(Atlantic, Iowa) – Newly elected Atlantic Mayor Grace Garrett began her term in office Wednesday night, by leading a meeting of the City Council.

Atlantic City Council, 1/5/22 (Ric Hanson, photo)

The Council, following the Mayor’s recommendation, voted to appoint Elaine K. Otte to fill the vacant At-Large seat on the Council that Garret held, prior to her becoming Mayor.

Garrett then proceeded to administer the Oath of Office to Otte. (an abbreviated version of the Oath follows...)

Mayor Garrett (Left) administers the Oath of Office to Elaine Otte.

In other business, the Council, after receiving an update from SWIPCO Community Development Director Alexsis Fleener, approved grant applications for two downtown housing projects. Fleener explained one of the applicants, Jennifer Miller, has declined to pursue a grant at this time due to unanticipated costs to rehab the building.

Alexis says an application is being put together by Paul Gude, to rehab the property at 300 Chestnut Street.

Projects with up to 10 housing units are eligible for up to $300,000 in grant funds. And, Peter Hopley is making an application for $100,000 from a Community Catalyst Building Remediation Program Grant, for 207 Chestnut Street, the former Coca-Cola Museum. Fleener said a project for the one-story building has been in the works for a while. Those plans call for it to become part-residential/part commercial, with the residential section in the back of the structure.

In other business, the Council passed a Resolution approving the transfer of funds for the Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 2021-22. By a vote of 6-to-1, with Lee Sisco voting no, the Atlantic City Council passed a Resolution “Establishing the use of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Special Fund” for the Bull Creek restoration project. The project would help to eliminate private property erosion along creek, between 17th and 10th Streets. Sisco was in opposition, only because he wants to see a section of Bull Creek south of 7th Street near Walnut Street, included in the project, but City officials say that’s not possible with this particular round of funding. He was assured the area WILL BE taken care, as soon as it is financially feasible.

The cost of the project was budgeted at more than $985,331, but Snyder and Associates Engineer Dave Sturm says he doesn’t think it will come in that high.

The City has $974,157 from ARPA available to finance 98.87% of the project. The Council was also notified Wednesday night, that an additional $1,600 is coming from the State that can be used for the project.