Atlantic Mayor Signs Proclamation for National Disability Employment Awareness Month; Council Approves Appointments to Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission

(Atlantic) Atlantic Mayor Grace Garrett signed a proclamation proclaiming October 2023 as Disability Employment Awareness Month.

Grace Garrett read the proclamation, which in part states:

Rehna Lensch and Ellen Sokolowski, with Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Service in Atlantic, said they help individuals with limitations reach their employment goal.

The Vocational Rehabilitation Service office is located in the strip mall just east of the Iowa Western Community College Campus in Atlantic.

In other activity, the Council approved a resolution for a Revolving Forgivable Loan with SHIFT ATL and providing for an appropriation. Emily Kennedy is with SHIFT ATL…

The City Council also approved a resolution making appointments to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission. The commission replaces the now-dissolved Parks and Recreation Board. The commission consists of three people living within Atlantic City limits, two Cass County residents, and one non-voting high school student. The appointments, effective January 1^st, include Kevin Ferguson (2-year term), Dolly Bergmann (2-year term), Shirley Jensen (1-year term), Ali Pieken (1-year term), and Mary Strong (1-year term).

The Council approved an order to allow the Atlantic Elks Lodge to install a flagpole in the right-of-way abutting 411 Walnut Street.

And, the Council approved an order to shift future fireworks budgets from the Fourth of July to Labor Day. The Personnel & Finance Committee reviewed the Bash at the Ballfields event that occurred over Labor Day weekend and the committee concluded that the event was a success. The City budgeted $12,500 in the FY2023 Revised estimate for fireworks and similar amounts have been budgeted into the horizon. This leaves the Council with having to choose between either doing two smaller fireworks displays on both the 4th and Labor Day or doing a larger display on one of the holidays. The committee recommended that a larger show be done on Labor Day instead of the 4th of July.

Two items to note: the November 1^st City Council Meeting will start at 4:00 p.m., and Halloween Trick-or-Treating will be October 31^st from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

The Council also heard reports from CADCO Executive Director Jennifer McEntaffer and Atlantic Police Chief Devin Hogue. We will have more on those stories Thursday.