Des Moines, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa Insurance Division report 54-year-old Billy Joe Sams, of Bellevue, NE (& formerly Council Bluffs, IA), has pled guilty to one count of Theft Third Degree (Aggravated Misdemeanor) following an investigation by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau. As a result of the plea agreement, Sams will serve up to two years in prison and is required to pay restitution in the amount of $17,195.23 along with a suspended fine of $855.

The charges against Sams stem from an investigation which began in 2020. According to criminal complaints filed by the Iowa Insurance Fraud Bureau in September of 2020, Sams submitted a claim to his insurer involving a motorcycle accident. Sams provided fictitious information regarding the date of the accident and injuries sustained in order to obtain insurance benefits he would not otherwise have been entitled to.

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

The IID says no additional information will be provided at this time.

Three people were arrested on drug and other charges Friday, in Creston. According to Creston Police, 26-year-old Casey Welch, of Creston, was arrested at around 4:45-p.m. at his residence, on five Livingston County, Missouri warrants for: Failure to Appear (FTA) on the original charges of 2 counts Possession of Marijuana; FTA for a Felony charge; FTA on the original charge of Possession of Paraphernalia with a Prior Drug Offense; FTA on the original charge of DWI, and Driving While Revoked. Welch was being held in the Union County Jail on a $26,700 bond, while awaiting extradition to Missouri.

At around 8-p.m. Friday, 29-year-old Jose Estrada, of Des Moines, was arrested in Creston on charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Offense and Possession of Paraphernalia. He was released from the Union County Jail on a $1300 bond. At the same time and place, 31-year-old Stevie Beal,of Des Moines, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance 2nd Offense (Methamphetamine), Possession of a Controlled Substance 2nd Offense (Marijuana), and Possession of Paraphernalia. She was released from the Adams County Jail on a $3300 bond.

Late Saturday morning, 23-year-old Kane Farlow, of Creston, was arrested at his residence on a Department of Corrections warrant for the charge of Violation of Parole. He is being held in the Union County Jail without bond. Sunday afternoon, 31-year-old Chelsey Kile, of Creston, was arrested at her residence on 3 Union County Warrants for the following charges: Failure to Serve time on the original charge of Theft 5th Degree; Violation of Protection Order (9 counts); A Controlled Substance Violation; Driving While Barred; and Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Offense. She is being held in the Adams County Jail and must complete her court ordered sentence for Warrant 1, awaiting bond hearing on Warrant 2 and bond of $13,000 on Warrant 3.

Creston Police said also, a man residing in the 400 block of N. Poplar Street in Creston, reported late Saturday morning, that sometime in the previous 24 hours someone had taken an engine cover off of his Pontoon Boat that he is attempting to sell, and has parked on S. Sumner St.  The loss was estimated at $250.

(Updated) The Cass County Board of Supervisors will meet 9-a.m. Tuesday, June 15th, in their Boardroom at the Courthouse in Atlantic, and electronically. On their agenda is possible action on:

• Appointing/re-appointing a Veterans Affairs Commissioner to a three-year term (July 01, 2021-June 30, 2024); Postponed until June 22nd.
  
• A contract for the repair of a garage building on the southwest corner of the courthouse parking lot;
• Allowing and/or disallowing new Business Property Tax Credits;
• a Resolution for FY2022 Expense Appropriations;
• and, approving the renewal of a lease with Partnership for Progress of “Willow Heights.”

A public hearing is set to take place during Wednesday evening’s meeting of the City Council, in Atlantic. The hearing is with regard to an “Ordinance Amending Chapter 6 of the Code of Ordinances, changing the method of election to runoff elections.”

The desire for change comes with the announcement Dave Jones, who has served as Mayor of Atlantic for several years, will not seek for a fourth term in office. City Administrator John Lund reports “There has been a great deal of interest in the Mayor’s Office. No fewer than five [persons] have expressed an interest in running.” The City currently has a “Plurality takes all,” system, whereby one only needs to get the most votes on the first and only ballot to win (Less than 50.01% of the vote is required to become Mayor, member of the Council, and Park Board.

Iowa allows for two types of elections: the current system, or an alternative type, where a TRUE MAJORITY of voters is required in order to win. The City’s Personnel and Finance Committee reviewed all the options during their meeting on May 26th, and concluded the election system should be changed to a majority, and is recommended the Council vote to consider/approve the change. That can only take place however, following a Public Hearing and three readings of the ordinance.

On a related note, a Public Hearing will be held during Wednesday evening’s meeting, with regard to a change of the term for Park Board members from six-years to four-years. The Parks Board is in favor of the change, which would mean seniors members would be available to help incoming Board members, if needed. There will also be three readings of the ordinance before it becomes law.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council will act on passing a Resolution “authorizing and approving a loan agreement and providing for the issuance of a $90,000 General Obligation Solid Waste Management Note,” as part of a 28-E agreement with regard to the organization that operates the Cass County Landfill. The Landfill has instituted a per-capita fee of $12 per resident to be assessed annually. The amount (for Atlantic) is $85,344, payable in four equal payments over the course of the fiscal year.

And, the Council will act on an “Order to enter into an agreement with the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) for Maintenance and Repair of Primary Roads in Municipalities,” more specifically with regard to Highways 6, 71 and 83. In his report to the Council, City Administrator John Lund will present a proposal from Cook Sanitation partial owner Dalton Cook, for the purchase of city-owned property at 101 Cedar Street, which is zoned “I-2,” or “Heavy Industrial.” The property is assessed at $5,000.  Cook – who owns 103 Cedar Street – is planning on building a commercial building sometime in the future.

If the Council approves the purchase, he has promised to pay $2,000. In turn he will demolish the house, and clean-up the property. Cook anticipates disposal of the demolished home and clean-up costs to be approximately $2,000, and rental of necessary equipment at $1,000.  Lund says Cook’s is the first proposal for a commercial building for the zone mentioned. He will recommend the Council refer the matter to the City’s Personnel & Finance Committee, for review.