(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken says work on the Olive Street and Boston Road bridge replacement projects continues. Tomorrow (Wednesday) morning, he says they’ll be pouring the concrete deck for the Olive Street Bridge and then allowing that to cure.

(Next week they’ll begin pouring the Boston Road bridge decking next Tuesday)

He said also, work on a box culvert project for Indian Creek Road north of Highway 6 continues. Old beams off the old bridge at that site will be repurposed, according to Wolken. They were being moved Tuesday to a site just north of Griswold, with the intent to use them as bridge beams for the Seattle Road Project. Another project that begins Wednesday, is with regard to a box culvert on Victoria Road.

(A grading and box culvert project is set to begin Wednesday (Aug. 11^th), on Victoria Road/G-61, on the Cass-Adair line.)

The road is expected to re-open no later than Oct. 15^th. In other business, the Cass County Board of Supervisors voted appoint Mary Robinson to the Cass County Board of Health, for the remainder of the term ending Dec. 31, 2023. And, they voted to re-appoint Kip Harris to serve on the County Compensation Board (representing the Supervisors). One position is left to fill on the Compensation Board. The Board meets once annually. There were no candidates who expressed interest in serving on the County Board for Condemnation in Eminent Domain proceedings. Persons interested much live in and own property in, Cass County. There was no action taken on filling the County Conservation Board opening, and the position remains open. The term ends Dec. 31, 2022.

The Board also discussed how funds the County received from the American Rescue Plan for COVID recovery, could be used. Board Chair Steve Baier said their booth at the Cass County Fair received suggestions. Unfortunately, the rules don’t allow for the way most people want the funds to be used.

Supervisor Mark O’Brien said another idea was to enhance our local and community food systems to enhance our self sufficiency. It came from the Healthy Cass Organization.

Board Chair Steve Baier says as someone with experience in selling beef to meat lockers, he understands the difficulty producers have in getting their product to market.

But he said the question remains, how does a producer find a market when the lockers are full and keep the food supply flowing smoothly. In the meantime, the Board is still seeking suggestions for ARP funding. Contact your local Supervisor or attend one of their weekly meetings in the Cass County Courthouse Supervisors’ Board Room.