The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Friday, held a public hearing on a Contract for Private Development in support of the Fagen Farms acquisition of property in the former Amaizing Energy Ethanol Plant area. The contract, when approved, will be for the purpose of securing a developer to construct a Second Generation Bio-Fuels/Renewable Energy facility, or Ag-related facility on the site.

After much discussion, it was determined that before an agreement is reached, a site survey needs to be conducted to determine exactly which portion of area needs to be reclassified from Light Industrial to Agricultural. The change in classification would serve to reduce the tax bill for Fagen, in fact, nearly cutting them in-half. A reduction in property taxes is one of the conditions Fagen requires to be met before they commit to building a next-gen plant in the area. As it stands now, the 63.7-acres is valued at $1.87-million dollars.

The Cass County Zoning Commission will meet at 7-p.m. December 13^th, to conduct a public hearing on the change in zoning to allow Second Gen Renewable Energy facilities to be included in an Agricultural Zone. It’s also possible the Commission may simply elect to change the terms and definition of “Light Industrial,” to include similar facilities, for future development in the County.

In other business, the Board of Supervisors, Friday, approved the closing of the Courthouse on Monday, December 24^th, and paid as a holiday, in advance of Christmas. The Courthouse offices will be closed Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 24^th and 25^th. They will reopen for business on Dec. 26^th. The Board also opted out of being included in a Regional funding “Pool” for Mental Health Regionalization.

Officials with the Cass County Conservation service say the sponsors of Trumpeter Swan Arrival contest have determined a winner in the contest. The official arrival of the swans, as determined by the Conservation Board, was November 24th  On that day there were 12 Trumpeter Swans at the Schildberg Quarry Recreational Area. The large-winged birds stayed there for more than twenty-four hours. The winner this year’s contest is Alice Brown of Atlantic.

Alice will receive a Trumpeter Swan 8×10 print from the Cass County Conservation Board.  The school contest was won by Mrs. Christensen’s third grade at Washington Elementary The students will receive a trumpeter swan poster and Mrs. Christensen will receive a trumpeter swan 8×10 print! Cass County Conservation would like to thank to all who participated in the annual event.