The Cass County Board of Supervisors have approved – by a vote of 4-to-1, a 2.1% annual increase in compensation, effective Oct. 1st, for County Engineer Trent Wolken. Board Member Frank Waters was the lone “Nay” vote, based on the fact none of the other employees were given a mid-term raise.

However, in a Memorandum of Understanding with Trent Wolken prior to his being hired, it was stated he must complete his 90-day probationary period plus three months before he would receive a raise commensurate to what other County Employees received on July 1^st, so this is a special situation, according to the Board. During their meeting last week, the Board and Wolken conducted a closed-session six-month review of his performance. None of the Board members had anything negative to say about Wolken’s performance.

In other business, the Supervisors passed a Resolution assigning a county-held tax sale certificate to the City of Atlantic, for a property at 3^rd and Maple Streets, and the entering into an agreement to abate taxes, if Atlantic acquires ownership of the parcel. They also approved entering into an agreement to compromise tax and abate interest, penalty and cost and assign tax sale certificates to private citizen on County Held Tax Sale Certificates for a parcel in Cumberland.

Board passed a Resolution placing a Stop sign at the intersection of 595th Street and Lansing Road. It was previously noted the site had become a dangerous corner due to increased traffic associated with the opening of a new rock quarry.

And, the Board of Supervisors discussed the closing of a County Roadway at 570th Street and the I-80 underpass. The Iowa DOT plans to make I-80 a six-lane highway, which requires the closure of some underpasses. As an incentive, they are offering the County about $1.5-million dollars to close the road.

Supervisor Steve Green said he had spoken farmers in the area who would like to keep the road open.

Green said he’d like more time to research the records from when the land was originally turned over or sold to the State, at the time the Interstate was being designed and built in the 1950’s.

Engineer Wolken said he would try to get a DOT official to attend a Supervisors meeting either in person or via Zoom, to discuss the matter further, especially with families/landowners who have an interest in keeping the road open. Supervisor Board Chair Steve Baier was one of those who was in favor of setting up the meeting.

It’s not clear when that meeting will take place.