June 10, 2021 at 1:12 p.m.
Cass Board adopts commissioner district redistricting plan
May Township and the portion of the city of Motley in Cass County will move from District 1 to District 2. Barclay, Bungo, Polar Townships and the city of Chickamaw Beach will move from District 2 to District 3. Lima and Smoky Hollow Townships will move from District 5 to District 4.
Fourth District Commissioner Jim Dowson's term will continue to 2014.
In 2012 elections, First District Commissioner Neal Gaalswyk will run for re-election to a two-year term. District 2 Commissioner Bob Kangas, District 3 Commissioner Jeff Peterson and District 5 Commissioner Dick Downham will seek re-election for four-year terms.
The commissioners voted to designate a new route the county highway department designed through Ah-Gwah-Ching property to connect via County State Aid Highway 50 to State Highway 34 as the new route between Highways 371 and 34 south of Walker. This will replace former State Highway 290, currently known as the "cut across road."
This followed a public hearing County Engineer David Enblom conducted to receive comment from Walker area residents Aug. 24.
The board's action will enable the county to obtain state "turn-back" money, designed to allow the county to upgrade the existing road as the state transfers ownership to the county.
Enblom said that in practice, the county can use that "turn-back" money on existing state aid roads now and use other state aid money in the future to develop the new road through Ah-Gwah-Ching at whatever point traffic increases to the extend the alternate route is needed.
The current "cut-across" road carries 1,500 vehicles per day.
Emergency Services Director Kerry Swenson and Central Services Director Tim Richardson obtained board approval to replace a 10-year-old phone and radio recording system at the sheriff's office with a new system for $24,582 that will have upgrade and repair support. Enhance 911 funds will cover the cost.[[In-content Ad]]
The board approved purchasing $37,855.46 worth of new office furniture and up to $21,500 to buy an automatic vehicle location system and six laptop computers as a part of the radio system upgrade to 800 MHz.
All 40 sheriff's squad cars will be equipped with the location system, enabling the dispatcher to quickly find the officer nearest to calls for service, Richardson said. All but six squad cars currently have laptop computers needed to operate the system.
The board approved spending $5,881 for a heating and cooling unit for the controls building at Pillager communications tower. The board authorized a similar purchase at the last meeting for the Walker tower.
Cass will receive $26,024 from a 2011 federal boating safety supplemental grant for the sheriff's boat and water safety division.
Health, Human and Veterans Services spent 50.12 percent of the 2011 budget after 58.33 percent of the year or $13,614,939. The county spent 48 percent of the out of home child placement budget or $1,195,623 in the same time period.
Probation Director Jim Schneider presented his 2010 annual report to the county board Tuesday. That county department monitors adults on probation for misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor crimes and juveniles on probation. The state monitors adult felony offenders.
In 2010, the county monitored adult offenders who had committed 1,117 offenses, 694 of which were for driving while under the influence, 179 for assault, 93 for driving after cancellation, 64 for controlled substance/alcohol related offenses, 45 for escape from custody or giving false information to an officer, 25 for property offenses and 17 for other traffic offenses.
The county monitored 866 juveniles. Of those cases, 300 were for assault, 182 for property offenses, 174 for minor consumption/tobacco/curfew, 73 for burglary/trespass, 53 for controlled substance, 52 for other traffic offenses and 32 for giving false information to an officer/fleeing from an officer.
Probation department filed 231 adult and 133 juvenile instances of people violating terms of their probation. The department has reporting centers at Pike Bay Town Hall near Cass Lake, Walker Courthouse and Pine River Police Department for submission to chemical testing.
There is cooperative program between the Ninth Judicial District Court Walker office and Leech Lake Tribal Court for a wellness court that offers intensive counseling for repeat substance dependent people. Since 2006, 49 participants have taken advantage of the 18-24-month program, with 20 successfully completing it and 21 currently enrolled.
Eight people failed to complete the program. Three were charged with new offenses. Three were discharged for failing to complete.
Cass probation also has a diversion program for juveniles, ages 10 to 18, which offers an optional restorative justice program instead of court adjudication. Of those who complete the program, 68 percent have not re-offended.
The largest number of offenses referred to diversion are juveniles who have committed a theft/shoplifting, disorderly conduct or minor consumption offense.
Second publication rights after Brainerd Dispatch.
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