Cass County Plan Commission adopts 2025 work program after annual report review

The Cass County Plan Commission voted to adopt its 2025 work program on a unanimous voice vote after a staff presentation summarized the planning department nnual report and major priorities for the year. Staff said the department recorded 59 unsafe‑property cases in Cass County in 2025, with about 40 cleared or placed on a watch list, and described recent public hearings in Logansport and Walton.

"For 2025 for our annual report, we had 59 cases for unsafe in Cass County," the staff member presenting the report stated, adding that Logansport had 31 hearing cases (27 approved, 3 denied and 1 continued) and Walton had 1 approved case. The presenter also listed development plan reviews, architecture review committee approvals and special projects including grants work, a downtown designated outdoor refreshment area and the planned OpenGov software rollout.

The commission discussed education and training for boards and the public and the need to update zoning ordinance language and the county—omprehensive plan to reflect new area plan commission work. Staff said the OpenGov implementation is targeted for the first quarter, with a goal near March 1 but subject to adjustments.

Ruth Baker moved to adopt the work program and the motion was seconded; the commission voted in favor. The adopted work program names training/outreach, zoning updates, subdivision/UDO implementation, coordination with the area plan commission and continued support for economic development as priorities for the year.

Commissioners said the work program will inform BZA and planning workloads and directed staff to continue committee discussions about zoning changes and mapping. The commission did not set a specific adoption deadline for ordinance amendments; staff said those will return to committee and to the commission for later action.