(Cass Co.) The Atlantic City Council expressed unanimous support for the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce during Wednesday’s council meeting. The agenda item, introduced by Mayor Grace Garrett, followed the recent arrest of former Chamber Executive Director Bailey Smith.
Last week, Ms. Smith turned herself in on a Cass County Sheriff’s Office warrant for the following alleged charges: Ongoing Criminal Conduct – Unlawful Activity, Fraudulent Practice 1st Degree, Theft 1st Degree, and Unauthorized Use of Credit Card Over $10,000. On September 17, the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors announced that Bailey Smith was no longer employed with the organization as of September 15, 2025.
Mayor Garrett stated the situation has been challenging on many levels for many people. She noted that a community never wants to face the behaviors that have occurred. Garrett says now they must ask themselves how to move forward.
The mayor stated that the city makes a monthly payment of $7,725.00 to the chamber, totaling $92,700.00 annually.
City Council member Jim Behrens stated that, in his view, now is the time to stand behind the chamber and the businesses, rather than making the situation worse.
City Councilman Dana Halder expressed his full support for funding the chamber.
City Councilman Jeremy Butler stated that the period from when this was discovered until the time the prior director was put on administrative leave, to the time the charges were actually filed, was a very short time. Other than Kelsi, no one else was getting paid for the hours and hours spent compiling these numbers.
City Councilman Mike McDermott says there have been other instances when other organizations have faced similar situations.
City Councilperson Elaine Otte stated that the fact that the discussion was put on the agenda is not wrong; it is the council’s responsibility. She says the city contributes three or four times more than what other cities contribute to their chambers.
City Councilman Shawn Sarsfield is the council’s liaison to the Atlantic Chamber Board. He commended the work they put in.
City Councilperson Emily Kennedy stated that this was never intended to take money away from the chamber, but rather to be open and acknowledge that there are people who are concerned moving forward.
Current Atlantic Chamber President Anne Quist says they have already put things in place that were not there before. She says the board met for one or two hours weekly to get things back to business as usual and get the chamber back on its feet.
Scott Bennett of NishnaNet spoke earlier in the meeting during the public forum.
Following the Council discussion, the Council gave its unanimous support to the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce moving forward. It was discussed that the city council and the chamber get together in the future to discuss some changes moving forward.
