The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Wednesday (today) approved the hiring of a full-time assistant for the County Recorder’s office. Retiring Recorder Joyce Jensen said the decision on who to hire as an assistant to incoming Recorder Mary Ward not an easy one, due to the number of qualified applicants. Ward chose Marci Wallingford, who is currently employed at the 1st United Methodist Church in Atlantic, and has been the Pastor’s assistant for the past 7-years. She will begin her employment with the County on Oct. 20th, at a rate of 18-dollars per hour.

Jensen says salary discussions determined Wallingford will remain at the $18 per hour rate even if/when she is appointed as Deputy Recorder, through Fiscal Year 2015 budget. The percentage of salary will be reassessed when it comes to discussion on the FY 2016 budget. BOS2 :18 Q:”..still the Recorder.” Together, Ward and Wallingford will determine the need for a part-time assistant to Wallingford. Jensen said she would make herself available to fill-in as needed as an assistant, at no charge to the County.

In other business, Cass County Engineer Charles Marker reported he and Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department Director Roger Herring have determined an eight-foot by eight-foot pad on the southeast corner of the courthouse would be the best option for installation of two bicycle hitching posts. Last week, Herring had proposed locating the posts in the same area, but was instructed to consult with Marker as to the best location and options for mounting the bike posts.

Cass County Conservation Director Micah Lee reported to the Board on his department’s quarterly activities. Lee said they were very busy during the period. He says the new driveway on the south entrance to Cold Springs State Park near Lewis has been heavily used by campers and nature seekers.

He says when they went out for bids on gates to the park, they looked at a couple of different types, but in the end decided it would be cheaper to build a 3 bar, galvanized swinging gate that will be installed soon, prior to the entrance being closed for the Winter. Weirich Welding was given the job of constructing the gates.

Lee says the department is also in the process of renovating its office.  The project should be complete by the end of this month. Among other projects, Micah said they mowed along the T-Bone Trail after receiving a complaint about tall weed growth following the recent, heavy rains. And at the Pellett Memorial Woods, they’ve been conducting general maintenance, including moving of trees from the trail that have died and fallen onto the trail.