During a meeting of the Atlantic City Council, Wednesday evening, City Administrator John Lund presented a preliminary overview of the FY21 Budget. The timeline calls for the Council to receive the proposed Budget on Feb. 17^th, a Public Hearing on the Budget and maximum tax dollars resolution and proposed budget adoption on March 3^rd, and on March 17^th, a Public hearing and adoption of the final budget. Lund said the property tax levy is expected to remain the same as last year, at $16.56.

(That’s because the residential rollback went up. Residential taxes per $100,000 of assessed value he says, will increase by $22.11, or 2.42%.)

Mayor Dave Jones explained the City has no control over the amount of rollback. That’s set by the Iowa Legislature. Lund said also, there will be no increase for commercial and industrial properties.

(There would be no increase and for multi-residential the rollback declined so multi-residential taxes will decline $62.10 per $100,000 of valuation, or 5.26%.)

Lund says between the rollback changes and TIF catcher, and debt service versus other levies and new construction coming online, total new property tax dollars the rate will be 2.59%, but the resolution will show 2.87%, which is still better than the 2.71% increase last year.

He said there would be no recommended changes to permits and licenses, fees and fines, wastewater utilities or stormwater utility. The FY 22 Budget however, will likely see some changes in the rates the City charges for wastewater, which has not been changed since 2014.

He concluded by saying “As it stands, things are looking pretty good.”

The Atlantic City Council breezed through most of their agenda, Wednesday night, at least until it came time for a report of the budget. First-off, the Council recognized Street Department Superintendent Kirk Knudsen for his 35 years of work with the City. Mayor Dave Jones presented Knudsen with a plaque and an insulated beverage mug.

Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones and Street Dept. Superintendent Kirk Knudsen.

In other business, the Council, with Councilman Behrens absent, agreed to set the date for a Public Hearing on the sale of real estate at 403 W. 14th Street. The Hearing will be held during the Council’s meeting at 5:30-p.m. on Feb. 3rd.

The City, in April 2019, adopted a resolution for the disposition of City-owned properties, that outlines how properties may be disposed of. In this case, owners of an abutting property have submitted a bid for $10,000 to acquire the property at 403 W. 14th, but a hearing is required before the agreement can be signed-off on.

On a related note, the Council passed a Resolution “Amending the Policy for the Disposition of City Own Properties.” And, they passed on the Second Reading, an Ordinance with regard to the Collection of Solid Waste. City Clerk Barb Barrick explains…

And, they passed the First Reading of an Ordinance amending sections of the Code of Ordinances entitled “City Clerk,”and “City Attorney,” that would eliminate the current two-year reappointment schedule, and make the City Clerk and Attorney permanent employees.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office reports four arrests. This past Sunday, 37-year-old Natalie Marie Ringen, of Shelby, was arrested following a traffic stop in Harlan. Ringen was charged with OWI/1st offense, and failure to stop at flashing red signal. Ringen was released later that morning on her own recognizance. And, 32-year-old Cory John Petersen, of Marion, was arrested following a traffic stop along Highway 44, in Shelby County. Upon further investigation it was determined that Petersen’s driving privileges are suspended with multiple withdrawals in effect, therefore he was placed under arrest for driving under suspension and cited for failure to provide financial liability. Petersen was released from the jail the following morning, on his own recognizance.

On January 14th, 24-year-old Jeffery James Gulick, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop in Harlan for a traffic violation. Upon further investigation Gulick was charged with prohibited acts, possession of controlled substance, unlawful possession of prescription pills, possession of drug paraphernalia. He was also cited for open container as a driver, and driving on the wrong side of a two-lane road. Gulick was released later that morning on his own recognizance.

And, on January 13th, 24-year-old Casey Richard Kobjerowski, of Omaha, NE., was taken into custody from the Pottawattamie County Jail on an outstanding active warrant for Burglary 3rd, a Class D felony. Kobjerowski had initial appearance and was being held under a $5000 cash or surety bond.

Red Oak Police report a juvenile was arrested Wednesday for Interference with Official Acts. The youth was taken into custody in the 1000 block of E. Washington Avenue, cited, and transported to the Juvenile Detention Center in Council Bluffs. Additional details were not released.

ADEL, Iowa (AP) — A 37-year-old central Iowa man has been charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of his nephew. Mark Mash, of rural Adel, was charged Wednesday in the death of 20-year-old Jakob Mash of Perry. The younger Mash was found dead of a gunshot wound on Dec. 22 in a car at an intersection in Adel. Court records say Mark Mash fired a gun at a vehicle that his nephew was riding in.

It was not clear if Mash was aiming at his nephew or what prompted the shooting. Mark Mash was taken into custody that day on other charges and remains in custody.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A 25-year-old western Iowa man has been sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for having a Molotov cocktail during racial injustice protests in downtown Omaha last year. Steven Fitch, of Council Bluffs, was sentenced Wednesday in federal court for unlawful possession of destructive device. He will serve three years of supervised release after his prison term. Prosecutors said Omaha police found Fitch with a Molotov cocktail in his front pants pocket during protests on May 31.

The device contained a clear liquid inside a bottle with a red rag attached. The rag had gasoline on it and Fitch had several lighters in his pocket.