Cass County commissioners approve interdepartmental sale, authorize U.S. Marshals housing agreement and routine business

The Cass County Board of Commissioners met and approved routine business, adopted an interdepartmental sale of county equipment and authorized a housing agreement with the U.S. Marshals Service.

The board began the session by approving minutes from March 2, 2026, claims and payroll, and then considered Resolution 2026-04, an interdepartmental sale transferring a 30-year-old bucket truck from the highway department to France Park. The chair introduced the resolution, a motion to accept the resolution was made and seconded, and commissioners voted in favor.

Michael Bowditch of Consolidated Union thanked the board and county department heads and recommended the county maintain its current property and casualty and workers’ compensation placements. "Our recommendation to you is to maintain the relationships," Bowditch said, noting schedule updates, payroll increases and that the county’s property and casualty line is facing "approximately a 4% increase." Commissioners moved to continue the county's insurance placement as presented and approved the recommendation.

The board also authorized county staff to submit two community corrections grants on behalf of Hillary: a Community Corrections Supervision/Home Detention grant and a Residential Work Release grant. A motion to allow grant applications was made, seconded and approved.

In a separate item, the sheriff’s office described final steps in negotiations with the U.S. Marshals Service to house federal inmates in the county facility. Julie, the county’s staff contact on the agreement, told commissioners the agreement had been returned from Washington, D.C., and that negotiated changes had been incorporated. "We do have a finalized version that just got finalized," Julie said, and the board voted to approve the contract as presented, contingent on attorney review and final legal sign-off.

IT director CJ reported on a major email migration that is "99% complete," noted related impacts to desk phones and distribution lists, and summarized election preparation: ballots had been programmed and passed logic-and-accuracy testing on March 6; CJ said ballots will be mailed March 20 and early voting will begin April 7. The county also received a court reform grant that will fund AV upgrades and digital information boards in county courtrooms.

Other agenda items included maintenance and facilities updates from Rocky Ellis — completed stairwell painting, passed elevator inspections, new lighting control modules in the jail and an estimated six-week timeline to finish work at 500 High Street — and monthly EMS and sheriff’s office operational reports covering run counts, transports, arrests and inmate population figures.

The meeting closed after commissioners heard brief updates from park management about field renovations at Aim High Park and noted that reports from broadband and economic development staff had been submitted in absentia. The board adjourned following a unanimous vote.

Votes at a glance
- Approval of minutes (motion): passed (unanimous).
- Approval of claims and payroll (motion): passed (unanimous).
- Resolution 2026-04, interdepartmental sale of bucket truck (motion to accept resolution): passed (unanimous).
- Consolidated Union recommendation to continue insurance placement (motion): passed (unanimous).
- Authorization for Hillary to apply for two community corrections grants (motion): passed (unanimous).
- Approval of housing agreement with U.S. Marshals Service (motion, contingent on attorney review): passed (unanimous).

What’s next
County attorneys will complete final legal review for the U.S. Marshals housing agreement before implementation; election officials will mail ballots March 20 and begin early voting April 7.