The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Friday), set May 11^th as the date and time for a public hearing on a construction permit application for Southwest Iowa Egg. Supervisor Duane McFadden explained the facility near Massena intends to renovate the plant buildings in phases, over a period of years. Two buildings will be removed, and replaced with one, larger building with increased capacity for both the laying hens and manure management.

Supervisor Frank Waters said the people who he’s spoken with – some of whom were originally opposed to the facility when it was first proposed a dozen years ago – said they didn’t object to plans, and so far, there have been no written objections. Steve Baier, of Griswold, is a Southwest Iowa Egg stockholder, who says the facility will be modern, efficient and, better for the birds. It will feature larger cages, and a better manure storage.

The new facility will keep the manure drier, and provide less “out-gassing” of odors. In other business, the Board approved a request from the Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund, for the creation of an avenue of flags and plaza area, in the County’s portion of the downtown, Atlantic City Park. Trevor’s mom, and fund spokesperson Melanie Petty explained the project to the Board.

Conceptual sketch of the proposed City Park plaza improvements.

She said the Atlantic Parks and Rec Dept. and members of the TFMF will install 8, 16-foot flagpoles purchased from the Kiwanis Club. The flags will be lit by solar lights installed on the flagpoles. A new, 3-foot by 58-foot sidewalk will be installed next to the current sidewalk on both sides, to act as a surface for the poles and plaza for memorial benches.

The memorial benches will lock into the concrete, so they aren’t stolen. The Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund will take care of all costs associated with the project, and  will continue to maintain the flowerbed in the plaza area. The project has the blessing of the City of Atlantic’s Parks and Rec Department, and Kiwanis Club, and the Supervisors were in unanimous support of it. The project will likely be completed sometime late this fall.

And, the Cass County Supervisors tabled action until May 11^th, on authorizing the County Recorder to purchase specialized equipment to take passport photos. The equipment would cost about $1,695. The current driver’s license camera and equipment cannot be used for passport purposes. Supervisor Mark Wedemeyer wanted the request be tabled because a local businessman wanted the chance to object. That person was not able to attend today’s (Friday’s) meeting.