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   WALKER— Cass County Board of Commissioners met Tuesday, Mar. 3 for their regular meeting with the main agenda being restructuring committee appointments with the recent and untimely Commissioner vacancy. County Administrator Josh Stevenson presented all open positions to the board with individual Commissioners volunteering for those vacated positions. One vacated position the board had to appoint was for the Association of Minnesota Counties Policy Committee. It was stated that each Commissioner currently sits on a Policy Committee and during the annual meeting and all committees meet at the same time. Therefore, Commissioner Neal Gaalswyk motioned to appoint Highway Engineer Darrick Anderson to the Transportation and Infrastructure Policy Committee. With this being a meeting Anderson already attends it made sense to appoint him as the voting delegate. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Rick Haaland and approved unanimously.

   Election Administrator Pam Smith came before the Board requesting they adopt a resolution Declaring a Vacancy in the Office of County Commissioner District 3 and providing for a special election due to the death of the late Commissioner Rusty Lilyquist. It was shared if more than one year remains during the term the State requires a special election be held. Lilyquist’s term was set to expire Jan. 8, 2029, therefore, a special election to fill the unexpired term is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026 during the general election. Smith stated by holding the election at this time it will minimize costs to the county and will also maximize voter participation. 

   Filing for the office will open Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 8 a.m. and close Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 5 p.m. Filings will be accepted at the County Auditor–Treasurer Recorder’s Office in Walker. If necessary, a special primary election will be held Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026.

   North Memorial Health EMS Relationship Specialist Kevin Lee was on hand to share the Longville ambulance fourth quarter report. Lee stated volumes were higher than the budgeted amount with 389 patients needing medical assistance. Unfortunately, fourth quarter revenues remained unfavorable by $104,000 due to decreased revenue per run and the 2025 State Emergency Aid Funding that had not been received yet. It was stated that funding was received in January of 2026. Lee stated the fourth quarter expenses were favorable by $17,000 due to a budgeted engine replacement not being conducted, but instead a new ambulance being purchased. Therefore, depreciation was unfavorable with there being two new ambulances in Longville.

   It was also noted Brainerd was the location where most patients choose to be transported during 2025 with Crosby being the second highest choice. Lee also shared they are now able to share response times with the board. It was noted that North Memorial response times for 10 minutes or less was 28.38%; 20 minutes or less was 70.27% and 30 minutes or less was 90.54%. This will be now be shared each quarter with the board.

   Lee also mentioned the last time a subsidy increase was requested was back in 2023 in order to meet a 10% margin goal. With the entity consistently not meeting the margin goal and funding from the State being reduced in 2026 and possibly being the same in 2027, Lee stated a request for a subsidy increase may happen in 2027. 

   Stevenson also mentioned to the board a similar report would be presented to the Walker Ambulance District Board during their April 17 meeting and it was stated Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe (LLBO) voluntarily paid the entire 2026 year amount of $43,000 in January. Stevenson stated “this payment allowed the District to make their ambulance garage building insurance payment to MCIT. It also provided funds to pay for building repairs until the first tax payments are distributed to the District in July. Without this voluntary help from LLBO, the District would have needed an operating loan from a local bank to cover expenses. We are grateful for our relationship with the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe.”

      In other business, the county board: 

   • Recognized Autumn Stein, County Agency Social Worker, for one year of service with Cass County.

   • Heard a report back from the Opioid Settlement Committee and approved the following applications: Walker Hackensack Akeley School District for $10,000 from the

Round 2 allocated funds for prevention to deliver the Education on Cannabis Use and Substance Use model

school programs in Cass County School Districts; $3,667.90 for Leech Lake Tribal Police to purchase MobileDetect Drug Field Kits for Law Enforcement and allocate funding for all costs associated with the Public Health Planner participating in the Opioid Settlement Strategies Summit and presenting information on the Medication for Opioid Use Disorder in the Cass County Detention Center.

   The next meetings are as follows: Commissioner’s board meeting, 9 a.m. Tuesday, Mar. 17 at the Land Department meeting room in Backus, commissioner’s board meeting, 9 a.m. Tuesday, Apr. 7 at the boardroom in the courthouse annex in Walker and Walker Ambulance Service District board meeting, 2 p.m. Friday, Apr. 17 at the boardroom in the courthouse annex in Walker.

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