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CASSOPOLIS — The most recent meeting of the Cass County Board of Commissioners looked a little different.

Rather than sitting in their usual semicircle inside the county building in Cassopolis, board members appeared before the public in their own homes, reporting to the meeting virtually.

Due to social distancing requirements banning public gatherings, the Cass County Board of Commissioners hosted its regularly scheduled meeting Thursday via video conferencing website Zoom.

Despite the changes required due to COVID-19, Cass County Administrator Jeff Carmen said there has been “great collaboration” in Cass County.

“I can’t tell you how proud I am to be working with all of the elected officials,” Carmen said.

During the meeting, the board of commissioners voted to approve several routine business items, including the renewal of the Drug Enforcement Millage Proposal to be placed on the Aug. 4 ballot. 

First presented in 2004 and approved by voters every four years since, the Drug Enforcement Millage levies 48.05 cents for every $1,000 to be assessed against the taxable value of real and personal property in Cass County. Estimated to bring in $1,075,640 in revenue, the funds collected from the millage are used to cover the areas of drug enforcement, prosecution, education and treatment, according to a letter written to commissioners by Cass County Undersheriff Clint Roach.

The board of commissioners unanimously approved the resolution.

“There continues to be a serious drug problem in Cass County, despite the efforts of law enforcement agencies and community groups to eradicate this problem,” said Commissioner Annie File as she read the resolution. “The board of commissioners is of the opinion that it is desirable to renew said millage to provide for continued funding of this successful drug enforcement team.”

Also during the meeting, the board voted to approve the 2020 county equalization report and quarterly budget adjustments.

In addition to voting on resolutions, the Cass County Board of Commissioners heard a safety report from Cass County Sheriff Richard Behnke. He said that the sheriff’s office had seen an increase in public order violations, but a significant decrease in traffic crashes due to social restrictions put in place by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order.

Additionally, Commissioner Roseann Marchetti presented a COVID-19 update sent by Jeff Elliott, health officer at the Van Buren/Cass Health Department.

At the time of publishing, Cass County had reported 19 confirmed COVID-19 cases and one death.

More information and resources about COVID-19 can be found at vbcassdhd.org.