The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department’s Board of Directors, Monday, approved a bid from APEX, LLC. Environment Consultants out of Urbandale, for work on a Bio-swale water quality project at the Nishna Park. The Atlantic High School and Cass County Extension serve as partners for the project, for which there were two bids, with a third being disqualified be submitted after the bid deadline.

Parks and Rec Director Seth Staashelm said the grant was for up to $41,000 with a 50-50 match. The Parks Department’s share is $3,500. APEX comes highly recommended by officials with IDALS (The Iowa Dept. of Ag and Land Stewardship). The Board agreed to accept the company’s bid contingent upon a review of the contract by City of Atlantic Attorney Mark Bosworth.

In other business, the Parks Board learned the west restroom at the Schildberg Recreation Area should be delivered and set in-place with a crane next week, weather permitting. Later this year, electricity for inside and outside lights will be installed. The west playground equipment is still in storage, waiting for a Spring or early Summer installation with community members who will be supervised by a playground company expert. And, the Schildberg Campground bathhouse designs, specifications and cost estimate from Snyder Engineering should be ready for the Board’s next meeting.

The Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding for Operation Re-Leaf. The Iowa DNR has taken over the program and asked the City serve as a host site for one of their sales points. The City will be paid $1,000 for administration and $7,000 for tree stock. The City will then sell the trees on behalf of the DNR. The goal will be to try and sell 100 trees for a couple of months during the Spring. The trees would be available for pickup April 25th.

The Board approved the services of an American Red Cross Aquatic Examiner for the Sunnyside Pool, who would do a walk through of the facility and make sure the lifeguards are up-to-date on training and other facets of the pool are safe and ready to go this summer. In other news, Seth Staashelm said the Sunnyside Ice Rink is open, by the ice is “very hard” after the recent hard freeze. It may not be the smoothest surface to skate on, so beware. He said also, the Schildberg Campground is closed as are the roads to Sunnyside Park, but the park remains open for winter activities.