The Cass County Board of Supervisors this (Wednesday) granted permission for a Bible Reading Marathon to take place on the courthouse block grounds, Sept. 19th through the 25th. Their action followed an explanation of the event from Sheryl Ieckel, of Atlantic. She said after a similar event was spearheaded at the State Capital in January, Governor Terry Branstad on April 26th, signed a proclamation that encouraged all Iowans to participate in the historic 99 county marathon.

In his proclamation, Branstad also encouraged “Individuals and families in Iowa to read through the Bible on a daily basis each year until the Lord comes.”  50 counties were able to hold bible reading session during the intended time frame for the event from June 30th through July 3^rd.  Ieckle says the remaining counties are being asked to hold their reading session this month. She says the event in Cass County is planned for Sept. 19^th through the 25^th, from 7-a.m. to 7-p.m.

People will gather on the east lawn of the courthouse and read in 15-minute blocks for the 80 or so hours it will take to read the bible from cover to cover. Cass County Supervisor Chuck Rieken said he was not opposed to having the event held on the courthouse grounds, since it will not interfere with parking or access to the courthouse, but he warned it would mean other groups in the future, cannot be excluded in making similar requests.

The American Civil Liberties Union and the Freedom from Religion Foundation raised constitutional concerns over the proclamation, arguing the government should be “neutral” toward religion. The “First Liberty Institute” has said it will defend Branstad if he is sued over the matter.

In other business, the Board of Supervisors, per Iowa Code, passed a resolution abating the taxes on parcels of land owned by the City of Atlantic. And, they accepted the termination of lease agreements for County-owned crop and pasture ground, but rejected requests by the current tenants to have their three-year leases renewed beginning next Spring, at a lower rate.

The Board, in years past, has put County-owned land up for bid, and they will do so again next Spring, because they didn’t want to go against the practice they had already established.