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Armstrong Mayor Greg Buum gave his written resignation, city attorney David Stein announced at a Monday night City Council meeting.
The Iowa Attorney General s Office has charged Buum, the town s police chief, its city clerk and two former clerks in an alleged plot to loot the city coffers and cover it up.
Buum, 69, also is charged with misusing a saw from the Northwest Iowa town s volunteer fire department in his personal business.
Free on $67,000 bond, he declined to comment on the charges he is facing when reached at home Monday. Nope, not talking to anyone, he said. Thanks for the phone call.
Des Moines Register
ARMSTRONG, Iowa The year 2020 ended well for Armstrong s then-mayor Greg Buum. He won the lottery in November, collecting more than $95,000.
As it turned out, he would need the cash.
Last week, facing felony charges, he posted $67,000 in bail and resigned from office.
His predicament embroils other current and former officials in this unassuming town of 900 people and has left it the subject of accusatory headlines and largely leaderless. It s put a blemish on our community that s going to be hard to erase, City Council member Rob Nutt said.
Facing charges with him is his son-in-law Craig Merrill, the chief and sole member of the town s police force.
By Jason Taylor
Feb 23, 2021
ARMSTRONG, Iowa - The roles are changing for several city employees facing felony charges in northern Iowa s Armstrong.
The Armstrong City Council voted unanimously Monday night to place police chief Craig Merrill and city clerk Tracie Lang on unpaid administrative leave.
Mayor Greg Buum resigned his position earlier in the day.
The state Attorney General s Office is handling the case against five current and former employees accused of misusing city funds and trying to cover up those actions.
Merrill, Lang and Buum face felony charges, as does former City Clerk Connie Thackery. Former City Clerk Kate Staton faces related misdemeanor charges.