(Atlantic, Iowa) – During a joint public hearing via Zoom, involving the Cass and Adair County Boards of Supervisors, both Board briefly discussed vacating of that portion of 780th Lane (AKA Union Ave; AKA Adair-Cass Ave.), originally established in January, 1882, with improvement made in 1957. The road the crosses the Cass-Adair County line is about 66-feet wide and stretches approximately 2,034 feet. Having heard no comments from the public, the Boards separately, passed their respective resolutions to vacate the road as described in the legal definition. Cass County Board Chair Steve Baier…

Following the joint meeting, the Cass County Supervisors held a separate public hearing on the vacating and closing of a section of Quebec Lane near Massena. Once again having received no public comments, the Supervisors voted to pass a resolution vacating the road as described by Chairman Baier.

The Board discussed with Cass County Community Services/Mental Health Director Debbie Schuler, and some local funeral home representatives, revisions to the County Indigent Remains disposition. Schuler further explained how the cremains are handled.

The discussion lasted about 45-minutes. The current proposal would reduce the amount the County pays to funeral homes from $1,500 to $1,000. It would still include Medical Examiner’s fees and cremation, but no requirement to pay for viewing, services or ceremonies, and burial. No action was taken to approve the updated policy as presented, as it was only on the agenda for discussion.

In other business, the Cass County Supervisors approved an Iowa Department of Transportation Federal-aid agreement for the replacement of a 100-foot slab bridge on Keystone Road, over a Creek. The project is 100-percent funded by the Feds. They also approved a 50-cent per hour wage increase for Secondary Roads employee Tucker Sager, since he has completed the required new-hire probationary period in accordance with his employment agreement.

The Cass County Supervisors passed a resolution amending the County Secondary Roads 5-year Construction Program, by moving a bridge project (#73 – A Pony Truss bride near Lyman, on 620th Street) from 2027 to 2025, due to NEPA (National Environmental Protection Agency) changes received sooner than expected, and, they approved the plans and specifications for bridge #73. They also approved a Hot Melt Asphalt (HMA) resurfacing/CIP recycling project on County Road N-28, south of Highway 92, to the Cass-Adams County line. Cass County Secondary Roads Department Maintenance Superintendent Mark Knudsen said weather permitting, work will begin next week on the N-28 project.

Other projects include: