Cass County Board: Voter turnout lower than previous mid-term elections

   WALKER —  Cass County Commissioners heard an update regarding election day voting and the canvassing of votes at the regular board meeting on Thursday, Dec. 8. Elections Administrator Pam Smith reported turnout was a little lower than the previous mid-term election with a voter turn-out of 68.8%.

   Smith stated a total of 909 voters were processed on election day at the courthouse counter, with the majority of them voting in-person in protest to receiving a mail ballot. With this unexpected amount of voters, the staff discontinued processing ballots in order to assist voters at the counter. This process sped up the wait time, and alleviated already irritated voters becoming more upset. Therefore, the processing of ballots was delayed until after 8 p.m., which delayed Cass County’s results being reported to the State.

   Smith also reported a canvassing of votes was conducted, which is done by a random draw of two townships and votes are manually counted. Maple Township and Crooked Lake Township were drawn, with both counts remaining the same. It was also stated, that the State of Minnesota does a random draw and also drew Crooked Lake Township which consists of a more in depth review and recount for all elected officials. A Resolution to establish polling places annually was then adopted by the board, along with accepting the Election Security Grant (phase 2) in the amount of $4,286.94. Smith stated the county has until 2027 to spend the money and she is currently working with Central Services Director Tom Buhl to identify any potential security gaps.

   Board members also heard from Veterans Service Officer Kristy Smart regarding a newsletter the department plans on sending out to all registered Veterans within the county. Information in this newsletter will inform area Veterans of programs available to them along with contact information and hours for the Cass County Veterans Service Office. Smart stated she decided to create this newsletter in hopes of reaching area Veterans and inform them of any changes that have happened over the past year that they may be unaware of. Commissioner Jeff Peterson asked if Smart was planning on distributing some to area Legions also, which she replied by saying “I am now”. Commissioner Neal Gaalswyk also asked how the “Operation Green Light” program went, with Smart responding that the County buildings were both illuminated and with area newspapers spreading the word a few other places replaced their bulbs in participation as well.

   The truth in taxation meeting was held at 6 p.m. with a few members of the public showing up for the meeting. During the meeting Chief Financial Officer Sandra Norikane provided a summary of the 2023 budget process and provided proposed 2023 fee schedule changes. After Norikane provided her summary one member of the public asked a question regarding the valuation of their property and expressed concern regarding how much their property taxes increased and was hard for tax payers on a fixed income to pay the higher evaluations. 

   The 2023 Cass County levy and budget will be discussed and adopted at the next regular board meeting.

   In other business, the county board:

   • Reviewed the Committee Application Status which will be updated at the first meeting in January.

   • Adopted a resolution approving an Active Transportation grant application for the second segment of the Fairview trail which will range in the amount of $50,000 to $500,000.

   • Approved the 2022 Emergency Operations and MNWALK Plans.

   • Approved the final payment to Anderson Brothers Construction Co. in the amount of $$3,540,122.99 for the contract work on County State Aid Highways 14, 42, 43 and 79.

   The next meetings are as follows: Commissioner’s board meeting, 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20, at the Land Department meeting room in Backus and commissioner’s board meeting, 9 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023 at the boardroom in the courthouse annex in Walker.