The Atlantic City Council met Wednesday evening, and approved a request from Wild Willy’s Fireworks owner Mark O’Brien, for a permit to hold a Community Fireworks Demonstration event on June 12th. The demonstration will last about 45-minutes or so, and is scheduled to take place between 8-p.m. and 10-p.m. The demonstration be held just east of the Atlantic Little League diamonds, across from the KJAN Studios on north Olive Street. It’s intended to be a family friendly event, with the possibility of food vendors on site.

The Atlantic City Council also approved an order for an application to close East 6th Street between Chestnut and Poplar, from 10-a.m. until 12:30-p.m. on June 13th, for the benefit of children during a church service.  In other business, the Council, Wednesday, set June 16th as the date for a Public Hearing on the passage of an Ordinance (#1009), that would amend the City’s Code of Ordinances by changing the method of election from plurality, to primary and if necessary, run-off elections.

John Lund says Atlantic currently has a “plurality-takes-all” system, where someone only needs to get the most votes on the first and only ballot, to win (see the chart below). Under the alternative, Primary System, a true majority, 50.01 (or, 50+1, if you will) is required to become Mayor, a member of the Council, and Park Board. Iowa allows for both types of elections.

Lund says the benefits of changing to a majority system, include: The winner of the final vote has a genuine mandate to lead the City by a majority of the voters, and can claim their leadership and priorities are what Atlantic wants. And, it prevents a scenario where the Mayor is the plurality winner, not because they are a respected individual in the community, but because they have a devoted base of support, and respected candidates divide the vote. In this scenario, according to Lund, someone could become Mayor for four-years that half of the citizens or even a super majority, activity opposes.

In related news, the Council, also set June 16th as the date for a public hearing on an ordinance amendment that would change the term for Park Board members from six-years to four-years, which the Park Board indicates a couple of years ago, they wish to see implemented.

The Council set the wages for 2021 Pool personnel, and, after reviewing the contract and bonds, approved the W. 22nd Street Sidewalk Project contract and bonds. The sidewalk/walking path project was awarded to Henningsen Construction during the Council’s meeting May 19th, and came in under budget, in the amount of $103,904.56.

In one of the final items of business, the Council passed a Resolution eliminating a requirement that City Employees and visitors to city buildings must wear face masks. Councilman Gerald Brink said “Get rid of those stupid things [meaning, masks],” and Mayor Dave Jones said “If you ain’t got your shots, get your shots. You know…stop playin’ stupid games, go get your shots. You know, we get everyone healthy and keep goin’ that way.”

The Mayor reminded citizens also, to keep their lawns mowed, and Councilman Casady reminded people yard sale signs are NOT to be posted on street sign posts, utility poles, or in the grassy in the area between a street and the sidewalk, known as the City’s right-of-way.