Cass County updates highway projects, plans chip‑seal work and approves driver‑hire motions

Cass County highway officials told the commission the county’s road and bridge program is in active construction mode, and commissioners approved hiring moves to restore operations.

The highway department representative reported grind‑and‑level operations in Bethlehem Township (three segments complete and a fourth under way), and said resurfacing on 900 North between U.S. 35 and State Road 17 is expected to begin toward the end of next week, weather permitting. He also reported a crash that damaged Bridge No. 157 on County Road 400 East over Deer Creek; the bridge was closed for the weekend, inspected by a bridge firm, and reopened with a temporary barrier wall while the county seeks a permanent railing repair.

On scheduled maintenance, the representative said chip‑seal work is planned on State Road 25 between Cass County 300 South and the Carroll County line (south of Rockfield) during the second half of the month. He said southbound lanes are expected to close the evening of Sunday, May 17, with northbound closures the following week; each closure will last about three to four days while chip seal is applied. An official detour will use State Road 29 and State Road 218 with barricades placed at nearby intersections.

The highway representative also provided an update on the Galveston bridge project, saying the contractor’s target completion date is June 11 but cautioning that schedule certainty depends on progress; combined county and town estimates to repair and resurface detour roads total about $350,000 and the county will prepare funds to address its share once the road reopens.

Separately, the commission approved two personnel actions requested by the highway department. The highway representative asked permission to fill a full‑time driver vacancy effective May 12 and to retain Charles Cogswell (transcript also shows the surname as “Cotswell”) on the part‑time, on‑call roster. Commissioner (speaker 1) moved to accept the part‑time appointment and a second motion authorized replacing the full‑time driver vacancy; both motions passed on voice votes.

The county did not set a firm completion guarantee for the June 11 bridge date; commissioners asked whether members had visited the site and received a project‑manager update that beam setting and deck work remain upcoming steps.

What’s next: the highway department will move forward with scheduling chip‑seal lane closures and coordinate detours; county staff will pursue permanent repairs to Bridge No. 157 and proceed with filling the authorized highway positions.