The Cass County administrator faces a drunken-driving charge for a Labor Day weekend incident near his family lake cabin.

50 year-old Keith Berndt was cited by the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office for driving while intoxicated September 3rd near Clitherall.

According to the court records, Berndt’s wife, Carol, called Otter Tail County dispatch to report that her husband was drunk and driving his pickup from their lake cabin near Clitherall to a bar in Battle Lake.

Carol Berndt told the dispatcher her husband had a recent pattern of drinking heavily on weekends and she was calling out of concern for his welfare and the safety of others on the road, the document states.

Berndt has pleaded not guilty to two counts of fourth-degree DWI. His next court appearance is set for Nov. 29.

Berndt said yesterday that he reported the incident to the chairman of the Cass County Commission, who determined it was a law enforcement issue, not an employment issue.

Berndt was named Cass County administrator in April and he took over for outgoing administrator Bonnie Johnson when she retired in June. Prior to that, Berndt served as Cass County engineer for nearly 19 years.