(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Friday morning, voted unanimously to adopt an Ordinance establishing the election precincts in Cass County. Their action followed a public hearing, during which there were no comments, and the first reading of the Ordinance. The Board waived the second and third hearings before moving to adopt the Ordinance. The Board also discussed, but took no action on implementing a policy with regard to the Federal Vaccine Mandate for businesses with 100 or more employees. They held-off until the U-S Supreme Court rules on a couple of cases before them, contesting the validity of the Biden Administration’s requirement, and guidance from legal counsel.

Board Chair Steve Baier said for one thing, it’s not clear the county has 100 employees, especially considering the various paid and unpaid Boards and Commissions.

Legal counsel, Baier said, has suggested the County make a “good-faith effort to comply with the mandate, if it is upheld by the Supreme Court. Baier added, “We have a responsibility to the taxpayers not to ignore this blatantly, and set ourselves up for fines of up to $14,000 for each employee [who] is not in compliance.” Baier said there needs to be some type of exemption form for exemptions based on medical or religious reasons, and he is of the opinion exceptions should be made in those cases.

If the employee claims they are exempt due to medical reasons, Baier said, the County should refrain from asking what the condition is, because it would be in violation of HIPPA rules.

Everything comes down to what the nation’s highest court decides.