(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City Council in Atlantic had a light agenda and a short session, Wednesday night. Early on, the Council tabled until their next meeting, an Order to approve an agreement with Snyder and Associates Engineers, for a Nutrient Reduction Strategy Report, based on a request from the Wastewater Treatment Plant Supervisor Tim Snyder.  The Council heard from Atlantic Municipal Utilities General Manager Steve Tjepkes, prior to approving (as a formality) AMU’s Calendar Year 2022 Budget.

His report to the Council stated:  “The 2022 Budget has been reviewed and adopted by the AMU Board of Trustees, after a Public Hearing held this past Monday night.” Here is a breakdown of his report:
Electric Operations:
• No rate increases budgeted for 2022
• Nationally, wholesale electric prices increased in 2021, as the U.S. economy recovered from 2020 COVID slow-down, allowing AMU to generate more electricity from our coal plant in Council Bluffs and sell into wholesale market at higher profit margins.
• 2022 Capital projects include replacing a set of switch gear in our main substation at a cost of S 1.3 million. We already replaced the other set of switch gear this year for
about S 1.2 million.
• With the low interest rates being earned on our reserve funds, we will be paying off $2,525,000 of our remaining electric debt in 2022. After this payment, both the Electric and Water Departments will be debt-free.
• Recent electric rate survey of all 181 electric companies in the state showed only one utility company in state of Iowa (Muscatine) with lower overall average rates than AMU.
Water Operations:
• No rate increases budgeted for 2022
• A year ago, AMU was awarded a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for almost $500,000 to pay a portion of 2 large water capital improvement projects:
1. In 2021 , completed installation of water main underneath Nishnabotna River along 2nd street near wastewater treatment plant to provide loop feed to customers west of the Nishnabotna river
2. In 2022, plan to refurbish 6 large filters in the water treatment plant at a cost of $725,000, with the CDBG covering $390,000 of the cost.
• Tjepkes said “We plan to apply for another CDBG grant to help with the cost of replacing an underground water storage tank with an above ground tank at an estimated cost of $1-million.”

(Left to right) Atlantic Knights of Columbus members Todd Roecker, Gary Richter (Mayor Dave Jones), Dr. Keith Leonard (DVM) and Phil Hascall. (Ric Hanson, photo)

Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones then issued a Proclamation with regard to the Knights of Columbus:

“Whereas, the Knights of Columbus is the world’s largest Roman Catholic fraternal organization having 1.9 Million members in more than 15.000 councils in a total of 1 7 countries across the
globe, including 242 councils and 31.000 members in Iowa, and 152 members in the Monsignor Kane Atlantic Council,

Whereas the Knights of Columbus annual fraternal activities include more that 76 Million hours of volunteer service, and over 176 Million dollars in charitable contributions,

Whereas the Knights of Columbus was founded in 1882 by Blessed Father Michael J. McGivney at St. Mary ‘s parish church in New Haven, CT,

and, Whereas the Monsignor Kane Atlantic Knights of Columbus council was chartered on December 9th, 1906. and has been in continual service to the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church and local charities in the Atlantic area for the past 115 years…

I hereby proclaim December 9th, 2021 to be knights of Columbus day. and I congratulate the Monsignor Kane Atlantic Knights of Columbus council on achieving 115 years of continual service to the Atlantic area.” Signed David Jones, Mayor City of Atlantic, Iowa.

The Council then proceeded to approve the closure of the following streets this Saturday, Dec. 4th, for the 2021 Lighted Parade that begins at 4:30-p.m.:

• 6th & Chestnut to 6th & Walnut Streets
• 6th & Chestnut in front of Wells Fargo Bank
• 6th & Chestnut to 6th and Poplar Street.

In the Council Committee reports, Councilperson Kathy Somers said the Personnel and Finance Committee met Monday night. She said they talked about a City right-of-way that is under consideration to be vacated, and a possible donation of $5,000 to the Anne W. Wickman Center. Somers said also, there will be a new sound system installed in the Council Chambers at a cost of $9,000. Once the installation is complete, it should make it much easier for people in the audience to hear what’s being said during the meetings.

In other business, Councilman Dick Casady mentioned his wife had suffered a heart attack and had some stents put-in. She is recovering from the surgery. And, a recount was requested following the outcome of Tuesday’s Mayoral run-off race, in Atlantic. As you may recall, Grace Garrett was the unofficial winner by four votes over Tim Teig, 588-to 584. Atlantic City Clerk Barb Barrick said during the Council’s meeting, that County Auditor Dale Sunderman has informed that Teig took out papers to file for a recount.

Grace Garrett and Tim Teig will each appoint an individual to serve on the recount board. And the two together will appoint a third person.