Former Atkins city clerk charged with misusing city funds

A former Atkins city clerk has been criminally charged after an audit earlier this year found she had been misusing city funds.

Amber Bell, 41, of Atkins, is charged with ongoing criminal conduct, felonious misconduct in office and unauthorized use of a credit card under $1,500.

In February, Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand’s office investigated the city’s funds at the request of the Atkins City Council. The council was concerned about financial transactions under Bell, who started with the city in 2015 and resigned in 2020.

The auditor’s office identified $51,598.59 of improper disbursements, $21,255.38 of unsupported disbursements and $27,941.53 of uncollected utility billings under Bell’s watch.

The report also stated Bell made $2,035.75 in improper purchases with the city credit card, “which included items such as a $50.00 purchase from Nail World in Cedar Rapids for a manicure, food and restaurant purchases, and video on demand purchases.”

The criminal charges were filed against Bell on Nov. 21, after the Benton County Sheriff’s Office also launched an investigation into Bell’s actions. The sheriff’s office investigation found she had used the city credit card on $396.56 worth of purchases that were “outside the scope of authorized transactions” and “personal in nature,” according to a criminal complaint.

The sheriff’s office also found that she had falsified public records of resolutions of the City of Atkins, and that she conducted other unlawful activity throughout her time as clerk that “resulted in personal gain on a continuous basis from July 2015 to December 2020. The personal financial gain was discovered through her role in payroll and wages,” a complaint states.

A summons to court was issued when the charges were filed against Bell, and she is scheduled to have a first appearance on Dec. 13.

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