The Atlantic City Council breezed through their agenda in about 30-minutes, Wednesday evening. Following Public Hearings…

• The Council authorized Library Director Michelle Andersen to apply for a USDA/Rural Development grant for financial assistance to purchase new Atlantic Public Library computers, computer desks, related equipment, and to help finance new flooring in the Library, along with painting of the upper level.

Combined, both projects are expected to cost $80,970, with grants and other proceeds available, amounting to $69,440. The Library Gift Fund is likely to pick up the balance of the bill.

• The Council passed a Resolution pertaining to FY2022 Maximum Property Tax Dollars for Certain Levies, as previously explained.
• They also passed a Resolution “Taking additional action on a proposal to enter into a General Obligation Refunding Loan Agreement” (as previously explained), and “Authorizing the use of a Preliminary Official Statement in Connection” with the agreement.
• And, the Atlantic  City Council passed a Resolution Adopting the Preliminary FY2022 Budget and set the date for a public hearing on the Budget as well as the proposed FY2022 10-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Budget. Both will take place during the Council’s next meeting on March 17, 2021.
• A separate Resolution was passed to enter into a solid waste management loan agreement, with regard to the 28-E organization that operates the Cass County Landfill.

In other business, the Council approved the setting of April 1st as the bid date, and April 7th as the date for a  public hearing, on the Atlantic Animal Shelter building addition. You may recall, the engineer’s original estimate for the project was $151,620, but the lowest bid came in at $180,300. Snyder and Associates Engineer Austin Sonntag said Wednesday, there were some adjustments to the dates for the project completion.

Sonntag was asked by Councilman Dick Casady if Snyder’s had increased the amount of their estimate. Austin said they have spoke recently with the original contract bidders about that.

The Lorene Eppelsheimer estate has gifted the City $135,000 to benefit animals at the shelter, with the intention of increasing the number of cat cages and moving them to a separate area away from the dogs. It will also have a proper food storage area, an exam and grooming table, in addition to a more efficient water heater. Additional gifts have been received in the amount of $2,000, and City officials will be looking for grants and funds from the budget to help make up for the deficit.

In other business, the Council approved the reappointments of Melissa Ihnen to the Board of Adjustment as well as the Planning & Zoning Commission, along with Dave Sturm and Ted Robinson, to the Utility Board of Trustees.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines police have arrested two men in the shooting death of a Clive man last month. Fifty-one-year-old Columbus Plum Lewis, of Des Moines, has been charged with first-degree murder. Police also arrested 55-year-old Virgil Alva See, also of Des Moines, for first-degree theft and accessory after the fact. Lewis is accused of shooting 52-year-old Darrell Merriweather, of Clive, who died on Saturday.

Police say Lewis fled the scene after Merriweather was shot. He was arrested Sunday on several unrelated warrants. Investigators say See was at the scene of the shooting and they later found Merriweather’s ID card, debit card and credit cards at See’s home.

Des Moines, Iowa — The Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau reports 42-year-old Dustin French, of Red Oak, was charged with one count of Insurance Fraud – Presenting False Information (Class D Felony) and one count of Theft in the 2nd Degree (Class D Felony) following an investigation by the Bureau.

The charges against French, a former licensed insurance producer, stem from an investigation which began in April of 2020. According to criminal complaints filed by the Iowa Insurance Fraud Bureau, French provided false information to his insurance company in order to obtain insurance benefits to which he was not entitled.

On March 2, 2021, French answered to the charges in Montgomery County District Court and was released on his own recognizance. Trial will be set for a future date. No additional information will be provided at this time.

Iowans with information about insurance fraud are encouraged to contact the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau at 515-654-6556.