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   BACKUS — Cass County Sheriff Bryan Welk delivered his annual report Tuesday, Feb. 17, to the Cass County Board. During the annual report, Sheriff Welk stated 18,926 calls for service were handled which was slightly down from 2024 calls with calls continuing a downward trend. The trend of calls received from cellular phones continues to increase with 48,326 being received in that manner and only 1,585 received from a landline. Weekends continue to be the busiest days and Wednesdays being the slowest day for calls. The most calls continue to be between 3-9 p.m. with 5-8 p.m. being the peak, with weekdays continuing to be just as busy as weekends.

   The processing of gun permits continued to rise during 2025, with the department processing 392 permit to purchase applications and 792 new permit to carry applications. Unfortunately, Sheriff Welk reported, there has been a significant increase in scam and fraud related calls. It was noted not all are even being conducted by phone anymore.  One in particular was with an elderly adult where they cashed in their retirement and supposedly purchased gold coins from an individual. 

   Overdose-related medical calls and deaths, mainly due to use of fentanyl, is continuing to be seen across the region. Sheriff Welk shared that narcan was noted to be used/administered on a total of 12 calls during 2025. Although this is down from the previous year, Sheriff Welk knows that it was used more than documented. It was also noted that the department conducted 20 arrests from their narcotic investigations which resulted in 18 warrant arrests, $4,582 in US currency seized and 12 firearms seized.

   Sheriff Welk also shared an update on the departments K9 unit. Currently the department has two K9’s which are both nearing retirement age. However, K9 Ryker was deployed 16 times during 2025 and K9 Ranger was deployed 13 times with those deployments consisting of eleven narcotic searches, six tracks of fleeing suspects, five article searches, two tracks for missing individuals and one area search.

   For a complete list of calls and to learn more about the sheriff’s programs, see the full sheriff’s report at www.casscountymn.gov. 

   Public Health Planner Jamie Richter reported back regarding recommendations from the Opioid Settlement Committee of the Board. A recommendation was made to the board to elect not to fund the Round 3 Opioid Settlement Fund Application 3.10 Northern Minnesota Addiction Wellness Center application as written and recommend the applicant submit an alternate application for consideration. The alternate application would include a proposal for treatment curriculum and training only, as salary requested would require proof it was not a duplication of funds received from client reimbursements in residential treatment and part of the medical care required to provide. Also to elect not to fund the 3.9: Leech Lake Addiction and Dependency- Harm Reduction Maintenance and Initial Intake Specialist application as written and recommend the applicant submit an alternate application for consideration that provides additional information on how the harm reduction machine will be used and capacity to conduct comprehensive assessments from the initial intake specialist. Commissioner Neal Gaalswyk stated he appreciated that the decisions were not outright denials, but part of a collaborative approach designed to strengthen applications and ensure opioid settlement funds are used responsibly. 

   In other business, the county board:

   • Recognized Cass County Highway Department for receiving the American Council of Engineering Consultants Grant award for the County State Aid Highway 70 reconstruction project in East Gull Lake.

   • Approved the three-year contract with Local #49 Operating Engineers with 3% cost-of-living adjustment, 3% step increases, adding step 11 to the salary grade table and longevity at five years of service.

   • Approved the Intersection Control Evaluation for Minnesota State Highway 371 and County State Aid Highway 2/ County State Aid Highway 42 in Pine River. This evaluation recommended a round-a-bout at that intersection with construction 

   The next meetings are as follows: Commissioner’s board meeting, 9 a.m. Tuesday, Mar. 3 at the boardroom in the courthouse annex in Walker and commissioner’s board meeting, 9 a.m. Tuesday, Mar. 17 at the Land Department meeting room in Backus.

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