June 10, 2021 at 1:12 p.m.
Cass Board approves new recyclables storage building at Pine River transfer site
The board awarded a contract to Sebeka Homes Inc. to install a new 60-by-80-foot building at the site. It will be used for recyclables storage, primarily to cover cardboard. Dry recycled cardboard brings a higher price than cardboard which has been outside in rain.
Sebeka's price for the 15-foot high building will be $28,838.88. The county will also pay Schrupp Excavating $7,500 for site preparation.
The county had awarded a contract for this building to another firm last fall, but the building was not installed before winter, so new quotes were sought this summer. Neither the firm scheduled last fall to build the structure nor another firm submitting a quote last fall was available to provide the building this year.
Stockman Transfer operates the county garbage and recycling center under a contract with the county.
Under the agreement with Stockman, the county will own the new building and Stockman will convey by quit claim deed 4 acres immediately north of the new building to the county. Value on that land is estimated to be $15,000.
Stockman and the county have been splitting any proceeds from cardboard sales at $100 or more per ton. Under a new agreement, the revenue sharing will now be split 50-50 when cardboard sales exceed $75 per ton until such time as the county recovers the cost of the new building.
The board tabled until 2014 a proposal to replace the in-ground scale for weighing garbage truck loads. This will enable the county to take advantage of the new state sales tax exemption for equipment that state law then will allow, saving the county about $5,000.
The commissioners voted to seek Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) approval to reclassify Meadow Lake in Wilderness Park subdivision in southern Cass from a natural environment lake to a recreational development lake.
Platting and development, which has taken place around the lake, currently is more consistent with a recreational development standard. The DNR is expected to approve the change.
Cass County Environmental Services Department (ESD) and Cass Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) have been working with the DNR and local stakeholders to develop a plan to manage aquatic invasive species. They held an Aug. 7 meeting in Backus to receive public input and plan to finalize a plan in September.
On the committee are representatives from the county, city of Walker, lake associations, chambers of commerce, Realtors, fishing guides, Leech Lake Reservation, DNR, U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Cass County has 514 lakes more than 10 acres in size. Of these, about 15 have infestations of one or more invasive species such as Eurasian water milfoil, spiny water flea or zebra mussels. It is hoped the policy will help prevent further spread of invasive species to more lakes.
Once a proposed final plan is completed, it will be presented to the county board to consider adopting the policy.
The board tabled action on Statewide Geological Atlas Program of the Minnesota Geological Survey until more information is provided. To participate, the county would have to agree to make available staff time to collect data to be used in the survey.
The commissioners wanted to know more about how the county would benefit from participating and how the final report would be used. Local staff would be asked to verify locations of existing water wells, according to the proposal.
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