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   WALKER — Several recognitions and awards were given during the regular commissioner’s meeting Tuesday, Aug. 5. Board Chair Rick Haaland began the meeting with the recognition of Bethel Adams, Deputy Recorder and Selena Roque, RN/SHIP Coordinator for one year of service and Steve Keranen, Engineering Technician III for 21 years of service. Adams and Roque both were present and recognized with a county pin. 

   Cooper Swartwout, representing Three+One attended the meeting to present the county with the cashVest 90+ Award for receiving a cashVest analysis score of over 90% for four consecutive quarters. 

Swartwout informed the board in October 2023 Cass County entered into an agreement with Three+One  Company to review and analyze financial accounts and investment activities. Three+One uses a cashVest analysis to score the County which is made up of the following five components: % of Funds Providing Value; Liquidity Proficiency; Warnick Rate Indicator® (Measures the rate on all cash earning interest and the rate on the total average cash balances (non-interest and interest-bearing) and then compares those returns to the market benchmarks.); Cashflow Optimization and Investment Policy. The County’s beginning score was valued at 82, with dedication from staff and maximizing investments of all County cash assets the County scores were over 90 for four consecutive quarters. The scores were as follows for quarters one, two, three and four respectively: 92, 93, 93 and 97. 

Chairman Rick Haaland presented Deputy Recorder Bethel Adams for one year of service with Cass County. Photos by Josh Stevenson

Chairman Rick Haaland presented SHIP Coordinator Selena Rogue for one year of service with Cass County. 

Cooper Swartwout from Three+One (pictured left) presented Auditor-Treasurer Lisa Shadick and Dean Deck, Chief Deputy Treasurer/Investment Officer with the cashVest 90+ Award. 

Cass County received a certificate of recognition for leadership and commitment to land conservation during their Aug. 5 meeting. Pictured L to R: Ally Mazurek with Northern Waters Land Trust, Cass County Board Chair Rick Haaland, Carrie Ackerman with Northern Waters Land Trust and Cass County Land Commissioner Mark Gossman.

   The final certificate of recognition was given to Cass County from the Northern Waters Land Trust recognizing the County for their leadership and commitment to land conservation. It was shared Northern Waters Land Trust was able to secure an Outdoor Heritage Fund grant to protect over 8,200 acres across northern Minnesota, with 120 acres being in Cass County. Through this grant Northern Waters Land Trust transferred those acres into county ownership to protect these acres. The goal of Northern Waters Land Trust is to protect and safeguard forested land and to transfer the land into local and tribal government ownership. 

   County Administrator Josh Stevenson reported back to the board regarding the recommendation from the personnel committee in regards to the deferred compensation plan. Commissioner Rusty Lilyquist, during a previous meeting, requested that the personnel committee review the deferred compensation plan to see if the current provider was the best option for employees. After reviewing proposals from Independent Investment Advisors Inc. for Empower and Nationwide, the counties current carrier, the committee determined the current plan was the best option as this is completely optional for employees. Stevenson also stated Nationwide maintains stability, guaranteed returns and minimizes disruption to plan users. The committee also felt it would be difficult to explain why the county switched carriers. A motion was made by Commissioner Bob Kangas and seconded by Commissioner Neal Gaalswyk to remain with Nationwide. The motion passed four to one with Commissioner Lilyquist voting against.

   Health, Human and Veterans Services (HHVS) Cass County Public Health Planner Jamie Richter shared the report from the opioid settlement committee and requested the board approve recommendations from the committee. During the committee meeting a press release on Naloxone, along with a Facebook post, was reviewed with a recommendation to the board to approve. The committee then received notification from the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe declining funding of $50,000 that was allocated for a vehicle for the Community Wellness Recovery Navigator program. It was recommended to the board to retain those funds for Round Three grants.

   The third recommendation from the committee was in regards to opting in for new National Opioid settlements with Purdue Pharma L.P. and Alvogen, Amneal, Apotex, Hikma, Indivior, Mylan, Sun and Zydus. Both settlements have deadlines coming up at the end of September and beginning of October. The final recommendation was the funding of MobileDetect Drug field kits in the amount of $7,030 for the Sheriff’s department. Sheriff Bryan Welk stated this would supply the entire department with the tests coming in a hard case, currently the mobile tests are in a paper bag and can easily be broken. 

   Commissioner Lilyquist made a motion to approve all request, with Commissioner Gaalswyk seconding and the motion passing unanimously.

   In other business, the county board:

   • Heard a report back from the insurance committee and approved a recommendation of MetLife at the vendor for Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (PFMLA) and authorize Human Resources to submit the opt-out application to the State, including the $500 fee, and recommend the following contracts: a.) Short–Term Disability (MetLife through Integrity); b.) Long-Term Disability (Hartford through Integrity); c.)

Supplemental Health Insurance (MetLife through Integrity) d.) Life Insurance (MN Life through Integrity) e.) Vision Insurance (VSP through Integrity) and to explore Medical Plan Coverage Option #2 with Medica and Option #3 with UMR for further review. 

   • Approved the 2025 distribution of the State “in Lieu” payment (PILT) in the amount of $1,870,361.09 and the Wildlife Management Lands distribution in the amount of $125,424.

   • Heard from Richard  Miehe, Minnesota Counties Intergovernmental Trust (MCIT) Risk Management Consultant, with an update on the MCIT program.

   • Approved the land donation of a 40 acre parcel seven miles NW of Longville (parcel 19-020-4300) from Northern Waters Land Trust and spending an amount not to exceed $4,000 to update the abstract and for closing costs.

   • Heard the 2025 Semi-Annual report for the Environmental Services Department, with Environmental Director Jeff Woodford stating permit activity remains high with many ongoing violations around the County and many desiring making their cabin resemble some suburban areas.

   • Approved 2025 budget amendments in the amount of $160,000 for survey work completed by the Highway Department in 2022 and 2023 for the Land Department and was not transferred at the time of completion.

   • Approved additional costs in the amount of $3,127.64 for deferred maintenance projects previously approved during the July 1.

   • Awarded the removal and replacement of the ridge cap at the Land Department Storage Building in Backus to Bunyan & Babe Roofing in the amount of $2,050.

   • Approved solicitation of RFPs from vendors providing engineering, design and oversight of the Health, Human & Veteran Services Building and Courthouse Annex roofing projects.

   • Approved establishing a public hearing for the revocation of County State Aid Highway 27 to Pine River  Township on Tuesday, Sept. 16 beginning at 6 p.m. in Pine River Town Hall.

   • Award the Aggregate Stockpile production contract to TNT Construction Group, LLC for $664,750.

   • Approved an agreement amendment with the Minnesota Department of Transportation updating cost increases due to the delay of the Gull Lake County State Aid Highway 70 project.

   • Authorized the Highway Department to submit an Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act project grant application for the County State Aid Highway 11 culvert replacement project.

   The next meetings are as follows: Citizen Budget Committee of the Board 9 a.m. Friday, Aug. 15 at the Land Department meeting room in Backus; commissioner’s board meeting, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19 at Lakeshore City, 8583 Interlachen Rd, Lake Shore and commissioner’s board meeting, 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5 at the boardroom in the courthouse annex in Walker.

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