The Cass County Board of Supervisors has approved the appointment of Jamie Arnold as Assistant County Attorney. The action came during their meeting held this (Friday) morning, in Atlantic. Arnold had previously been an Administrative Assistant to County Attorney David Wiederstein, while he was waiting for his license to practice law in Iowa to be approved by the State. He also serves as Attorney for the City of Atlantic.

In other business, the Board agreed to accept a bid from Metal Culverts out of Maryville, MO., for the County’s supply of Stock pipe and project pipe. Stock pipe is used for smaller projects such as under small driveways or road crossings. Project pipe is intended for larger construction projects. Cass County Engineer Charles Marker said they received three bids for the supplies, with the lowest from Metal Culverts, in the amount of $109,840.56. The bids, he said, were very close among the three companies who vied for the contract. The board approved a contract with the low bidder for the pipes.

Cass County Engineer Charles Marker (left) & Supervisor Gaylord Schelling w/a map of County pipe/bridge projects.

Marker said with the passage of the Iowa Gas Tax, the County will be able to do four more bridge projects this year. He rolled out a map showing the locations of bridge projects intended to get underway this year, about three of which are contract, meaning they are handled by outside contractors, and a few more which will be taken care of by County crews. Marker said in addition to the estimated 5-to 700-million dollars the County is expected to receive from the State once the tax goes into effect March 1st and the revenue is divided among the State, counties and cities, he was able to get a great deal on used steel from the county engineer in northwest Iowa’s Ida County. He says they can use the steel for floor support beams on four additional bridges in the County. Decking is placed on top of the beams to make up rest of the bridge.

The Supervisors gave Marker the go ahead to purchase the steel at 22-cents per pound, which is 26-cents less than what they would normally have to pay. He said that saves the County about $50,000.

The Board also held a hearing on the Adoption of Cass County Code, which is essentially a re-compiling of the County Ordinances in accordance with Iowa Law. County Auditor Dale Sunderman explained the County Code is essentially the same, with the exception of a section that was removed because it is covered elsewhere in Iowa law. The parts removed in Section 3 of the Code include an ordinance “Establishing a school infrastructure Local Option Sales and Services tax,” an ordinance “Providing for the registration and documentation of retail sales of keg alcoholic beverages.”

Following the hearing, the Board approved the 1st reading of the adopted code. The 2nd hearing will take place during the Board’s meeting on March 4th.