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   WALKER— Board Chair Neal Gaalswyk presented the Award of Excellence to Probation Office Michelle Nistler during the Cass County Board meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 1.

   Probation Director Jim Schneider informed the board the Probation department and Cass County Judges felt Nistler was an excellent candidate for this award due to her outstanding service and contributions to the County and its citizens. Schneider stated Nistler initially began her employment in the department as an office manager. She then went back to college and obtained a degree in criminal justice, where she then became a probation officer. In 2022, the probation office absorbed supervision of all gross misdemeanors that were previously shared with the Minnesota Department of Corrections, and Nistler’s case load grew the most within the department. With the support of her family she put in extra work to manage the additional work. Schneider stated Nistler is a well-deserving candidate due to her passion, work ethic and kindness.

   Don Hickman, Vice President for Community & Workforce Development with Initiative Foundation presented an update to the commissioners. Initiative Foundation helps people throughout central Minnesota by investing in the local community. Hickman shared with the board during 2023 there was a Minnesota Main Street Revitalization program through the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) which Pine River received $425,500. The Minnesota Main Street Revitalization Program provides for 30 percent matching grants and guaranteed loans for economic and redevelopment needs that have arisen since the March 2020 onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hickman stated, with businesses having or securing the remaining 70 percent of funding. Hickman was happy to inform the board all of the money Pine River businesses were allocated has been awarded.

   Hickman also shared information where the Initiative Foundation worked with DEED to secure a $150,000 grant to provide paid internships for electrician training in the Cass Lake area. The grant has provided training assistance to 18 individuals who will work with Habitat for Humanity now and into the future. This is greatly appreciated by the Cass Lake area as a recent study found that approximately 50% of residents are housing insecure.

   Kristy Smart, Veterans Service Officer requested the board approve a resolution designating the week of Veteran’s day as a time to salute and honor the service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform transitioning from active service by displaying green lights in all County buildings throughout Cass County. Cass County has been honoring and supporting Veterans for the past two years with Operation Green Light and Smart also handed out green light bulbs during the meeting to those in attendance to replace one of their bulbs to show support. Any resident wishing to show support can pick up a green light bulb at the Cass County Health Human & Veterans Services building or other locations throughout the county. The resolution was passed unanimously. 

   In other business, the county board:

   • Recognized Larry and Cheri Westphal as Farm Family of the year.

   • Approved 2025 Insurance Option C with a $200 monthly core benefit increase, which will be split equally between the county and employee.

   • Approved various Opioid grant applications; the reopening of the Opioid Settlement Fund applications; pay mileage reimbursement to presenters that is not covered by other sources; purchase of refreshments at the Opioid Epidemic forum and purchase Deterra 400 medium pouches for remote medication disposal.

   • Approved the Professional Services Agreeement with LEAST Services/Counseling, LLC.

   • Approved the updated Truancy Intervention-Collaborative Response plan.

   • Heard from Lieutenant Jail Administrator Chris Thompson regarding the yearly jail inspection report, stating all compliance issues have been resolved.

   • Approved County Engineer Darrick Anderson to submit requests to Minnesota Department of Transportation to complete and Engineering and Traffic Investigation Study on county highways.

   • Approved a contract with SafeAssure to provides OSHA Compliance/Safety needs for all County Departments in the amount of $9,824.08.

   • Received the Cass County Long-Range Transportation plan.

   The next meetings are as follows: Commissioner’s board meeting 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15 at the Land Department meeting room in Backus; AMC District 2 meeting 8 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16 at the Beltrami County board room, 701 Minnesota Ave NW, Ste 102, Bemidji and commissioner’s board meeting 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5 at the Land Department meeting room in Backus.

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