ANKENY, Iowa – Jan. 17, 2017 – Dreaming of that next vehicle purchase? Online car shopping can be a great way to pass some time, but if you’re seriously looking to purchase a vehicle from an online seller, the Iowa Department of Transportation has a few tips and tricks to make the purchase a success.

• Take your time. For many people, buying a vehicle is the second largest investment next to buying a home. You want to make smart decisions when shopping online.
• Do your homework. Whether you are researching a specific make and model of vehicle or a certain dealer, read the customer reviews and expert ratings.
• Buy from a reputable dealer. Most reputable dealers will provide you with documentation to certify the authenticity of the vehicle title and disclose previous damage.

It’s unfortunate, but criminals may create fake vehicle dealer sales websites to lure customers to send money toward the purchase of a vehicle. The following alert from the Iowa Attorney General’s Office provides information to help you be a better informed consumer: https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-consumers/consumer-alert/past-consumer-alerts/consumer-alert-scammers-target-consumers-buying-cars-online/.

If buying from a private party, make sure the vehicle has legitimate documentation. Most consumers are not familiar with what legitimate vehicle ownership documents look like or how to research a vehicle’s history. It’s important to learn everything you can about the vehicle prior to signing a purchase agreement, making a payment for part or all of the vehicle, and taking possession of the vehicle.

There are several websites that offer individualized reports on vehicles. These reports can provide valuable insight into a vehicle’s ownership and odometer history. Examine all of the details contained in these reports, including dates, mileage, title numbers, and vehicle title brands. There is a minimal cost associated with the use of these websites, but a little time and money spent ahead of time can save you from losing thousands later.

Extreme caution should be taken when purchasing a vehicle over the internet or outside of the United States. For vehicles purchased outside the United States there is less vehicle history information available, the vehicle may not meet United States safety and emission standards, and vehicle ownership documents may be subject to counterfeiting. Another challenge with vehicle purchases outside of the United States is you may have little, if any, recourse if the vehicle turns out to be stolen or has had an odometer rollback.

If something doesn’t look or feel right in your research, ask questions and obtain more information from the seller. If you are still concerned about the validity of the vehicle, walk away from the deal. Remember: If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

If you have questions regarding buying or selling a vehicle, the following Iowa DOT website has information to assist you: www.iowadot.gov/mvd/buyingselling/selling.htm.

If you feel you have purchased a vehicle that may have an odometer roll back or the vehicle’s identification number (VIN) has been tampered with, please contact the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Investigation & Identity Protection at invburea@iowadot.us or 515-237-3050.

Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones, Wednesday evening, will administer the Oath of Office to three, current Atlantic Police Officers who are moving up in the ranks. The ceremony will take place in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall, during a regular meeting of the Atlantic City Council, which begins at 5:30-p.m..

Sgt. Paul Wood, who has served the City for almost 13 years, is being promoted to Lieutenant, to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Lt. Jon Parsons. Officer Dustin Pieken, who has served the City for nearly 10-years, is being promoted to Sergeant, to fill the vacancy created by the promotion of Paul Wood. And, Officer Devin Hogue is being promoted, Wednesday, to Lieutenant, to fill the vacancy created by the promotion of Dave Erickson to Police Chief. Hogue has been an Atlantic Police Officer for almost 6-years.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council will act on approving a Resolution that approves a “Development Agreement with the Whitney Group, LLC, authorizing annual appropriation tax increment payments and pledging certain tax increment revenues to the payment of the agreement.”

The Agreement before the Council Wednesday evening, is the final version for the Whitney Inn Tax Increment Financing (TIF) project. The agreement specifies:

• The property will have a minimum assessed value of $1.7-million dollars.
• $476,000 will be assessed as Commercial; $1.224-million will be assessed as Multi-residential.
• At the most, the taxes paid by the Whitney group will be the amount rebated. No other property taxes will contribute to the rebate.
• The total value of the TIF rebates will be $750,000.
• There is no maximum or minimum as to the amount to be rebated. Instead, that is dependent upon the taxes paid by the developer.

The Agreement also states:

• Only 90% of the eligible amount of taxes paid will be rebated. The other 10% the City chooses not to TIF. The City will allow the 10% to return to the general levies of the City, County and School District.
• The City will keep the TIF District open until the $750,000 has been paid to the developer. City Administrator John Lund says that should take 17 years, but a maximum of 20-years is allowed by State law.
• The City of Atlantic will not be “On the hook,” to pay the rebates if the Legislature decides to “Further tamper with either the property tax system or tax increment financing laws,” according to Lund.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors are set to meet 8:30-a.m. Wednesday at the courthouse, in Atlantic. During their meeting, the Board will receive a quarterly report from Micha Lee, with Cass County Conservation. They’ll also hold a Public Hearing on designating a 2017 Cass County Agribusiness Urban Renewal Area and on proposed Urban Renewal Plan and Projects related to the proposed Elite Octane ethanol plant project.

Following the hearing, the Cass County Supervisors will act on approving: “A Resolution to Declare Necessity and Establish and Urban Renewal Area…and approve Urban Renewal Plan and Project for the 2017 Cass County Agricultural Urban Renewal Area”; an “Ordinance providing for the Division of Taxes levied on taxable property in the 2017 Cass County  Agribusiness Urban Renewal Area,” and a “Resolution fix[ing] the date of a meeting at which it is proposed to approve a Development Agreement with Elite Octane, LLC, including Tax Increment Payments in an amount not to exceed $8.5-million dollars.”

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The Creston Police Department says a Creston resident reported to authorities, Monday, that a debit card from a wallet he lost Sunday, had been used at a Casey’s convenience store, in Creston. The loss was estimated at $20.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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The Board of Supervisors in Adair County will hold their regular weekly meeting this (Tuesday) morning, in Greenfield, beginning at 9-a.m.  During their session at the Courthouse, the Adair County Supervisors will act on: a Grand River Trustee resignation; a Fiscal Year 2016 Audit Representation letter; the awarding of a Farm-to-Market granular surfacing contract, and Conservation correspondence.

County Treasurer Brenda Wallace will present her semi-annual report to the Board, and Teva Dawson will talk about the North- and Middle River watersheds. The Adair County Supervisors will conclude their meeting with a Budget work session.

There are at least two area meetings on tap for this evening you may be interested in. The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department’s Board of Directors will meet in the Council’s Chambers at the Atlantic City Hall, beginning at 5:15-p.m. And, the Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton School Board will meet beginning at 6-p.m., in the Conference Room at the Elk Horn Building.

During their meeting, the Atlantic Parks and Rec Board will act on approving a Little Schoolhouse donation. They’ll also hear updates from Parks and Rec Director Seth Staashelm, with regard to the Sunnyside Pool Steering Committee, the Enhance Iowa CAT grant application, and the Sunnyside Ice Rink, along with Park Shelter Reservations. Staashelm will also discuss a Schildberg Recreation Area Campground Board recommendation, and planning for Summer Programs and Projects.

The Exira/E-H-K School Board is expected to discuss tonight: The Teacher Association’s opening proposal; a Budget review; the FFA Feb. 8th competition and possible trip; a request from Salem Lutheran Home for Assistance in the event of an emergency; Facilities assessment; a Review of the refinancing estimate, timeline and term sheet, and building alignment, among other matters.

A man and woman from Nebraska were arrested on drug charges early this (Tuesday) morning, following a traffic stop in Fremont County. Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports deputies conducting an investigation into the illegal distribution of methamphetamine in Sidney, stopped a vehicle occupied by 44-year old Crystal Green-Creek and 47-year old Cal Creek II, both of Nebraska City, NE.

During the traffic stop, the pair were found to be in possession of meth, marijuana, numerous pieces of drug paraphernalia, and drug currency. They were arrested without incident and transported to the Fremont County Law Enforcement Center, where they were charged with Delivery of Meth. Bonds for Crystal Green-Creek and Cal Creek II were set at $100,000 each.

Crystal Green-Creek

Cal Creek II

Governor Terry Branstad’s plan for erasing the anticipated red ink in the current year’s state budget may be overhauled by legislators.  “We’ve been warning that the level of spending was culminating to a point where this kind of crisis was going to occur and we’re prepared to fix it.” That’s Senate Republican Leader Bill Dix of Shell Rock. While there’s not as much tax revenue as originally predicted, Dix says the state is still collecting more taxes this year.

“We only have so much money,” Dix says. “…I would suggest that should be plenty for us to find a way to accomplish a balanced budget that treats the state budget like a family budget.” Republicans and Democrats have raised concerns about the depth of Branstad’s proposed cuts to the agencies that run the state’s prisons and put troopers on the highways. Others have suggested the governor’s proposed cut to the judicial branch is too steep.

House Speaker Linda Upmeyer, a Republican from Clear Lake, isn’t ready to share details, but she does confirm legislators will adjust Branstad’s plan. “We’ve got a couple of different ideas than the governor, so we’ll have those conversations and by early in the week we’ll be able to hopefully file a bill and get it moving through committee and get it done,” Upmeyer says. Other issues are on hold, so legislators can make this budget decision first.

Upmeyer says the longer legislators wait, the worse the current year’s budget dilemma will be.”It’s tough. We know that, so we want to make sure we get it done and we get it done as quick as we can.” Branstad has proposed 110-million dollars in cuts to the current year’s state budget.

Republicans will match that. Some Republicans are even hoping to award MORE tax cuts to small business and farmers for the depreciation of equipment. The governor did not include that tax adjustment in his budget outline.

(Radio Iowa)