The Atlantic City Council Wednesday evening, accepted without many qualms, Atlantic Municipal Utilities’ 2013 budget. As we reported earlier, AMU says its total budget for 2012 is up 12.1-percent from the current fiscal year. The biggest factors which figure into the increase, is the price the utility pays for electric production and transmission costs, which have risen a combined 56.6-percent. The utility also said its fund balance would decline by $431,000 or 9.2-percent despite AMU’s planned increases in local electric and water rates, which go into effect January 1st.

City Administrator Doug Harris says the Council also accepted work conducted on the City’s Street Maintenance Garage. The final contract price was $42,585. Harris said also, that the Council approved a change order pertaining to the Hot Melt Asphalt Resurfacing Improvement contract with Henningsen Construction, Incorporated.

And, they approved a change order with Fox Engineering with regard to the new Wastewater Treatment Plant. In his report to the Council, Harris said he spoke about certification of the new lab at the wastewater treatment plant, efforts at negotiations with AFCSME, and an energy audit.

Harris said Mayor Dave Jones issued a reminder to citizens of Atlantic, that when the snow falls, sidewalks need to be cleared, and snow should not be pushed into the streets. And, Harris said the City Yard Waste site hours changed this past Monday. The site will now be operating on Winter Hours, which are Saturday’s only, from 9-a.m. to 5-p.m., and as always, only trees, branches, grass, garden waste, and leaves are accepted.