The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Tuesday), approved a 2.8% increase in wage for County Engineer Charles Bechtold for Fiscal Year 2020. Supervisor Steve Green said other counties are paying their Engineers with years of experience more than Bechtold, so it’s fair his wage should be adjusted just like the three elected offices were compensated earlier this year. He said when the Board discussed raises in January, they talked about a dollar amount being the same as the three elected offices on the second floor [of the courthouse].

Those offices received an increase of $1,661. Green said Cass County was “Kinda leading the charge at one point,” where wage increases are concerned, many county engineers’ pay has gone up 3% . In Cass County, the top floor offices received a 2.8% increase. Green said “We would be remiss not to at least do 2.8% with the County Engineer. Green said Bechtold is talented and has 30-years experience compared to other engineers.

The Supervisors then moved to set Bechtold’s salary at $111,024/year, which he said was agreeable. In other business, the Cass County Supervisors heard from Kenner Baxter, Cass County Tourism representative, with regard to advertising in local papers and eventually on radio, to promote what’s happening in Cass County. They plan to feature two ads per week in the local paper and two shoppers per month, through August, plus an Ad in a “Staycation Guide.” The total cost of which amounts to $2,930, which stills leaves money in their budget for radio ads. She said they will also turn the Ads into flyers for distribution around the County. No action was needed from the Board for the advertising, since it is in the Tourism Committee’s budget.

The Supervisors today (Tuesday), approved the final payment for the Valley Business Park loan, from the CABEDA (Cass-Audubon Border Economic Development Agreement), in the amount of $59,200 to purchase the property. Last fall, the County made two advance payments for around $500,000 each, according to Auditor Dale Sunderman. The County acts as a flow-through agency for the funds.