(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors, today (Tuesday), revisited a request from the Noble Initiative Community Foundation, for $250,000 from the ARPA Fund. The Foundation’s Jared Wyman said the funds would be used for storm water infrastructure outside the Griswold City limits, where the foundation is working on housing development.

Supervisors Mark O’Brien and Steve Green were opposed to using ARPA funds for that purpose, citing the legality of doing so, and the little amount of money remaining in the County’s portion of the fund. Mark O’Brien….

Steve Green explained there’s not as much money left in the ARPA fund as they previously thought.

The Supervisors encouraged the organization to go after Economic Development monies from the State and through grants, which they are in the process of doing. Board Chair Steve Baier summed-up the Board’s opinion by saying “The consensus is not to use ARPA funds at this stage.”

Wyman was asked if the project will still move forward if they didn’t get the ARPA funds. He said it would. In other business, the Supervisors approved a three-year contact for Cost Advisory Services to obtain reimbursement for indirect costs, expanded on behalf of the Iowa Dept. of Health and Human Services. The price-tag for the contract is $4,450 per year.

Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken updated the Board of Secondary Roads Department maintenance and activities. He mentioned his crews have been spreading contract rock in the Massena and Anita Districts, and that those activities are almost finished with their initial application. Construction-wise, he said a bridge in the Anita area will be closed soon.

And, the Board also passed a 28-E cost sharing Resolution appointing Norma Hemphill as Cass County’s representative to the Southern Iowa Regional Housing Authority (SIRHA) for a term of 3-years. They also approved the appointment of Shauna Holiday as Massena Township Clerk.