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WALKER - Michael McGee, contracting medical examiner for Cass County, reported 97 deaths in the county during 2012.

He accepted 56 cases and released with a private physician responsible for signing the death certificate 41 of those deaths.

Of the cases McGee accepted, he conducted a complete autopsy with toxicology report on 41 people and signed a death certificate without completing an examination on 15.

Of the 97 decedents, 69 died of natural causes, 19 from accidents, five from suicide, two from homicide, one from an undetermined cause and one case was still pending a determination.

In addition to the 97 cases reported to the medical examiner, there were another 68 deaths recorded for people who knew their death was imminent and signed a "terminal registration" paper before their death to cite the cause, such as cancer, and to waive an autopsy.

McGee approved cremation for 129 applicants.

Cass County Board Tuesday approved an updated 2013 schedule of fees county departments charge the public for services. Commissioner Neal Gaalswyk voted against approval, asking for more information about some of the fees.

Cass County received $105,268.51 in 2012 from the amount people pay monthly on their phone bills for Enhance 911 service. From that, the county spent $86,689.46 to purchase or maintain telephone, computer and recording equipment and to update the county's database and mapping system to keep current information about homes and businesses in the county, so emergency services can be dispatched accurately to locations needing services.

Cass will receive $53.614 state funding in 2013 for the county's boat and water safety program.

Health, Human and Veterans Services spent 6.56 percent of the 2013 budget in January or 8.3 percent of the year. Out-of-home child placement costs were higher in January this year than in 2012.

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