(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors held the first public hearing this (Tuesday) morning, on the sale of the County-owned farm on the southwest side of Atlantic. Board Chair Steve Baier said before the building on the land that housed the Willow Heights residential care facility became vacant, the property was appraised by Vanguard Appraisals at more than $1.1-million dollars. Now that the building has been vacant for nearly one-year, the appraised value dropped to $354,400. The Board unanimously passed a motion to move forward with the sale of the farm. The next step is for a request for proposal (RFP) from auction services, realtors and interested parties, and an interview with them. The deadline is October 31^st.

County Engineer Trent Wolken said the Concrete Box Culvert (CBC) on Boston Road was completed last week, and the road is open. The CBC on 610^th/Chestnut concrete was poured last week, but they’re waiting for the concrete to cure. In the mean time, crews are getting read to set back fill in-place.

Wolken said there are two bridges set for bid letting in November. One is Bridge #32 on Victoria Road, west of Highway 71. The other is south of the Anita Sale Barn. In January there will be a letting on Bridge #319 on Highland Road, over Indian Creek. There was a bid-letting for a CBC on Fairview Road, on Monday (Oct. 17).

There were two bids ($329,896.05 from Gus Contruction, and Jensen Construction, for $524,685.25. The engineer’s estimated cost for the project was $358,000. The Cass County Supervisors approved the bid from Gus Construction. Wolken said work on the project is expected to begin next Monday, Oct. 24^th.