The Cass County Board of Supervisors agreed to take under advisement during their budgetary process in January, a request for funding to the Cass County Agricultural and Education Association and Fair Board. Cass County ISU/Extension Director Kate Olsen and others spoke before the Board during their meeting in November and requested level funding for Grounds Committee, with an increase for the Fair Board and Extension. The Extension also asked for the option to look at the County’s insurance program for their three, full-time employees. Olsen provided the Board more specifics on their request during their meeting this (Wednesday) morning.

(She said joining the County insurance program would be at no cost to the County, because the Extension would pay the County monthly for the full cost. They also request a $10,000 increase through the Grounds Committee Budget to support the Youth Programming position. Olsen said they’ve already received $10,000 from the Grounds Committee Budget, which is an amount that hasn’t changed since 1978. Olsen said staff costs have gone up since 1978.)

A portion of the $10,000 they currently receive are used for staff benefits. The additional $10,000, if approved, would offset the $27,000 annual cost to participate in the County’s insurance plan. The Extension Director, Youth Coordinator and Office Assistant positions currently are not covered by an insurance plan. Olsen said their three office employees has been 100-percent County paid since 1978 Directly through the County Extension Council. The latest full-time Extension employee to be funded by the State was former Extension Director Steve Olsen, in 2009.

Mitch Kleen, a member of the Fair Board said their costs have gone up also, and that they too have not had an increase since 1978.

(He said they get $10,000 in State funding from the Association of Iowa Fairs, and they’d like the County to match that, so that the Cass County Fair remains free and yet allows the kids to profit from the sale of their animals.)

Board Chair Gaylord Schelling said he and Auditor/Board Secretary Dale Sunderman will look into the County’s ISAC insurance policy and compare information with other counties. In other business, the Cass County Supervisors approved the first of what is likely to be several amendments to the Amaizing Energy Urban Renewal Area plan by adding Elite Octane property to the area. And, while giving the go-ahead for Snyder and Associates Engineers to begin the engineering processes needed in advance of the Elite Octane Gray Water transmission and Buck Creek, Glacier and Echo Road Paving Projects, the Board tabled action on approving a Professional Services Agreement with Snyder’s until their meeting Dec. 30^th, when Engineer Tim Teig is expected to provide a better cost break down and analysis of the engineering costs of the projects.