After about 25 minutes of discussion, the Atlantic City Council, during a Special Meeting Wednesday evening, voted 4-to 1, to seek sealed bids for the Atlantic Senior Center. The building will be sold as-is, with bids due by April 1st. The Council has the right to reject any and all bids. Their decision means a 13.5-cent per thousand dollars levy on property valuation will not be included as part of the FY 2020 budget being finalized by City Administrator John Lund and City Clerk Barb Barrick. Councilman Gerald Brink was the lone no vote, with Councilpersons Dana Halder and Kathy Somers were absent.

Atlantic City Council Special meeting 2-13-2019

Councilman Brink explained prior to the vote, why he was opposed to the sale. He said that’s because he said the roof could be fixed for much less that what has been quoted. During the discussion phase of the meeting, Elks representative Mark McNees said members of the Elks and representatives with the Senior Center, met Monday to talk about how the two groups could share the building, if the Elks took ownership. He said they discussed their concerns and the concerns of the Elks. He said there weren’t any issues that couldn’t be overcome if the Elks did get the building. That being said, McNees said nothing was written “in stone,” but they walked away being “okay” with the possibilities. Gerald Hansen, speaking on behalf of the Senior Center, agreed the discussion was amicable.

The Elks had expressed their intent to purchase the building “as-is,” and replace the leaking roof. Earlier this month, McNees said “We did not come to the City to ask for this to be sold. We came to ask about Bingo being in there, and if potentially Seniors could run it a night, and share. It’s never been our desire [as some have said might happen] to kick anybody out in the cold.” He said also, if the Elks bought the building, there would be minimal remodeling as necessary, to accommodate their needs. ”All we’re looking at,” he said, “is for a potential new home. And whether it’s that building or another one…it would not be an instant process. Not on our part.”

There were concerns among some in the audience at the meeting, that if the Senior Center is sold (to an entity other than the Elks), there won’t be anyplace for the Seniors to go. Mayor Dave Jones mentioned the Nishna Valley YMCA expressed a desire to serve as a meeting and activities place for Seniors, but some in the crowd said that isn’t possible without a membership to the Y, and that it wouldn’t be feasible when the kids are out of school. Mayor Jones said the whole thing boils down to a declining senior population and decreased use of the facility.