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   WALKER — Minnesota Woman, Infants and Children (WIC) clinics continue to operate, while the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) may see a pause in benefits according to Health, Human and Veterans Service Director Brian Buhmann during the regular commissioner board meeting Tuesday, Nov. 4.

   Buhmann shared with the board the WIC program received funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Tariff revenue to assist in continuing benefits and clinics through mid-November. However, if the Federal Government shutdown continues and no more funding is secured, approximately 450 families in Cass County could see their WIC benefits stop. Buhmann stated the SNAP program currently serves approximately 3200 individuals, with 1100 being children and 575 senior citizens. It was noted the program has $500 Billion nationwide which will fund only 50% of November benefits. However, at the time of the meeting Cass County had yet to receive any of this funding in order to begin loading EBT cards.

   One other program Buhmann mentioned to the commissioners was the Minnesota Family Investment Plan (MFIP) which is a combination of food benefits and cash benefits to individuals. It was stated the food benefits of this program has been discontinued, but the cash benefits will continue. These cash benefits assist approximately 900 individuals in Cass County, 250 adults and 642 children, with the purchase of diapers, paying for utilities and rent and any other necessities. 

   All updates regarding any of these programs will be posted on the Cass County’s website (casscountymn.gov) along with the HHVS website (www.casscountymn.gov/1240/Health-Human-Veterans-Services-HHVS).

   Cass County Highway Engineer Darrick Anderson requested the board set a public hearing on Dec. 2, during the regular meeting, in regards to extending the half-percent Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) through April 2046. Initially the LOST tax was established in April 2016 and was a ten year resolution. Therefore, the board needs to hold a public hearing to discuss extending the tax. Anderson shared LOST generates approximately $3 million annually which assists in the funding of the improvement of roads. When LOST was initially established within the State there was a limited list of roads the tax could be used for, but currently the list has been extended to include most county owned roads.

   Anderson also informed the board there were possible other tax options, however these would affect local citizens more than all citizens using the roads in the area. A motion was made by Commissioner Neal Gaalswyk with a second by Commissioner Bob Kangas to establish a public hearing on Tues., Dec. 2 during the regular meeting held at 3 p.m. and was approved unanimously.

   In other business, the county board:

   • Recognized Ty Anderson for one year of service as shop mechanic.

   • Recognized Mark Peterson for receiving an award from the Minnesota Association of Assessing Officers for 35 years of service.

   • Adopted a resolution nominating Steve Barrows, Dist. 3 Crow Wing County Commissioner, to the Sourcewell Board of Directors to serve a four-year term.

   • Established the Truth in Taxation Public Hearing – 2026 Budget and Cass County Fee Schedule, effective January 1, 2026, to be held December 2, 2025, beginning at 6:00 PM in the Commissioner’s Board Room.

   • Approved Cass County becoming the sponsoring agency on the Shingobee Township application for Local Road Improvement Program funds to help fund their East Ottertail Road NW and Townhall Road NW improvement project.

  •  Approved final payment to RJ Zavoral and Sons, Inc. in the amount of $6,438,313.55 for road work on County State Aid Highways 15, 18 and 77 and County Road 168 in Lake Shore and East Gull Lake.

   • Approved final payment to Young Excavating Inc in the amount of $1,019,791.68 for the reconstruction of County State Aid Highway 203 in Backus.

   The next meetings are as follows: commissioner’s board meeting 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18 at the Land Department meeting room in Backus and commissioner’s board meeting 3 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2 with a public hearing for the Cass County fee schedule, budget and property tax levy beginning at 6 p.m. and the Walker Ambulance Service District public hearing for the budget and property tax levy beginning at 7 p.m. all to be held in the board room in the courthouse annex in Walker.

 

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