Cass County Commission approves highway safety grant, energy contract and annexation; pauses one tax-sale bid, accepts another

The Cass County Commission, meeting at noon on March 12, 2025, voted unanimously on a package of routine county actions and handled two tax-sale offers, approving one and sending another back for further review.

The votes followed brief staff presentations and limited discussion. Commissioners recorded formal approvals for a sheriff—s office highway safety grant, a two-year wholesale natural gas agreement for the county justice center, and a voluntary annexation petition filed by the City of ARC, Missouri. During a separate agenda item the commission postponed action on a low tax-sale bid for a Belton property and accepted a $2,500 offer for a long-unsold subdivision lot that carried taxes since 2016.

Commission business and context Commissioners convened the meeting, took roll call and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance before approving the meeting agenda and prior meeting minutes. The commission recorded attendance by three commissioners and handled routine resolutions and property-sale matters in under 10 minutes of recorded discussion.

Highway safety grant The commission approved Resolution 25-17, a Cass County Sheriff—s Office Highway Safety Grant administered through the Missouri State Highway Safety Program for speed and DWI enforcement. The resolution was moved and seconded and recorded as passing 3-0.

Wholesale natural gas agreement The commission approved Resolution 25-18, renewing a purchase agreement with Symmetry Energy Solutions LLC that allows the county to buy wholesale natural gas for the justice center at lower rates than retail distribution. Commissioner Bob Houston said the contract is a routine renewal that allows the county—s justice center to buy on the wholesale market because the facility—s consumption qualifies it for wholesale purchasing. The resolution passed 3-0.

Voluntary annexation The commission approved Resolution 25-19, which consents to a voluntary annexation petition submitted by the City of ARC, Missouri, covering certain public roadways owned and maintained by Cass County. A commissioner noted the annexation corridor runs north of the highway and extends south about 2,600 feet to the intersection of 350, First and Pine Street. The resolution passed 3-0.

Tax-sale offers: one postponed, one accepted Under director—s-office/collector-related business, the commission considered two tax-sale purchase offers from David Cottfeld (identified in the record as a trustee): - A Belton property with total tax-sale amount listed as $36,567 and a bid of $2,500. County staff recommended delaying a decision to verify statutory and city interests; the commission voted to return the offer to Cottfeld for additional information and did not finalize a sale at that time. - A subdivision lot (first listed in the 02/2016 tax sale) that had carried county assessment since 2016. The county had been asking $4,400; an offer of $2,500 was presented and the commission voted to accept that bid. A commissioner noted the lot is in an area where drainage issues make building difficult and that prior buyers and builders had declined it.

Other business and adjournment Commissioners recorded that three members attended the mandatory state commissioners— training at Tan Tara two weeks earlier and offered the training certificate for the official record. The meeting closed with no public comments and the commission adjourned.

Votes at a glance: March 12, 2025 - Resolution 25-17 (Cass County Sheriff—s Office Highway Safety Grant): passed, vote recorded as 3-0. - Resolution 25-18 (Agreement with Symmetry Energy Solutions LLC — wholesale natural gas for justice center): passed, vote recorded as 3-0. - Resolution 25-19 (Voluntary annexation petition — City of ARC, Missouri — county roadways): passed, vote recorded as 3-0. - Tax-sale offer (Belton property, tax-sale amount $36,567; bid $2,500): action returned to offeror for more information; no final sale recorded. - Tax-sale offer (subdivision lot from 02/2016; county asking $4,400; bid $2,500): commission accepted the bid (vote recorded as 3-0).

The commission received no public comments and adjourned after a short meeting.