Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones, Wednesday, issued a reminder to local candidates about campaign signs, and residents about the placement of garage sale and other signs. Political signs must not be placed in the right-of-way between the sidewalk and street. Other signs, including garage sale, etc., are not allowed on posts that support municipal utility services, street signs, road and/or stop signs. The State Of Iowa says also, Political signs may not: Be on any property without the permission of the property owner or lessee; Be on property owned by the state or the governing body of a county, city, or other political subdivision of the state including all property considered the public right-of-way unless the property is made open and available to any individual or group from the public to lawfully place any type of sign; and, they are not allowed on property owned, leased, or occupied by a corporation, financial institution, or insurance company except when leased as campaign headquarters or a campaign office and the placement of the sign is limited to the space that is actually leased.

In other business, Atlantic Fire Chief Mark McNees said, in light of recent issues with the City’s Yard Waste site burning and recent dry, windy conditions, the Council should consider – for safety reasons – what the future of that site should be, whether that be closing it to leaves and grass only and no trees, or moving it. The fire last week was started accidentally. This past weekend, people starting putting materials on the piles of smoldering yard waste, creating more problems, especially with the winds whipping up to 45-mph. That resulted in the site being closed through mid-day, Tuesday.

He said the proximity of a corn field, the ethanol plant railroad cars and the plant itself, make for a dangerous situation, should embers and flaming debris be blown in that direction.” McNees asked the Council to think about changing what goes on at the Yard Waste site. Ideally he said, it either needs to moved, put it in a hole, eliminate the long-burning trees, or something else.

The Council took the issue under advisement.