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Cass County reviews public records volume, road bids, surplus equipment and department reports
Summary
Commissioners heard reports showing 268 public-records requests in 2025 (253 county requests), reviewed Community Crossings bids for County Road 900 North, declared an old Monroe box spreader surplus, and received health, 911 and parks updates.
At the Feb. 2 meeting the Cass County Board of Commissioners heard a series of departmental reports and took noncontroversial administrative steps regarding county operations.
Stanton, the county's public access counselor, reported that the county received 268 requests in 2025; of those, 253 were county requests, 30 lacked required information, leaving 223 actionable requests. As of year-end, 16 remained outstanding. Stanton said fees collected under statute (largely for body-cam and dash-cam video) totaled $4,430.20 in 2025.
The board opened bids for a Community Crossings grant project on County Road 900 North (from 175 West to U.S. 35, roughly 5.75 miles). Mr. Smith presented three bidders and amounts: DC Construction Services Inc. (base $1,448,883.60; addenda/alternate total $1,556,652.30), Central Haven of Logansport (base $1,020,746.13; alternate $1,053,686.13), and Ruth Riley of Lafayette (base $1,165,510.50; alternate $1,234,959). The board voted to take the bids under advisement; no contract award was made at this meeting.
Highway staff also asked the board to declare a Monroe model 120V box spreader surplus. Staff said the unit had not been used in at least 12 years and is incompatible with current trucks because it requires live hydraulics; the board approved declaring it surplus.
The highway report noted 13 winter operations days in January and about 600 overtime man-hours, construction delays at Bridge No. 6 on County Road 1050 West due to extreme cold, and planned replacement of a box culvert on County Road 625 North with work expected after Feb. 9, weather permitting.
Serenity from the health department provided January public-health statistics: 152 food permits, various inspections and follow-ups, 141 births and 128 deaths, 337 vaccines administered, 48 TB skin tests, and 35 lead cases; the department noted it will attend the State House public health day and has been nominated for an award. A 911 supervisor reported call volumes, administrative-call handling and a staffing shortage (one full-time vacancy, one trainee, one on maternity leave and three part-time staff). Parks director Dana reported estimated January revenue of $74,105, with $72,210 from camping reservations.
No significant public comments were recorded and the board adjourned after the department reports.
