The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Wednesday), rejected a request from the County Recorder’s Office for the purchase of a new passport photo machine. Their action followed a complaint they received from a local photographer who said the move would put government in direct competition with the private sector.

The Board heard from Fred Fiddelke, owner of Fredericks’ Photography, in Atlantic, who has been in business for more than 37-years. It’s been suggested that having photos taken at the Recorders Office would be more convenient. Supervisor Frank Waters asked how fast Fiddelke could turn the pictures around to make them ready for persons needing a passport. Fiddelke replied “10-minutes.”

Fiddelke said in the past, the process for getting a passport involved coming to the courthouse three-times and waiting six-weeks to receive your passport. Now, he says, with the advent of online passport applications and other information that’s available electronically, the process is expedited, and it’s not necessary nor “convenient” for people to have to come to the courthouse for those procedures.

Fiddelke said also, with the $1,695 price tag for specialized photography equipment that’s needed, it would take the County three-to-five years to recoup its cost. He said taking passport pictures isn’t going to make him rich. They only cost $12. The value, he says, comes in the form of future business that simple picture can generate. A person coming to have their passport taken, can see the work he’s done for families, such as graduation pictures, weddings and anniversaries. That, he said is what keeps him in business.

After brief discussion, the Supervisors agreed the County does not need to compete with area private photographers.