(Atlantic, Iowa) – UPDATED: In a meeting that lasted just under an hour, Thursday, the Cass County Conference Board, made up of representatives from County Schools, Mayors and Supervisors, approved the appointment of an Assessor to fill a vacancy, and the restructuring of the Assessor’s Office. Board Chair Steve Baier said with regard to restructuring the Assessors Office, there are other services that are better suited to conducting field appraisals.

That includes Eagleview Pictometry, and a contract with Vanguard appraisals. The County has used Vanguard appraisals several times.

The Board voted in a majority, to restructure the Assessor’s Office, by releasing two Field Appraisers (Tom Williams and Rich Tupper), from their contract, and contract with the aforementioned Vanguard to perform those services. And, Baier said the Conference Board had two highly qualified candidates to chose from, with regard to the hiring of an Assessor.

The Board unanimously voted to appoint former Deputy Assessor Mary Anstey to fill the remainder of a six-year term created by the resignation of Brenda Nelson, last May.  Anstey, who works as a Deputy Auditor for the Cass County Auditor’s Office, had previously served as Deputy Assessor from Oct. 1999 to April 2013.

Conference Board Chair Steve Baier said Anstey has agreed to be paid – on a pro-rated basis for the 10 months remaining in the fiscal year – the salary of her predecessor. She will also help to train whomever takes over her position in the Auditor’s Office. And that she would volunteer to help the Auditor’s Office through the next election cycle. She takes over her new title/position on Sept. 1st.

Anstey was given the authority to hire a Deputy Assessor with the approval of the Conference Board.