Highway 71 south of Atlantic is expected to open soon. During a meeting of the Cass County Board of Supervisors this (Wednesday) morning, County Engineer Charles Bechtold said the Highway just south G-35/Lansing Road, which was closed in late April for bridge construction work, should be open before Halloween. Supervisors Board Chair Gaylord Schelling told Bechtold the road should be open by today or tomorrow. The barricades were still up this (Wednesday) morning, though.

The Board received an Annual Report from the Cass County Library Association today (Wednesday), also. Afterward, the Association requested an increase in funding for the six libraries in Cass County. County Auditor Dale Sunderman said the current funding is $79,800 altogether, per year. The funds are divided among the six-libraries according to population. Last year, the Library Association requested a $2,000 increase, but the Board allocated $1,000 more after the budgeting process was finalized. The Association is requesting a $2,000 increase this year as well. The communities in which the libraries are located also contribute to the operational costs of their respective libraries.

Lisa Metheny, Director of the Lewis and Griswold Public Libraries, said they have also applied for a grant to receive a reading-type grant for mobile users, that, if awarded, would be used for all the County libraries. They’re able to get a volume discount on purchasing the app because all the libraries would be combined on the grant app. The Supervisors told members of the Association that they would take the request under advisement.

In other business, the Board approved the appointment of Abigail Bintner as Cass County Treasurer’s Assistant, to fill a vacancy. Bintner started her position on Monday, with pay to be retroactive to that date. The Board also approved a final partial payment to Crow River Construction of New London, MN, for work on the gray water transmission line to the ethanol plant. The payment was $46,046.50. The Board began their meeting with a moment of silence in honor of long-time Board member Duane McFadden, who passed away on Monday. McFadden had served on the Board of Supervisors for about 12-years.