(Atlantic, IA) – The Atlantic City Council met in a regular session on Wednesday, Jan. 21st. Their first order of business was to act on passing a resolution “Authorizing and Approving a Certain Loan Agreement, Providing for the Issuance of General Obligation Corporate Purpose and Refunding Bonds, Series 2026A and Providing for the Levy of Taxes to Pay the Same.”

They subsequently passed a resolution “Authorizing and Approving a Certain Loan Agreement, Providing for the Issuance of Taxable General Obligation Corporate Purpose Bonds, Series 2026B and Providing for the Levy of taxes to pay the same.” City Administrator John Lund…

In other business, the Atlantic City Council passed a resolution to appoint Rich Tupper as Acting City Clerk. The action was necessary with the resignation of former City Clerk Laura McLean.

Tupper had served as the Deputy City Clerk prior to his appointment by the Council to the open position. The positions of City Clerk and Mayor are the only two positions that are required by the Code of Iowa in order for a city to exist, according to City Administrator John Lund.

On a related note to Tupper’s appointment as Acting City Clerk, the Council moved to update the authorized signatories for city checks and payables. They also passed a resolution approving a new Professional Services Agreement with (former City Clerk) Barb Barrick to Temporarily Provide City Clerk Consulting Services for the City of Atlantic. Councilman Jeremy Butler…

During the Council’s meeting one March 19, 2025, they agreed to enter into a consulting agreement with Barrick to assist the new City Clerk with orientation and duties specific to serving as a City Clerk in the State of Iowa. That agreement included bank reconciliation services for FY 2025 and was completed successfully within the required time-frame.

Key components of the new agreement include:

• $1,000 per fiscal month reconciled
• $1,000 for entry of the FY 2027 Budget into gWorks and the State of Iowa online budget forms
• $125 per hour for City Clerk mentoring services (same rate as the original contract)
• Continuation of the contract if both parties agree that additional assistance is necessary, eliminating the need for amendments or extensions

The Council also passed a resolution assessing unpaid fees and costs to property taxes, with regard to the clean-up by city crews of nuisance properties and related costs. For property owners facing an assessment for their unpaid fees, the City will mail them a notice, including a copy of the resolution, and the specific assessment amount. Affected property owners will have the right to object, or request a hearing within 10-days from the date of notice.