The Cass County Supervisors today (Wednesday), approved on the first reading, amendments to the County General Assistance Program. A vote on approval followed a public hearing, during which there were no comments from the public. The amendments generally serve to clean-up the language in the current General Assistance Program policy, and eliminates any typographical errors. Additional hearings on the amendments, along with the second and third readings of the ordinance, will take place in subsequent Board meetings.

In his report to the Supervisors, Cass County Engineer Charles Marker said the placement of “Contract Rock” along gravel roads and other service areas is grinding to a halt because of a supply problem. Marker said the Schildberg Quarry has run out of road rock. A stripping crew was brought in, and a crusher will follow, but it will not be until the 1^st or the middle of June before and more rock for the gravel roads is available. He says there are some stockpiles left in parts of the County, but not enough to cover and major road work.

Marker said stockpiles of rock in other parts of the County (near Highway 71 & the Lewis Road, and Highway 92/County Road N-28 south of Cumberland), are reserved for those specific areas. The Atlantic quarry serves the northeast and mid-section of the County. He says contract rock is still available from quarries near Red Oak, Corning and Jefferson to serve specific areas of the County, however, when they haul from those areas, it means longer hours for the County crews, and less trips for picking up loads, than would normally occur.

In other business, Marker said Murphy Contracting has removed the deck from the Hopley Bridge over the Nishnabotna River, near the Lewis Research Farm. He said the steel beams under the deck have been removed and will be stored for future use on other, smaller bridge projects, such as a “Level B” road. Mid-American Energy is supposed to move a power line on the south side of the bridge sometime within the next week, so allow the contractor to continue work on the project, unobstructed.