(Atlantic) The City of Atlantic is set to elect a new mayor this fall for the first time in 12 years. Before the process begins the City Council is changing the procedure.
Under the current “plurality-takes-all” system one only needs to get the most votes on the first and only ballot to win. In other words, less than 50.01% of the vote is required to become Mayor if votes are scattered among several candidates. At least a handful of individuals have already expressed interest in running. Members of the Council have voiced a concern over the current structure, including Dick Cassady. “Under the plurality which is what we have right now you could see a winner get 25% of the vote. That’s not a majority of what everybody wants. There’s 75% that didn’t vote for them.”
The intention is to have a runoff system with a vote involving all the candidates on November 2nd. The top two vote getters will be placed on the ballot for a November 30th election. The winner of the vote on November 30th would become Mayor. If a candidate receives over 50% of the vote on November 2nd then the November 30th vote would not be needed. A public hearing has been set for June 16th. This also applies for city council and park board seats.
In other City Council news, Resolution 41-21 was passed approving contract and bonds for the West 22nd Street sidewalk project. The bid for the project is $103,904.56. The Council was in agreement the area receives a high volume of pedestrians. Henningsen Construction was awarded the bid.
Mayor Dave Jones and members of the Council issued a couple of reminders that pop us this time of year. The first is to have residents to keep their yards mowed, the other is not to post any signs for garage sales in the right of way.
