The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, set August 7th at 5:30-p.m., as the date and time for a public hearing, with regard to the 2013 Bull Creek Storm Sewer Improvement Project. The Council authorized the letting of bids as well. They will be received and opened on August 6th, and presented to the Council on the 7th.

City Administrator Doug Harris reminded the Council, that last year, several members of the Council and City staff inspected the underground Bull Creek Storm Sewer System, along with Engineers Dave Sturm and Tim Teig. The tunnel, which is comprised of old limestone archways, and crosses the downtown area, and is in need of significant repairs. A special seal mixture forming an inner liner, or shell, will be installed at some of the worst points along the tunnel, and a mortar shell will encompassing all surfaces of a box culvert.

In other business, the Council authorized Mayor Dave Jones to sign an Airport Planning and Zoning Agreement between the City, and the Iowa Department of Transportation. Doug Harris said the agreement is necessary if the City is to receive future grants for the development and/or improvement, of the airport. Harris said the City has been working with SWIPCO to apply for a grant that will cover 85-percent of the cost of updating the Airport Land Use and Zoning Ordinance.

Under the terms of the agreement, the City must begin development of the ordinance no later than 12 months after the agreement is signed. The DOT has agreed to reimburse the City 85-percent of the eligible project costs, not to exceed $14,100. The total cost is expected to come in at $16,600, with the City picking up the remaining $2,500.

Councilman Shaun Shouse said it makes sense to update the City’s Planning and Zoning ordinance for the airport, to make use of the DOT’s assistance for future projects, but he questioned a section of the agreement entitled “Sponsor Assurances.” It stipulates the City will maintain and operate safe and serviceable conditions at the facility, but will not permit any activity which interferes with its use for airport purposes. Shouse said shutting the airport down for special events – such as the fireworks display – would violate the agreement.

The Atlantic Municipal Airport is normally closed during those types of events, however, and pilots are required to file flight plans to accommodate those closures. The Council asked the City Attorney and Harris to contact the Iowa DOT for clarification, even though they went ahead and approved the agreement.