Cass County commissioners approve appointments, opioid-settlement funding and Narcan boxes; renew Marcellus police contract

The Cass County Board of Commissioners approved a series of administrative items at a routine meeting, including appointments to multiple boards and commissions, an opioid-settlement request to benefit problem-solving courts, authorization to obtain additional Narcan distribution boxes and renewal of the Marcellus Township police services contract.

Unidentified Speaker 1 opened the meeting by recognizing four new deputies for the Cass County Sheriff’s Office. Unidentified Speaker 2 said two deputies—Nate Flutter and Maya Steele—graduated from Kalamazoo Valley Community College and two—Chad Somerville and Joseph Barnhart—graduated from Kellogg Community College after 16 to 19 weeks of academy training and passing the MCOL certification test. The presenter noted the two Kellogg graduates are scheduled to begin their first shifts on Christmas Day.

The board then moved through a set of appointments and reappointments. By voice votes with motions and seconds recorded, the board approved the Connexus Board appointments of Anna Murphy and Arlinda Washington; the reappointment of Vicki Vaughn to the Van Buren Cass District Board of Health; appointments of Joyce Locke and Lori Whitmer to the Economic Development Corporation (with Brownfield board service tied to EDC membership); James Dodd and Joe Silva to the Board of Public Works; Joyce Locke and Annie Fyhl to the Parks and Recreation Commission; and Kim Hannaberg and Donovan Kelly to the Materials Management Planning Committee.

Unidentified Speaker 1 introduced an opioid-settlement request to support Cass County problem-solving courts. A motion to approve the request was made and supported, and the board approved the request by voice vote. The transcript does not record dollar amounts or a detailed funding breakdown for that item.

A member who serves on the Woodlands Behavioral Health Care Network described a request to acquire additional Narcan distribution boxes for county use to expand public access to naloxone. The board approved moving forward with the purchase, described in the meeting as two distribution boxes.

Unidentified Speaker 1 next presented the Marcellus Township police services contract for annual renewal. Unidentified Speaker 2 said the contract is an annual, calendar-year agreement and that the contract’s slight increase from the prior year remains within the township’s millage revenue; the board approved renewal by voice vote.

Public comment included a brief poem thanking public servants and a statement from Julie Peacht of Michigan State University Extension expressing appreciation for departing commissioners’ support of MSU Extension programs. The meeting included a note that recognitions for departing officials will occur at the regular meeting.

There was no closed session. The board adjourned following a motion, second and a voice vote in favor.

Votes at a glance - Connexus Board (Anna Murphy; Arlinda Washington): approved (voice vote). - Van Buren Cass District Board of Health (Vicki Vaughn, reappointment): approved (voice vote). - EDC/Brownfield (Joyce Locke; Lori Whitmer): approved (voice vote). - Board of Public Works (James Dodd; Joe Silva): approved (voice vote). - Parks and Recreation Commission (Joyce Locke; Annie Fyhl): approved (voice vote). - Materials Management Planning Committee (Kim Hannaberg; Donovan Kelly): approved (voice vote). - Opioid-settlement request (for problem-solving courts): approved (voice vote). Dollar amounts not specified in the transcript. - Woodlands Behavioral Health Care Network — Narcan distribution boxes (two boxes described): approved (voice vote). - Marcellus Township Police Services contract renewal: approved (voice vote).

The meeting record does not provide roll-call tallies or dollar totals for the opioid-settlement item; votes were recorded as voice votes in the transcript.