Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones said there is some potentially good news as far as housing development in the community is concerned. During Wednesday’s City Council meeting, Jones said a small group of investors is looking at building a 24-unit apartment complex in town, and is looking to the City to grant a $300,000 Developer’s Loan with interest, which would be paid back within 2-years. The group doesn’t want any tax abatement or other incentives. The City’s Personnel, Finance and Development Committee will meet later this month with the groups’ representatives and discuss the matter further.

In other business, the Council awarded a contract to Snyder and Associates that allows them to conduct a Nutrient Reduction Study for the Waste Water Treatment Plant, in accordance with Iowa DNR requirements. New Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent Tim Snyder recommended the local company because they have the staff and expertise to deal handle the job, and their bid was very reasonable. Snyder said the study will help to determine what Atlantic needs to do within 10-years to reduce nitrates and, potentially phosphorous, from its wastewater discharges.

City Administrator Doug Harris said the City is required under its NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) permit to conduct the study, because it couldn’t meet all the discharge limits by the time the permit came due for renewal, even with the new plant in action.