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   WALKER— Cass County Board of Commissioners met Tuesday, Feb. 3 for their regular meeting with a brief agenda. Cass County Economic Development Corporation Mike Paulus came before the board with a request to support a revolving loan fund request. 

   Paulus shared that Hannah and Doug Putt have filled out a Revolving Loan Fund for Community Property Development application in the amount of $128,142 to assist in the redevelopment of the former Lodge Restaurant on the south edge of Walker into a much needed daycare/learning center. It was also stated the center would be capable of looking after 44 children and after the announcement of the future opening of this facility there is 31 children on the waiting list. Therefore, it is notable there is quite a demand for this service. 

   Paulus also mentioned as of to date the revolving loan has a cash balance of $276,894 after funding four loans. The account total of the $1M loan the county has available after repayments have begun is $1,044,904.86. Commissioners Neal Gaalswyk and Rick Haaland motioned and seconded to support the request, with the motion approved unanimously. 

      In other business, the county board: 

   • Recognized Ashlee Crawford, Dispatcher, for one year of service with Cass County.

   • Approved the 2025-2026 Truancy Intervention-Collaborative Response between the County Attorney’s Office, County Probation and Health, Human and Veterans Services.

   • Approved an agreement with Smoky Hollow Township for tree clearing on South Little Thunder Dr NE in conjunction with the County Road 161 reconstruction project.

   The next meetings are as follows: Commissioner’s board meeting, 9 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20 at the Land Department meeting room in Backus, commissioner’s board meeting, 9 a.m. Tuesday, Mar. 3 at the boardroom in the courthouse annex in Walker and AMC Leadership Summit beginning at Noon, Wednesday, Mar. 25 through Thursday, Mar. 26 at Grand View Lodge, Nisswa.

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