(Atlantic, Iowa) [updated] – The City Council in Atlantic will hold their regular bi-weekly meeting beginning 5:30-p.m. Wednesday (Jan. 5), in their chambers at City Hall. On the agenda, is an Order to appoint Elaine K. Otte to the vacant, At-Large Council seat created by the election of Grace Garrett as Mayor. Otte will be brought before the Council Wednesday to be confirmed, followed by administering of the Oath of Office.

In other business, the Council will hear from SWIPCO Community Development Director Alexsis Fleener, with regard to the submission of applications for the following:

• A Downtown Housing Grant application by Paul Gude for 300 Chestnut Street. The grant requires a 25% local match provided by the property owner – not the City – and is for a 24-month period.
• and, a Community Catalyst Building Remediation Program Grant for 207 Chestnut Street, from Peter Hopley.

Fleener requests the Council support the applications in writing, so that they may be submitted to the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA). The Council is expected to pass a Resolution approving the transfer of funds from one the City’s 65 separate funds, for the Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 2021-22, which is a routine matter, and “reconciles accurate cost-accounting, while creating transparency on what is being spent in each line item in each fund,” according to City Administrator John Lund.

The Atlantic City Council will also act on passing a Resolution “Establishing the use of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Special Fund.” Lund notes legislation expressly forbids the money to be used for debt payments or tax relief of any kind. He says one of the purposes for the funds, is for investments in water, sewer and broadband infrastructure, which would include the Bull Creek restoration/reconstruction project to help eliminate erosion on properties nearest the creek. The cost of the project was budgeted at more than $985,331, which according to Lund, makes the $974,157 from ARPA able to finance 98.87% of the project.

The Council’s final order of business, is to approve the City’s Official Newspaper for legal publications, and the official bank for the City’s checking account.