(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Tuesday) received a report from Diane Schultz, President of the Iowa Mormon Trails Association and on behalf of the National Parks Service, with regard to directional signage along the Mormon Trail. Schultz last appeared before the Board in October, 2023. During her presentation today (Jan. 21st), she requested the signs near Lyman and Lewis be replaced with newer, more visible signs.

Supervisor Chair Steve Baier said the Secondary Roads Department should be able to replace the signs, but there are some caveats before that can be done.

The Board approved the installation of the signs, which likely wont’ be installed until later this Spring. The Cass County Supervisors received and acknowledged a monthly report from Cass/Guthrie County Environmental Health Director Jotham Arber, and heard from Graydon Schmidt with the Schmidt Family Funeral Homes, with regard to the definition and jurisdiction of the County, as it pertains to County burials and cremation services under the General Relief Department. He described one situation whereby an indigent veteran died, but the County couldn’t cover his funeral expenses because there was a discrepancy as to his County residency status.

Another, similar situation occurred nearly back-to-back with the aforementioned scenario. Board Chair Steve Baier said he’s looked into definition of resident, and so has General Relief Coordinator Deb Schuler. They concluded the same thing.

County Attorney Vanessa Strazdus referenced a section of the Iowa/County Code in defining who is a resident.

In cases where the County is allowed to cover indigent burials/cremations, it pays up to $1,500, but Deb Schuler said the County is not required to pay for indigent burials, but the State leaves it up to each county to do so if they choose. No action was taken on the matter during the meeting, Tuesday.

In other business, the Cass County Supervisors approved the appointment of Cass County Chief Deputy Sheriff Spencer Walton as Jail Administrator, with an annual salary (specifically for that title) of approximately $4,286. They also approved a letter of support to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS), with regard to a Southwest Iowa Egg (SWI) grant application, that would allow them to install cage-free housing for their chickens, and that would allow them to sell their eggs in California and other states that have restrictions on how poultry are raised.

The Board approved a 28-E (Cost sharing) Agreement with the Southwest Iowa Juvenile Detention Center. And, they set February 4th at 9:05-a.m., as the date and time for a Public Hearing with the Audubon County Board of Supervisors, with regard to the vacating of a nearly mile-long section of 350th Street/Akron Road in almost equal sections of both Counties. The Road was established over 125-years ago.