The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday evening passed by a vote of 6-to-1, the first reading of an “Ordinance Amending Chapter 6 of the Code of Ordinances, by changing the method of election to runoff elections.” At Large Councilperson Grace Garrett was the lone Nay vote. During the Public Comment period of a hearing on the matter, there was no one to speak in-person, but Garrett said she had received questions from the her constituents regarding the proposed method of election change. Speaking on behalf of those she spoke with, Garrett said they wanted to know “why the change?, and “Why now?” The current system is a plurality, or, “Winner takes all.” Garrett said an unidentified person who works at the courthouse did some checking into the matter.

The method of election, the person wrote, was either changed in 2014 or the beginning of 2015, to “Winner takes all.”

Councilperson Somers said she never remembered having that conversation. Mayor Dave Jones recounted past elections, and memories were less than clear among the Council, about when the change actually took place. The Mayor said it was likely brought up in the ordinances because there’s the likelihood more than one person will run for Mayor in the next election. He says he firmly believes the winner should have 51% (50.1). While he couldn’t recall when it was changed, Jones said “Hopefully somebody in the courthouse didn’t just decide to change it for us.”

City Administrator John Lund has said “There has been a great deal of interest in the Mayor’s Office. No fewer than five [persons] have expressed an interest in running.” The City’s Personnel and Finance Committee reviewed all the options during their meeting on May 26th, and concluded the election system should be changed to a majority, and recommended the Council vote to consider/approve the change.

On a related note, the Atlantic City Council held a Public Hearing with regard to a change of the term for Park Board members from six-years to four-years. The Parks Board is in favor of the change, which would mean seniors members would be available to help incoming Board members, if needed. They passed the first reading. Like the other election ordinance, there must be three readings before it becomes law.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council passed a Resolution “authorizing and approving a loan agreement and providing for the issuance of a $90,000 General Obligation Solid Waste Management Note,” as part of a 28-E agreement with regard to the organization that operates the Cass County Landfill. And, the Council passed an “Order to enter into an agreement with the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) for Maintenance and Repair of Primary Roads in Municipalities,” more specifically with regard to Highways 6, 71 and 83.