Cass County Board OKs Opioid Settlement Fund application

Cass County Commissioners met June 18 at Salem Township Town Hall near Remer as part of the board’s summer “road tour” schedule.

Cass County Public Health Planner Jaime Richter asked the Board to approve the Opioid Settlement Fund application as amended, the Opioid Abatement Strategies by Sector Guide, the Press Release Opioid Settlement Fund application as amended and the Opioid Settlement application Scoring Guide and to allocate up to $50,000 for medications related to Medication for Opioid Use Disorder through Dec. 31.

This was based on survey results from community groups, the public and local health professionals about how best to use the $3.1 million that Cass expects to receive over the next 18 years. The current balance is $520,000 with another $470,000 expected this year.

Board Chair Neal Gaalswyk noted that this was “Big Pharma” money, not levy dollars, and that it is important to spend it wisely.

According to the Department of Health, Cass County had 15 overdose deaths in 2022, including four non-residents. If approved, the process to apply for Opioid Grant Funds will be posted on the county website. The goal is to fund projects in Cass County that will have a high impact, particularly on communities disproportionately hit by the opioid crisis.

Cass County Economic Development Corporation Director Mike Paulus asked for approval of a revolving loan fund of $150,000 from KNE Breilly Townhomes, LLC, Kadie Ellestad.

The current owners of the Walker Motel would like to use the loan to renovate the Lakeview Hotel into rental properties, including some short-term rentals. They propose charging $675 a month, with 14 units to rent. Following some discussion the motion was approved.

Health, Human and Veterans Services Director Brian Buhmann requested approval of the Statewide Affordable Housing Grant application totaling $112,000 in 2024, with recommendations of $37,000 per application (three total). Several board members suggested that figure might not be enough for some projects and adjusted it to two awards of $56,000 each. This would be a reimbursement grant paid upon receipt of approved expenses.

Turning to a topic discussed at a previous meeting, Sheriff Bryan Welk asked the board not to spend funds on acquiring the BiCAP building in Backus. A needs assessment determined that the facility did not meet the needs for future storage of Sheriff’s Office evidence and training requirements.

Cass County Administrator Josh Stephenson added that renovating existing basement facilities at the current facility would make more sense, especially if needed repairs are already budgeted for, and could be tailored to fit the Sheriff’s Office needs. The motion not to purchase the BiCAP building was approved.

Highway Engineer Derek Anderson emphasized the urgent need for new gravel sources and asked for approval of a contract with the Chippewa National Forest (CNF), authorizing the county engineer to sign on the Board’s behalf.

Working with CNF, the Highway Department has identified CNF property west of an existing gravel pit on Highway 6 near Thunder Lake. The agreement allows the county to enter the property, construct a crushing pad and create a 10,000 cubic yard gravel pile for use on county gravel roads at no cost, in exchange for grading improvements to the access road and crushing pad.

CNF also agreed to allow the county to extract future gravel in addition to the 10,000 cubic yard for $1.25 cubic yard, which is at least half the price of what the county typically pays.

As an update, Anderson reported that the parking lot at the Highway Department has been paved after several rain delays.

The Board agreed to replenish the fund balance assigned for compensated absences by $299,000, from the General Fund unassigned fund balance, as recommended by Chief Financial Officer Becky Toso. This is necessary to keep the assigned balance for compensated absences up to 80 percent of the 2023 year-end compensated absences liability, due to hourly wage increases.

The annual Planning Work Session was held recently at Deep Portage, and the next Board meeting will be July 2, 9 a.m. in the Commissioners Board Room at the Courthouse in Walker.