(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic’s Mayor and Councilman Mike McDermott sparred over an item on the City Council’s agenda this (Wednesday) evening, with regard to an amendment to an agenda item that only called for discussion and an order regarding a Letter Of Intent (LOI) and Financial Commitment, for Vision Atlantic. The LOI pertained to the proposed improvements to the YMCA, the building for which is owned by the City of Atlantic.

McDermott called for the amendment to add action on passing a Resolution that the Mayor and members of the Council had only received prior to the meeting.

Mayor Garrett said she would not approve adding an amendment for a Resolution, based on legal advice from the City’s Attorney, and because each member of the Council who approve the amendment to the agenda without the appropriate 24-hour public notice, could be fined $2,500.

McDermott said he spoke with the City Attorney, and was told an entirely different legal version on the procedure to add an amendment.

After considerable back-and-forth discussion that lasted about 30-minutes, the Council passed a motion Ordering the LOI only. Vision Atlantic President Christina Bateman then implored the Council to take action on a Resolution of Support approving a commitment for the $2.5-million YMCA project prior to April 16th, even calling for a Special Meeting to keep the process moving forward, because of a requirement by the Charles E. Lakin Foundation for a large grant.

She said an LOI is not enough to move forward.

No action was taken by the Council on setting a date for action on the Resolution, because of the aforementioned, needed, legal review. In other business, the City Council approved a low bid from Omni Engineering (out of Omaha), for the 2025 downtown street improvements. City Engineer Dave Sturm said he was very pleased the bid came in at slightly more than $1.07-million, when the projected cost estimated was nearly $2.2-million.

Sturm said there were five bids for the project. Start and completion dates for the project have not yet been set, because the bid was not approved until tonight’s (Wednesday night’s) meeting. The Council approve a 2025 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Atlantic YMCA, with regard to management of the Sunnyside Pool. There were no financial changes to the agreement.