The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Tuesday), approved the appointment of Michael D. Hooper, of Atlantic, as the full-time County Attorney. His salary will be $100,000. Hooper, who was sworn-in by Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman, succeeds David Wiederstein, who last August announced he would no longer serve as part-time Attorney, effective January 1^st, 2018. Wiederstein had objected to the Board’s move on August 15, 2017, to make the position full-time, and resigned to concentrate more on his private practice. Hooper’s appointment went into effect immediately to fill a vacancy term until the 2018 General Election. Citizens have 14-days from now to call for a special election, if desired.

Atty. Michael Hooper

Officer/Deputy Tim Olsen

The Board also approved Sheriff Darby McLaren’s hiring and appointment of Atlantic Police Officer Tim Olsen to Cass County Sheriff’s Deputy. Olsen was also sworn-in during the Board of Supervisor’s meeting. Olsen has served on the Atlantic Police force for three and one-half years. His position begins January 8th, but he’ll officially be on the County payroll on January 17^th. In other, administrative matters, the Board of Supervisor’s unanimously voted to re-appoint Gaylord Schelling as Board Chair, and Frank Waters as Vice-Chair. The Supervisors appointed Administrative Assistants to the Cass County Attorney: Bev Groves, Eva Jensen, and Kris Schuler,

They also voted, at the suggestion of Supervisor Green, 4-to 1 to set mileage reimbursement for County employees using their personal vehicle to attend meetings, etc., at 40-cents per mileage, which is down from last year’s 56.5-cents per mile. Supervisor Frank Waters was the lone No vote. The Supervisors approved the appointment of Alan Peterson as County Weed Commissioner, subject to his pesticide application certification. Former Weed Commissioner Larry Randall mentioned earlier, that he did not want to continue in that capacity.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors’ meetings will continue to be held on Wednesday’s beginning at 8:30-a.m., per the Board’s vote.