Cass County Commission approves health contracts, zoning lot splits and opts into opioid settlement

The Cass County Commission on Aug. 13 approved a series of health department contracts, accepted road-and-bridge material bids, approved three lot-split and rezoning applications and authorized county participation in the Purdue opioid settlement, then recessed into executive session under state law.

The meeting included several routine health agreements: a Women, Infants and Children (WIC) contract for $303,377 to fund nutrition services and three staff positions; a technical support services agreement tied to this year’s community health needs assessment with Cass Regional Medical Center; a public health emergency preparedness (PHEP) contract that county staff said is currently about 50% of its usual funding; and a practicum memorandum of agreement with A.T. Still University to host a master of public health student.

“These funds support three of our staff members that facilitate the WIC grant. They provide nutrition education, breastfeeding support, supplemental food and referrals to other health agencies at no cost to participants,” said Matt, a Cass County Health Department staff member, describing the WIC contract.

Matt also told the commission the…