The Atlantic City Council held a brief meeting Wednesday evening, during which they paid special recognition to the Atlantic High School State Wrestling Team and Coaches. Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones said “You guys do a lot of good jobs and a lot of good things and hopefully can [pass that along] to your classmates – Be involved, Get things Done and then become better citizens when you get up the road that way.” The 2019-20 squad finished with a perfect 20-dual record, a Hawakeye 10 Conference Dual and Tournament title and a John J. Harris Wrestling Tournament Championship.

AHS Wrestlers, from Left to right: Garrett McLaren; Joe Weaver; Chase McLaren; Conner Pellett and Cale Roller.

Their Coaches include: Chase Roller, Head Junior High Wrestling Coach and volunteer High School Assistant Coach; Tucker Weber, Asst. H.S. Coach; Don Killian, Volunteer Asst.; Matthew Williamson, H.S. Volunteer Asst.

The Council approved an Order accepting an amendment for the Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) Grant between the State of Iowa’s Enhance Iowa Board and City Council. The Grant for $175,000 is for ongoing park development at the Schildberg Recreation Area and Campground.

Following a Public Hearing, the Council tabled the first reading of an Ordinance “Vacating and conveying a portion of an alley in the City of Atlantic.” The reading will take place during the Council’s next regular meeting, while an easement is prepared for Atlantic Municipal Utilities, as they requested.

In his report, City Administrator John Lund said the draft of both Union agreements are done and the International Operators (Public Works Union) “appear to be happy” with the language in the agreement. He said also, he’s still negotiating on the deductible language with AFSCME (Police Union), with the assumption there will be a compromise and ready for approval by the Council’s meeting on April 3rd.

In addition, Lund said he’s working on the City’s land sale and housing incentive policy, and he clarified some misconceptions with regard to the airport. Lund said the $2.19-million being committed for the Atlantic Municipal Airport runway and taxiway is 100-percent paid for by the FAA’s supplemental appropriations for engineering and construction. “Property taxpayers in Atlantic not on the hook for a dime of that.” The FAA, he says, encouraged the City to apply for the grant. If it does not happen, the project will be terminated.

In other business, the Council approved the re-appointment of Joyce Jensen to the Board of Adjustment, and Judd Meneely to the AMU Board. The Mayor, however is still looking for two women to gender balance the Planning and Zoning Commission since Jennifer Miller has opted not to take the job once her term expires on April 1st. Originally,she had expressed interest in continuing to serve on the Commission.