Cass County has the most people, activity and growth of any county in North Dakota.
Yet the Cass County Commission, which meets the first and third Mondays of each month, canceled its March 1 meeting because commissioners say they had nothing to talk about.
Commission Chairwoman Robyn Sorum, who made the decision to cancel, said it was the logical thing to do.
"There was no reason to meet when there was nothing on the agenda," she said.
She was a bit surprised nothing required commissioners' collective attention. So she asked several county department heads if they had issues needing consideration. They said no so the meeting was scrapped.
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County officials say they usually cancel a meeting every few years for the same reason. It happened most recently in June 2002.
Commissioner John Meyer said he remembers it happening three times in the seven years he's served on the board.
Meyer, who said he treats his duties like a full-time job, said commissioners weren't slacking by not meeting.
"We were still going about our jobs like we're elected to do," he said.
The Cass County Commission does things a little differently than similar commissions in the state, said County Auditor Michael Montplaisir.
He serves as president of the North Dakota Association of Counties. For instance, he said, many county commissions meet once a month.
And unlike many of its peers statewide, the Cass County Commission uses a consent agenda, he said. Items in a consent agenda are approved all at once, usually without discussion, by a board. That allows the Cass County Commission to operate more efficiently, he said.
And the commission doesn't review every county expense, which many counties do, he said.
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The commission is scheduled to meet again March 15.
The agenda hasn't been set, but county officials doubt the meeting will be canceled.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Jonathan Knutson at (701) 241-5530
