(Update 11:15-a.m. w/statement from Dave Wiederstein: “The Board’s decision to make my office a full-time position is regrettable, but regardless, I will not be the full-time County Attorney.  I have the option of remaining in office until October 14, or I can serve the remainder of my term still on a part-time status.  The Board can expect cooperation from me in making the transition a successful one for the benefit of the citizens of Cass County.”)

The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Tuesday), voted unanimously to make the County Attorney’s job a Full-time position, with a base salary of $100,000 per year. The change won’t be in effect however, until Jan. 1^st, 2019, since the current four-year term expires after the Nov. 2018 elections. It is currently a part-time position, with an Assistant County Attorney also in-place.

Prior to their vote, the Board opened the matter up to discussion. Supervisor’s Steve Green and Steve Baier, said concern over public safety is the main reason they want to make the job full-time. Green said he personally “Has not made much of a harder decision in his life. He said “The way I’m feeling is not a reflection on our current county attorney, it’s a reflection on the system structure and how complex the issues and public safety issues are. I feel that the citizens of Cass County are going to be better served in a full-time status. It’s a reflection of our times and a reflection of the justice system and all the other myriad of things is required to do.”)

Green said “I think we need 40 hours on behalf of the citizens.”  Steve Baier said he’s hearing from constituents and law enforcement on the matter, and they have a desire to have more felony cases prosecuted. He said we need to go to court and “get some of the bad elements dealt with as the law provides. I don’t think there’s any way that having a full-time county attorney necessarily guarantees that, and that’s one of the issues too, but I think that’s important.”

Board Chair Gaylord Schelling said the issue with Cass County Attorney Dave Wiederstein is, and always has been, increasing the number of prosecutions. He said he spoke with Wiederstein six months ago, and nothing’s changed with regard to the number of prosecutions.

In other business, Supervisor Green said the Cass County Public Safety Board has agreed, with permission from the 9-1-1 Commission, to temporarily make Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon acting 9-1-1 Director to replace Rob Koppert, who resigned last month. The position will be reviewed on a month-by-month basis for a period of a year. At that time, if the Board and Kennon agree, it would become a permanent position for Kennon. The position pays $20,000 in addition to his current salary.