BACKUS – County Probation Officer Rachel Deck was honored with the Rookie of the Year award at the Minnesota Association of County Probation Officers annual conference.
Probation Officer Jim Schneider shared the news with members of the Cass County Board during its regular meeting on Tuesday, August 6.
The award is given to a probation officer who has demonstrated great potential and professionalism early in his or her career and who demonstrates a strong desire to learn on the job, participates in a variety of training opportunities, displays enthusiasm and a positive attitude, and works collaboratively with other more experienced probation officers. Deck is currently assigned to supervise clients in the Cass County/Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Wellness Court.
Commissioners heard from resident Allen Lysdahl about a grassroots movement he started called “One County One Senator One Minnesota.” The reason for this movement is because not all counties in Minnesota have a vote in the Minnesota Senate. Lysdahl wants each county to have only one state senator; so all counties, especially the rural counties, have one vote, he said. Currently, Lysdahl is attending county council meetings to share his information and gain support.
Brooke Remer, County 4-H Extension Educator, told commissioners about the unique experience of the 2023-2024 4-H membership and County Fair participants in Cass County. Remer mentioned that the dog training program within 4-H has been moved to Cass County in 2022, where it has its own program, rather than sharing it with Crow Wing County. The first year there were seven participants. Last year there were 14 participants and this year there are 16.
Remer said the total membership in Cass County is 140, with 74 new members joining during the year. There are eight community clubs and three recurring afterschool and summer programs supported by 31 volunteers in Cass County, she said. At this year’s fair, 67 of those members presented 587 exhibits judged, 27 of which were first-time exhibits. That’s 250 more exhibits than last year. Remer also said the State Dog Show was recently held and another 66 exhibits were judged.
Remer said of the projects completed at the county fair, 26 youth will compete at the Minnesota State Fair: seven youth will do general projects, seven youth will show horses at the State Horse Show, four youth will show dogs at the State Dog Show and eight youth will compete in the regional livestock show.
After seeing pictures of farm animals during the presentation, board president Neal Gaalswyk asked if 4-H offered a large veterinary science project. He said it was difficult to find a veterinarian who cared for large animals in the area or was willing to travel to help them. Remer said Dr. Kyle Adkins of Country Doc Veterinary Clinic has helped teach youth about small animals, but currently they do not offer anything for larger farm animals. This could be a growth area and they will have to see if there is interest among youth, Gaalswyk said.
In other matters, the County Council:
Recognition for the following employees for a year of service. All of them were unable to attend: Brian Buhmann, HHVS Director; Ashley Johnson, Assessor-Accountant II; Jenna Marlett, Authorization Officer; and Erin Mayer, Prison Guard.
Heard a report from the Human Resources Committee meeting, approved the hiring of two additional District Agency Social Workers and approved the ongoing maintenance proposal from DDA Human Resources Inc.
Heard a report from the Opioid Settlement Committee meeting and approved public health registration with the Naloxone Portal through the Minnesota Department of Health to receive free over-the-counter naloxone for distribution to community members, including those released from a Cass County correctional facility. They will also issue a press release for National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day on August 21 and International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31: Together, we can support the four-box pilot project with the purchase of rebreather masks from the Opioid Settlement Fund and fill the boxes with naloxone from the MDH Naloxone Portal.
Adopted by 3 votes to 1with the objection of Commissioner Jeff Peterson, the Cass County Department of Natural Resources acquired a conservation easement under the Forests for the Future program to protect private forest lands using funds from the Reinvestment in Minnesota program.
Approved a land swap in Section 29, Township 137, Area 31 between tax-forfeited property and property owned by Julie M. Madison Trustee after no comments were received during the public hearing.
Debriefing With respect to McAllister Trucking MSW and Recycling’s request to modify its contract by increasing the mileage rate, the Board moved to refer the request to the Board’s Solid Waste Committee for further discussion.
A cost-sharing agreement approved with Hubbard County for the reconstruction of County Highway 83.
Receive the order for the reconstruction and paving of Country Highway 83 to Kern & Tabery Inc. for $1,059,204.89.
Receive the order for grading and paving Country Road 116 to Anderson Brothers Construction for $1,486,669.92.
An offer approved from Anderson Brothers Construction in the amount of $81,042 to reconstruct the westbound approach from County State Aid Highway 36 to Trunk Highway 210.
The next dates are as follows: Board of Commissioners meeting on August 20 at 6:00 p.m. at May Township City Hall, 5834 112th St. SW, Pillager; and Board of Commissioners meeting on September 3 at 9:00 a.m. in the Courtroom in the Court Annex in Walker.