The Cass County Commission unanimously approved the appointment of Michael Cole Hunter Baker as the Cass County emergency manager during a Commission meeting on Monday, June 16. Baker has been an emergency management specialist with the Federal Emergency Management Agency since 2024 and has previously worked for the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services. He will begin his duties as emergency manager on Monday, July 14.

In May, the Commission appointed a Cass County Emergency Manager Interview Panel and tasked the group with interviewing finalists and making a recommendation for hire.

Committee members included Commission Chair Tony Grindberg, Commissioner Joel Vettel, County Administrator Robert Wilson, and Assistant Administrator and Human Resource Director Tracy Peters.