The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, as expected, approved the appointment of Pat McCurdy to the vacant Third Ward City Council seat. After Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones administered the Oath of Office, McCurdy took his seat on Council that formally belonged to Ashley Hayes until her resignation last month.

Pat McCurdy sworn-in as Atlantic 3rd Ward Councilman.

The public may file a petition to hold a Special Election to fill the seat, within 14 days of the Council’s decision. If there are no objections, McCurdy would hold the seat until at least the November General Election.

The Council also approved an updated City Attorney Retainer Agreement with David Wiederstein, and Audubon County Attorney Sarah Jennings as the Assistant City Attorney.  Jennings will serve in an individual attorney capacity, not as the Audubon County Attorney, in any civil matters that involves the City. The move would add about $6,000 per year to the city’s legal budget.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council, by a vote of 6-to 1, approved a bid of $55,445 from the Atlantic Elks Lodge for the purchase of the Atlantic Senior Center. The bid was nearly $10,200 more than a bid received from Valley Mutual Insurance. Both bids met the $40,000 minimum threshold the Council sought. Councilman Gerald Brink was opposed to the sale because he was of the opinion the City should have footed the bill for the repair of the building roof instead of selling the building. The arrangement allows Senior Citizens to use the Center for their purposes, and the Elks to hold their business and events there as well, by mutual agreement.

And, the Council passed the first reading of an Amended Ordinance with regard to the individual use of fireworks, with some changes to the original proposal from the Community Protection Committee. They had originally proposed fireworks only be discharged on July 3rd and 4th, from Noon until 11-p.m., both days. The current ordinance allows fireworks to be discharged July 2nd and 3rd from Noon until 10-p.m., and from Noon until 11-p.m. July 4th.

The Council heard from Cass Supervisor Mark O’Brien, who also runs a fireworks stand. He asked the Council not to reduce the days, and instead allow fireworks within the City Limits July 3rd, 4th and 5th. The permitted hours would be from Noon until 11-p.m. those days. Any violations would be subject to a fine. After lengthy discussion, the Council decided to pass the first reading of the amended ordinance as mentioned, and the remaining second and third readings during their June 19th regular meeting.

The City of Atlantic’s official fireworks display will be held near the AMU well fields/Little League Ball Park on JULY 5th, because of work being done at the Atlantic Municipal Airport this year.