[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6248318,"mediaKeyId","3211445-02e504b5d1b9ea4e746c911ad8748995","parentId",3211445,"title","Cass County secures $65,000 for McMillan Dam design; hazardous‑waste event fills three semis and more county updates","audioSeconds",195,"startMs",2490000,"endMs",2685000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3211445-02e504b5d1b9ea4e746c911ad8748995&start=2490&end=2685","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3211445-02e504b5d1b9ea4e746c911ad8748995/thumbnail_2490000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6248318/Cass-County/Michigan/Cass-County-secures-65000-for-McMillan-Dam-design-hazardouswaste-event-fills-three-semis-and-more-county-updates","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6248318-d26be727f2d7e23f78e72d14fef0a735/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140960&Signature=EQdbbZnKpCMplUf8KwKRRcg-5i0xlQ-JNcMxxFXTSNrJb0HjfVELCOcfpk~d-ebGEls5X1YPRSQY8mZGYf2Kou91IT6R1S4~iIwXGcYMH6EzfSzCqt-yEUyg7~1bqbLDUfrG3JOK7D6kR-4IyagWWxPYnEsASsKawIAuEpiT8jJuDiZiGtqr0DKztX7z5vvq4VoIUwZKXrktFPc6jtG1QG4pUD9BhYcjKKEZ~s30LXR4zEY0au3og2tw9m66SGV1EeebI-tNF2KRQ9Tt6Ums1Gr4~DxCXfOqClQcBmArChGFpu359Wu1uoesGPlJYDCHfac6ZjUfxisjCJ~EwzplmQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cass County Michigan","date","2025-05-02T09:42:06Z","article","The county drain commissioner reported that the county secured a $65,000 grant to pay for design and engineering work to remove the McMillan Dam at Lawrence Road in Molina Township. The commissioner said the grant money is already earmarked, the county will provide the required local match from existing funds, and officials are working through engineering plans that are expected to include step pools and stone work as part of removal. The commissioner said actual dam removal will require a larger, separate grant but expressed confidence county staff could obtain removal funding if the final design is not exceptionally costly and that the dam is county‑owned so the county can take it off the inventory once removed.

In a separate report commissioners said the county hazardous‑waste, used‑electronics and tire collection event was a major success: organizers filled three semis with tires, two dumpsters with used electronics, and a large semi with hazardous waste items; more than 300 vehicles attended between about 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Officials listed dozens of staff, volunteers and partners involved and announced the next collection date as Sept. 24, 2025 at the same location.

The drain commissioner also noted that county GIS published 2024 aerial imagery and encouraged commissioners and constituents to compare 2019 and 2024 images online.

Separately, the county clerk announced new county directories covering four‑year commissioner terms and a free property‑fraud alert service for anything recorded in the register of deeds. The clerk gave the sign‑up website (www.propertyfraudalert.com) and an 800 number to register for text or email alerts when documents are recorded under an individual's name.

Ending: Commissioners thanked staff and volunteers for the hazardous‑waste event and were encouraged to share the property‑fraud alert and county directory information with constituents.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Cass County Regular Board of Commissioners Meeting 2025-05-01","oneSentenceSummary","The county drain commissioner reported that the county secured a $65,000 grant to pay for design and engineering work to remove the McMillan Dam at Lawrence Road in Molina Township.","taxTitle","Cass County, Michigan","taxId",63751,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6248323,"Commissioners revise wording on tax‑reverted property item and unanimously approve one‑time vote for items M‑60 through M‑70",1283,725000,2008000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3211445-02e504b5d1b9ea4e746c911ad8748995&start=725&end=2008","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3211445-02e504b5d1b9ea4e746c911ad8748995/thumbnail_725000.jpg","/articles/6248323/Cass-County/Michigan/Commissioners-revise-wording-on-taxreverted-property-item-and-unanimously-approve-onetime-vote-for-items-M60-through-M70","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6248323-41f7e6d78b2226e9e07a6122e08ea701/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140960&Signature=VotvXO1vKRuC1uw0Iglf-RDaWAyMeiWwuh0lUTlUjByPt3G6dgyU0XMZ2m5JUKW~xYQl2wMRcdW4jT3J9VVmrlzp2WCtHVCIiyFMG3S7F-4eTu38kSuhJyNBoEcs2c3jMfvD42iKRqR3BLxVoCEHzgKkgl2PjJH-hfNlCgCNTkRNU35DVITXn2pswFAY-e-m5DTet~VGxhxqkQnHuVgCTh7ClXcblwU2n7JDZ-WfyGgYSCpLbCfFz6mXQl-VwNjkSdqzDvOPTM-97iywWKNbcu5Ctg--DkHJsaZunpIRnDk5DCl7I5yawbbvFWXfmvri5pNtNmW2EL6hWk28YjDhGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chair Jones asked that the board amend the wording of agenda item M‑65‑2025 so it reads \"decline purchase of any property on the 2025 tax reverted property report\" and indicated that the item should be moved from the consent agenda to new business for the revised wording.

Commissioner Langley moved to approve the agenda and the motion passed on an oral vote. Later in the meeting Vice Chair Lawrence moved that items M‑60 through M‑70 (2025) be handled with a single, one‑time vote; the motion was seconded and a roll call recorded all eight commissioners voting \"yes.\" The roll call recorded votes from Commissioner Langley, Commissioner Lawrence, Commissioner Northrop, Chair Jones, Commissioner Grice, Commissioner Barrera, Commissioner Marchetti and Commissioner Lee.

Ending: The board proceeded with the amended agenda and the one‑time vote outcome was recorded by roll call as unanimous approval for the grouped items.","At the meeting Chair Jones requested changing the wording on item M‑65‑2025 to state 'decline purchase of any property on the 2025 tax reverted property report' and the board approved taking a one‑time vote for M‑60 through M‑70 (2025) by roll call (8–0).",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6248328,"MSU Extension interim director: 1,100 Cass County participants in 2024, 656 youth in 4‑H; program wins national award",421,1259000,1680000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3211445-02e504b5d1b9ea4e746c911ad8748995&start=1259&end=1680","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3211445-02e504b5d1b9ea4e746c911ad8748995/thumbnail_1259000.jpg","/articles/6248328/Cass-County/Michigan/MSU-Extension-interim-director-1100-Cass-County-participants-in-2024-656-youth-in-4H-program-wins-national-award","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6248328-d68facb26583884d28eb570750e18773/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140960&Signature=XnYHzynv7U5Lq0Omkt5lrOLDS3-PuKjN19v-eAGPTEYRPrNI6G1kMUVz~YsTKSCzVJtB~5DXO0jgd-P1Eo4UvacmWGJ0tpDYFtpDMmHxOFq7qysHUJmTjH0F1PYBkJlbq-nxjrni4PTi9g431UjvH4VRCD07JZVle83qud~ZxFL06OHb9UpThTrg1wy2n9qPDM~fdxP7SQ5WZ9eQW5MsqEqfH~HeotvreoOslNrbyJKccDpi~Ghxf6U4DTll0Ta3n4FoRC-KlRoBmUyLIZeu5V7k1lCOtK2GJFtzra6eoMs7CMabPgzw7UL3lDpBBAETp4SPYzitQvZFfiEmLlvZ2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kai Gritter, interim district director for MSU Extension, presented the 2024 annual report to the Cass County Board of Commissioners, saying roughly 1,100 Cass County residents participated in Extension programs last year and the county funds office support equivalent to about 1.5 full‑time employees.

Gritter said Cass County residents used about 242 statewide programs, 57 programs were conducted in the county, and 79 volunteers supported local programming — primarily through 4‑H. He said 656 youth were enrolled in Cass County 4‑H programs. Gritter acknowledged county funding for an office support position and a 4‑H program coordinator as central to sustaining local delivery.

Gritter introduced colleagues including Nora Lee, community nutrition instructor, and an Extension staff member identified as John who described the national award for the Extension’s demand series. John said the demand series focuses on business and financial decisionmaking for farmers and that the program won a national award at the agents’ conference. He outlined planned expansions: a self‑paced online introduction to grain marketing, expanded hands‑on and in‑person programming (a pilot in Van Buren County open to Cass County participants), and future materials on livestock, insurance and marketing to help producers with cost‑of‑production and revenue planning.

Gritter emphasized health and nutrition programming delivered locally (citing 630 youth and adults reached by Health & Nutrition Institute offerings) and noted that four Cass County zoning administrators completed a zoning administrator certificate program offered through Extension; Gritter named Commissioner Marchetti as one participant. He encouraged commissioners and residents to use the Extension’s free programs and distributed printed strategic‑direction materials.

Ending: Commissioners asked clarifying questions about volunteer counts and the interim director said the 79 volunteers figure is for Cass County; statewide volunteer totals are larger.","Kai Gritter, interim district director for MSU Extension, told Cass County commissioners that about 1,100 county residents participated in Extension programs in 2024, 656 youth are enrolled in 4‑H, the county funds 1.5 FTE locally, and the Extension's demand series won a national award.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6248333,"Cass County veterans administrator: office secured $5,071,929.92 in benefits over four years; FY24 grant reduced",405,802000,1207000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3211445-02e504b5d1b9ea4e746c911ad8748995&start=802&end=1207","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3211445-02e504b5d1b9ea4e746c911ad8748995/thumbnail_802000.jpg","/articles/6248333/Cass-County/Michigan/Cass-County-veterans-administrator-office-secured-507192992-in-benefits-over-four-years-FY24-grant-reduced","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6248333-ff501337dcae979882445e0785e99f2b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140960&Signature=LbDBVkfzfm5ZycdxTj0X5UFbv7AP0bBlmo9uPZ1Og~muBUm2UWLulmSWcrIQeetBNyrOmCIDacTisz~2U6kdfLzbKhC2WIVmRUc6VTMcUq15sTiva9Ifp9Qoe9L7XHPnBxI8YsBitOQBFT4iwme2mLqyXfmL4ECtJvjmkEd4gdJwoqqK0enpppp07KtOPuZhiRdsRrn3XCT7exMCtymOpuI9oKgVj9BWji2~6ak6pM6SXNkUIhAJuIdURQnQquMrTYbU~hXt6cV4aUPocPVT2g04RFdCecCPEkNSVNN~iMcWopbPyRdbBqtsk1UJVOtSP675njpzMmajKQhX17ynig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The county veterans administrator told the Cass County Board of Commissioners that the office has helped veterans, widows and widowers obtain $5,071,929.92 in benefits over the past four years and that the office’s fiscal‑year 2024 grant award was reduced by $21,043 after a statewide recoupment.

The administrator said the office’s 2024 grant allocation was initially $81,412 and, after the recoupment by the state or its contractor, the final amount available was $60,369. The administrator told commissioners the office did not exceed its budget in the first two quarters despite the reduction and that NVAA (the state veterans assistance program) is in litigation with the state over funding projections.

The report noted the county’s 2023 GDX population count showed 3,194 registered veterans in Cass County and cautioned that the number likely undercounts veterans who have not registered; the administrator encouraged outreach and registration to ensure veterans are counted and can access benefits.

The administrator also advised veterans and surviving spouses about benefits paperwork and deadlines, urging that property‑tax exemption paperwork be filed with townships except in cases of a life‑altering event, and explaining survivor benefit rules: \"But if you pass away from something you have a rating for at the VA, they automatically get DIC and nothing counts against them.\" The administrator said that if a veteran dies from a condition for which they were not rated, a surviving spouse must apply for widow's benefits and the spouse’s income and assets may be counted against eligibility.

The administrator thanked county offices including the treasurer and clerk for assistance with verifications and record searches, and noted local coordination with the sheriff’s department to identify incarcerated veterans who may qualify for benefits. The administrator also announced that Adam Dahlgren is the new VFW commander in Cass County.

The administrator invited questions from commissioners and offered to assist township clerks with verification of veterans’ exemption paperwork.

Ending: The administrator said some initiatives paused this year will be restored in next year’s grant application and encouraged veterans to contact the office for help with registration and benefit verification.","At a Cass County Board of Commissioners meeting, the county veterans administrator reported $5,071,929.92 in benefits obtained for veterans over four years, said the county’s FY24 grant award was reduced by $21,043 after a statewide recoupment, and reminded veterans about filing deadlines and survivor benefits.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Cass County secures $65,000 for McMillan Dam design; hazardous‑waste event fills three semis and more county updates

Commissioners revise wording on tax‑reverted property item and unanimously approve one‑time vote for items M‑60 through M‑70

MSU Extension interim director: 1,100 Cass County participants in 2024, 656 youth in 4‑H; program wins national award

Cass County veterans administrator: office secured $5,071,929.92 in benefits over four years; FY24 grant reduced