The Cass County Board of Supervisors approved a Fiscal Year 2012 budget amendment during their meeting this (Wednesday) Morning, in Atlantic. The budget amendment was required due to the receipt of funds from Mid-American Energy by the Secondary Roads Department, for damage done to County roads during the installation of wind turbines in the Massena area. County Engineer Charles Marker says the County expended money for road rock and work on the roads above and beyond his original budget. The budget needed to be amended, he said, to offset those costs. The entire amount of the money received was incorporated into this year’s budget. The money stays within the Secondary Roads’ fund for supplies and work to be conducted next Fiscal Year, beginning July 1^st. 

Auditor Dale Sunderman said the only other reason, although not required in the amended budget, is to change the amount appropriations for transfers from an unexpected increase in Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) revenues, and Iowa Department of Transportation. Sunderman said the County Budget was amended to reflect $382,467 for Secondary Roads, and increase in transfers from the Local Option Sales Tax in the amount of $15,000.

Several road and bridge projects in Cass County are complete or are wrapping up soon. Engineer Charles Marker says the bridge south of Highway 92 by Steinbeck’s is now open and all work is complete on that project. Marker says the bridge on South Olive Street is nearly finished, with final dirt work being conducted on the south approaches to the bridge. Some seeding and guardrail work is also planned, but the bridge is expected to be opened with the next week or so. In addition, pavement patching work on the Marne Road is complete, but the project will be put on hold until an overlay is ready to be applied sometime between now and this fall, when the contractor is free from other projects.

A custodian with the Creston Community School District charged with the felony Sexual Abuse of a person between the ages of 12 and 13, has been fired from his position. 36-year old Eduardo Medina was released from his employment with the district at Monday night’s meeting of the Creston School District’s Board of Education. Medina was suspended last week after school officials received word he may have had improper contact with a former student.

According to on-line court records, Medina was arrested May 15th on a Class C felony charge of Sexual Abuse in the 3rd degree. His court appointed attorney waived Medina’s Preliminary Hearing. Medina was ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim. The man was being held in the Union County Jail on $10,000 bond.