(Atlantic) Atlantic Mayor Rob Clausen gaveled in his inaugural meeting of the Atlantic City Council on Wednesday. Former Mayor Grace Garrett chose not to seek re-election, and Clausen threw his hat in the ring and ran unopposed for the seat.
Mayor Clausen acknowledged that there is always room for improvement and assured the public that the City will work towards progress. He highlighted the ongoing construction at the Camblin Hills Housing Development Project, noting that there are currently 40 workers on site. Clausen reminded everyone that the construction site is closed to the public.
Mayor Clausen closed by reminding Atlantic citizens to abide by the snow ordinance, noting a possible snow forecast for this weekend.
Additionally, the Council heard a presentation by Rod Deter, a member of the Atlantic Cemetery board of directors. The cemetery receives an annual subsidy of $30,000 from the City, funded by the Local Option Sales Tax Progress Fund.
It was also noted city clerk Laura McLean attended her final meeting. McLean took over the job in March of 2024. McClean informed the City Council of her plans to relocate to the Quad Cities in the near future. McClean assumed the role in September 2024, following the departure of former City Clerk Barb Barrick, who accepted a similar position with the City of Huxley.
The City Council also approved the following:
Appointed Roger Poulsen to the Planning & Zoning Commission
The mayor nominated Roger Poulsen for the Planning & Zoning Commission, and the City Council approved the appointment on Wednesday. The Planning & Zoning Commission serves as an advisory body to the City Council. Its primary responsibility is to review and adopt the City’s comprehensive plan, which guides the community’s long-range development. The Commission also reviews and makes recommendations on all rezoning requests, site plans, plats, amendments to ordinances and regulations, and other matters as requested by the City Council. The Commission is composed of seven members appointed by the mayor and approved by the City Council. Members serve staggered five-year terms.
The City Council approved First Whitney Bank & Trust as the City’s Official Bank for the City’s Checking Account for 2026.
At the first meeting of each year, the City designates the State’s official checking account location. “While seemingly a benign and routine manner, this order functions as an essential tool in accountability. By committing to First Whitney, we are stating that this is the only financial institution where City funds should appear. Making this public knowledge only adds to the transparency in the management of public funds,” stated Atlantic City Administrator John Lund in the meeting packet.
The Council approved the Atlantic News Telegraph as the City’s official newspaper for legal publications. The State requires that, at the first meeting of each year, the City establish the official newspaper in which we publish official notices. This is a routine matter.
The Council approved an Order for Pay Application #6 for $94,872.79 to TK Concrete for the West 22nd Street Improvement Project. The City Council awarded the West 22nd Street Improvements Project contract to TK Concrete Bluff for $1,421,207.75. There have been no change orders to the project, so the original contract price of $1,421,207.75 remains the total amount to be paid to TK Concrete. This pay application of $94,872.79 will bring the total amount paid for the project to $948,412.41, leaving $472,795.34 to be paid to BTK Concrete to complete the contract.
The Atlantic City Council passed Resolution #01-26 “Authorizing Certain Parameters for the Acceptance and Approval of a Bond Purchase Agreement.”
Atlantic City Administrator John Lund explained in the meeting packet that a parameters resolution authorizes debt issuance within clearly defined limits, allowing the issuer to finalize a Bond Purchase Agreement once market pricing is known. Through this action, the Council approves the structure and boundaries of the bond issue—including the maximum principal amount, term, and cost—while authorizing the City Administrator to complete the sale after the bonds are priced.
Lund says this approach was recommended by Dorsey & Whitney, the City’s bond counsel, to keep the City on its preferred issuance timetable and avoid unnecessary delays. It is expressly permitted under Iowa Code Chapters 384 and 75 and is routinely used by Iowa municipalities for financings of this size and complexity.
The Bond Purchase Agreement is the contract with the underwriter that establishes the final interest rates, repayment schedule, and closing conditions. The Series 2026 bonds are intended to provide liquidity for approved corporate purposes and to restructure existing debt in a manner that smooths long-term debt service.
A key policy objective of this issuance is to mitigate—not capitalize on—the impact of increased property assessments. The City’s debt levy is structured to decline over the 20-year life of the bonds rather than rise in step with growing valuations. The latter approach effectively shifts the tax burden to property owners over time; this issuance is designed to do the opposite.
Lund says the City recognizes that future debt options will be more constrained. Any additional borrowing will require the use of LOST revenues, utility funds, hotel-motel tax revenues, or increases to property taxes. All anticipated bond drop-offs over the next decade are incorporated into this financing plan.”For the public and the media, this broader context is essential. This issuance advances multiple objectives at once, including consideration of the real pressures facing household and business budgets. The resolution maintains complete transparency and Council oversight. Once the bonds are priced, the final terms will be fully documented and incorporated into the City’s public financial records. ”
This disciplined approach to municipal finance reflects both long-term planning and current economic realities, while reducing unnecessary procedural steps where only market-driven figures are finalized. The total principal amount is not affected, and this method avoids special, short-notice meetings that carry additional administrative costs to the City.
