The Atlantic City Council Wednesday approved the Calendar Year 2020 Budget for the Atlantic Municipal Utilities. AMU General Manager Steve Tjepkes said in his report (prior to the Council’s approval of the Budget), that the Budget was reviewed and adopted by the AMU Board of Trustees following a Public Hearing this past Monday night.

Tjepkes said as far as electric rates are concerned, “We have no rate increase scheduled again for this year,” and that a recent survey shows there are 182 electric utilities in Iowa. Tjepkes said “And there are only five utilities in the State that have a lower average electric rate than we charge.” As for water operations, he said AMU has budgeted a 3% water rate increase for next year. The average residential water bill, he said, is $22.61/month. A 3% increase would add 68-cents per month to that part of your bill.

In other business, Council Chris Jimerson said in his report, that members of the Atlantic Fire Department voted Tuesday night to elect Tom Cappell II as the new Fire Chief, effective January 1st. If approved by the Atlantic City Council at their next meeting, Cappel would succeed Chief Mark McNees, who had earlier announced he would be retiring at the end of the year. McNees has served the City as a fireman for 29 ½ years, and the past 13-years as Chief.