The Cass County Board of Supervisors met this past Wednesday. According to the minutes provided by County Auditor/Board Secretary Dale Sunderman, the Board considered bids for lawn care, snow removal and trash pick-up. Two bids were received for Calendar Year 2020 (CY2020). The low bid from Erickson W.S.S was approved by unanimous vote. Two bids were also received for FY2021 snow removal, but because they were not detailed in the same manner, the board postponed action until after more information is obtained. And, the Supervisors approved the lone bid from Cook Sanitation Service for FY 2021 sanitation services/trash removal. Their bid was less than current service fees.

A motion made to re-appoint Brenda Nelson as commissioner of Southern Iowa Regional Housing Authority failed by a roll-call vote for lack of a majority (Supervisor Mark O’Brien was absent). The appointment will be reconsidered when the full board is present at their next regular meeting. In other business, new account manager Group Benefit Partners representatives reviewed renewal information for the County’s ISAC Group Health Program, and the voluntary group dental program, for FY2021.  The County also has a mini-self-funded health insurance program and flex benefits program and contracts with a third party administrator for those by calendar year.  Options for reducing third party administration costs were discussed.  The discounted renewal rates for the health program are nearly the same as current rates (increase of $1 per month for a ‘single plan’ and a decrease of $2 per month for a ‘family plan’.

Sunderman says also, the Board asked Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon about steps he was taking to protect the ‘courthouse’ from the COVID-19 virus.  At his invitation, Cass County Health Systems Public Health Nurse Linda Edelman and Nurse Darci Young, were invited to Wednesday’s meeting to discuss COVID-19. Information discussed included what the County should do to prevent the spread of COVID-19.  Edelman said persons should not panic; and said the public is more at risk of catching the flu than COVID-19.  It was recommended, that like any business, the County should have plans in place for any illness that may take a considerable number of people out of the workplace.  Precautions to be taken should be those everyone should have been taking all of their lives as far as keeping the facilities clean, good hygiene practices and the things you would do in any flu season.  If a person has a virus, that person should call medical personnel prior to going to the clinic or hospital so proper precautions may be taken as they arrive.

A good source of information on COVID-19 is the Iowa Department of Public Health website (idph.iowa.gov)