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.”

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.