The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Tuesday) approved the final payment application for the northwest Water and Sewer extension project. Snyder and Associates Engineer Dave Sturm said the project came in slightly over budget, but only because of extra surfacing rock needed to restore driveways and roadways in the area.

The intent of the project is to spur new business and industry development in the vicinity of the defunct Amaizing Energy ethanol plant located off of Glacier Road northwest of Atlantic, by providing water and sewer lines to prospective clients. The original cost of the project was $482, 141. The final contract price tag amounted to $483, 223, or about $1,100 over the contract price. That also included extra boring and a change out, for a connection line.

The county is paying for the project with tax increment financing on a recently constructed ADM grain bin, in addition to the Local Option Sales Tax. The Local Option Tax will gradually be paid back as revenue from the wind turbines in the county and other sources, allow.

Atlantic Police report 43-year old Dana Cisar, of Atlantic, was arrested Monday. Cisar was booked into the Cass County Jail for Driving Under Suspension and Non-Payment of Iowa Fines.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A former federal union official who embezzled $33,000 is asking a judge to show leniency. Ann Kelly, former treasurer-secretary of the American Federation of Government Employees in Council Bluffs, has pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. The retired federal railroad inspector used union funds between 2002 and 2007 to make payments to personal credit cards and write checks to family members. The charge carries up to 20 years in prison, but Kelly’s attorney is asking a judge to impose a term of probation during Wednesday’s sentencing in Des Moines. Her attorney says Kelly’s theft was motivated to help her family out of financial crises that included her son having cancer and her husband having business failures. He says Kelly cashed out her retirement savings to repay the money.