an update (if available) from the County Veteran’s Affairs Director, and continue with discussion (as needed), on the Carbon Summit Solution Pipeline. Action on a potential pipeline Ordinance, remains on hold, in the mean time.

In Harlan, the Shelby County Board of Supervisors will meet at 9-a.m., Tuesday, at Veterans Memorial Auditorium. Auditor Mark Maxwell notes for those wanting to attend a scheduled hearing on amending various sections of the Shelby County Zoning Ordinance with regard to the transport of Hazardous liquid through a Hazardous Liquid Pipeline, that the hearing won’t begin until 10-a.m., Tuesday. Prior to the hearing, the Board will hold a hearing on a Resolution to Incur non-current debt.

They will also consider/act on the appointment of the following County Medical Investigators: Gretchen King, RN; Marye Krajicek, RN, and Frannie Delauter, RN. Secondary Roads Department Head Brandon Burmeister will present for the Board’s consideration/action, approval of a Utility Permit for the Nishnabotna Valley, REC, and a Resolution to vacate a portion of Beech Road.

After holding the pipeline Ordinance Hearing, the Board will close the hearing and consider passage of Ordinance 2022-4, regarding the pipeline.

(Radio Iowa) – An explosion and fire demolished a historic Waterloo restaurant on Sunday morning. The Hickory House was one of Waterloo’s oldest eateries, marking its 70th year in business just last week. Prior to the fire, witnesses report seeing a car hit the building’s gas meter, then drive away. Both the fire and police departments are investigating.

Reports say one firefighter suffered minor injuries in the blast. Officials say the building’s roof caved in and it’s a total loss. The owners say they hope to rebuild.

Elwin Huffman, photo

Officials with the Glenwood (IA) Police Department, say there were three arrests over the weekend:

On Friday, Oct. 28th, 39-year-old Robert McAtee, of Glenwood, was arrested for Criminal Mischief in the 3rd Degree ($2,000 bond), and, 36-year-old Christopher Grow, of Glenwood, was arrested for OWI/1st offese ($1,000 bond).

On Saturday, Oct. 29th, 36-year-old Jared Mason, of Waverly, NE., was arrested in Glenwood for Possession of a Controlled Substance (Bond $1,000).