The Atlantic City Council met Wednesday evening, at City Hall. They pretty much whizzed right right the public hearings and approved various resolutions, because there were no comments from the public on any of the matters before the Council.
They passed a Resolution adopting the Fiscal Year 2019 City of Atlantic Budget, which amounts to nearly $12.5-million – a reduction of a little more than $1.8-million over last year. The budget calls for an increase in the tax levy of 2.87%, to $16.86 per $1,000 assessed valuation for FY2019, but the levy will be frozen for the FY 2020 and 2021 tax years.

The Council also passed a Resolution adopting the FY2019 10-year Capital Improvement Plan, and a Resolution setting the salaries for City of Atlantic appointed officers and employees, for the fiscal year beginning July 1st, 2018, through June 30th, 2019. The City will begin negotiations with both of its Unions this fall, but the Council will need to meet to discuss future wage growth for all personnel, because it has a multi-year implication on the city’s budgets.

Other action pertained to a Resolution “Designating Distribution of Sales Tax Revenues to various funds for specific purposes.” City Administrator John Lund says last year, the City made changes to the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) allocation formula, for the first time in decades. Since then, the State’s sales tax receipts have come in short of forecasts, a situation that occurred in Atlantic, as well. He said in order top keep the budgets whole, an additional change for FY 2018 is required to ensure minimum fund balances are maintained. The City will return to the original allocation formula beginning with the FY 2020 budget.

The Atlantic City Council also approved a Resolution “In support of a Workforce Housing Tax Credit Benefit Application to be submitted to the Iowa Economic Development Authority by Ash Land Development, LLC, for the Atlantic Boose Affordable Housing Project,” and a Resolution setting the date for a public hearing on a proposal to enter into a General Obligation General Purpose Loan Agreement, and to Borrow money there under. The City is assuming $304, 181 in general corporate purpose debt. The FY 2018 Bond portion of the CIP would be used for Fire Station improvements, beautification projects, phase 2 of the Library remodel, and an incinerator for the Atlantic Animal Shelter.

The Council also approved an Engineering Agreement with Snyder and Associates in the amount of $20,200, for the Beautification Project. The agreement will be paid for out of budgeted sales tax dollars in the LOST Progress Fund. Snyders will draw up the cost estimates for the selected projects and prioritize the projects to be completed. $90,000 is being allocated for beautification projects in the 2018 bond will be reserved for construction.

Snyder and Associates’ Dave Sturm told the Council, prior to their awarding a contract for the 2018 Summer Street projects, bids were received Tuesday from Carley Construction, Henningsen Construction and Precision Concrete. The low bid, of $1.186-million, came from Carley Construction, which was under the engineer’s estimate by about $24,000. The other two bids came in at around $1.27 and $1.28-million. The Council then moved to award the contract to Carley Construction.

On another note, Councilman Chris Jimerson announced the State-wide Tornado Drill will be held March 28th. The sirens will sound once for the mock “Warning,” with no “All Clear” given, to avoid confusion among residents. In the event of actual severe weather, the Drill will be postponed.