(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday (today), approved two investigators for the Medical Examiner’s Office. Supervisor Steve Green said he spoke with Medical Examiner Dr. Elaine Berry about the assistants to her office.

Michelle Schroeder, MSN/BSN/RN will be returning to the area, while Andrea Stork, RN, is the Medical Examiner Assistant to be approved. Green pointed out the staff are necessary due to Dr. Berry’s schedule.

At some point, he said, she will probably retire after building-up her staff. In other business, Cass County Treasurer Tracey J. Marshall was asked how long it might be before her office reopens.

The Treasurer’s Office is currently closed while new staff training is being conducted. In the meantime, she says, if you have a driver’s license expiring or need to have one issued, you can go to another county. Taxes, and motor vehicle registrations can be handled online.

Marshall said she is advertising for a Deputy again since last week’s hire fell through. In his report to the Board, County Sanitarian Mike Stringham said houses aren’t selling quite as fast this year, so they haven’t handled a lot of transfer inspections (for septic systems).

Stringham said he will begin public (Municipal) pool inspections soon. And, with regard to drinking water well tests, the State had extra money to include arsenic and mangenese as part of the free tests. He said there are some areas where arsenic has been found.

Manganese is a trace mineral that is present in tiny amounts in the body. It is found mostly in bones, the liver, kidneys, and pancreas. Manganese helps the body form connective tissue, bones, blood clotting factors, and sex hormones. Arsenic is a natural component of the earth’s crust and is widely distributed throughout the environment in the air, water and land. It is highly toxic in its inorganic form.