Cass County commissioners approve committee assignments, add opioid advisory committee; Joyce Locke named to Woodlands board

The Cass County Board of Commissioners on Thursday approved its committee assignments as amended, adding an opioid advisory committee and making a personnel change to the Economic Development Committee (EDC). The board also voted to appoint Joyce Locke to the Woodlands board.

The change to committee assignments was made by motion and passed after an amendment that added the county’s previously formed Opioid Advisory Committee, with Commissioners Roseanne Marchetti and Commissioner Lee named to that advisory group. Commissioners also accepted Sam’s offer to step down from the EDC and placed Commissioner Langley on the EDC in his stead.

The amendments were offered and supported during the meeting; the amended committee assignments were approved by voice vote. Chair Jones led the approvals and thanked commissioners for their support.

The board then considered appointments to several boards. Commissioners unanimously approved a motion to appoint Joyce Locke, a private citizen, to the Woodlands board; supporters said Locke meets the parameters required for membership and would address current quorum problems on that board.

Why it matters: Committee assignments determine which commissioners oversee policy areas and outside boards. Adding the opioid advisory committee restores a previously formed body that the board said had been omitted from the initial assignments. Reassigning the EDC seat responded to a commissioner’s request to step off that committee.

The board moved immediately from committee business to other agenda items after the approvals.