A public hearing is set to take place during Wednesday evening’s meeting of the City Council, in Atlantic. The hearing is with regard to an “Ordinance Amending Chapter 6 of the Code of Ordinances, changing the method of election to runoff elections.”

The desire for change comes with the announcement Dave Jones, who has served as Mayor of Atlantic for several years, will not seek for a fourth term in office. City Administrator John Lund reports “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 currently has a “Plurality takes all,” system, whereby one only needs to get the most votes on the first and only ballot to win (Less than 50.01% of the vote is required to become Mayor, member of the Council, and Park Board.

Iowa allows for two types of elections: the current system, or an alternative type, where a TRUE MAJORITY of voters is required in order to win. 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 is recommended the Council vote to consider/approve the change. That can only take place however, following a Public Hearing and three readings of the ordinance.

On a related note, a Public Hearing will be held during Wednesday evening’s meeting, 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. There will also be three readings of the ordinance before it becomes law.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council will act on passing 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. The Landfill has instituted a per-capita fee of $12 per resident to be assessed annually. The amount (for Atlantic) is $85,344, payable in four equal payments over the course of the fiscal year.

And, the Council will act on 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. In his report to the Council, City Administrator John Lund will present a proposal from Cook Sanitation partial owner Dalton Cook, for the purchase of city-owned property at 101 Cedar Street, which is zoned “I-2,” or “Heavy Industrial.” The property is assessed at $5,000.  Cook – who owns 103 Cedar Street – is planning on building a commercial building sometime in the future.

If the Council approves the purchase, he has promised to pay $2,000. In turn he will demolish the house, and clean-up the property. Cook anticipates disposal of the demolished home and clean-up costs to be approximately $2,000, and rental of necessary equipment at $1,000.  Lund says Cook’s is the first proposal for a commercial building for the zone mentioned. He will recommend the Council refer the matter to the City’s Personnel & Finance Committee, for review.