June 10, 2021 at 1:12 p.m.
Cass board hears report on building activity
Land use zoning permits for new building construction and new sewer systems is up slightly, but applications for variances and shoreland alterations are down some. There were no new minor subdivisions or plats the first quarter this year and only one plat last year.
Ringle obtained board approval to pay up to $15,000 from the solid waste account to match a city of Longville equal amount to pave the area around the recycling bins in that city and two short street areas.
The streets would be Manders Lane and the section of Aspen Lane from the recycle bins to Highway 84. The bins are located on city property, Ringle said.
The board authorized Ringle to seek a one-year extension from Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources to complete the Cass County Water Plan. Ringle said he expects BWSR also will approve the extension.
There will be a public hearing on the plan, likely sometime this fall, before it is submitted to BWSR for final approval, Ringle said.
Cass environmental services will apply for two grants to create watershed plans for the Leech Lake and the Pine River watersheds. Plans like these are necessary first steps to seeking further grants for projects to improve a watershed, Ringle said. No local match is necessary.
Jaimee Meyer, Cass County Economic Development director, obtained board approval to seek a grant from the National Joint Powers Alliance to develop a regional branding and marketing website with a goal of attracting a workforce and businesses to this area.
Cass EDC will serve as the lead agency on this project for Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd and Wadena counties. The regional website will have referrals to county and local EDC websites when completed. There is no cost to counties or local EDCs, Meyer said.
Land Commissioner Kirk Titus presented the final draft of a list of 17 land parcels worth $350,000 the county will offer for sale at a 9 a.m. June 25 auction at the courthouse in Walker.
A printed brochure of the sites and appraised values is available from the land department office in Backus or the auditor-treasurer office in Walker. The list-www.co.cass.mn.us-also can be viewed on the county website.
The county board approved the annual application for grant-in-aid state trail funds. The county administers the funds, paying recreational trails groups to maintain snowmobile, skiing and all-terrain vehicle trails. Assistant Land Commissioner Kevin Dahlman coordinates the trail program.
Cass land department will purchase a new all-terrain vehicle for $6,524 from Bemidji Sports Center. It was the lowest of three bids.
Former Land Commissioner Joshua Stevenson said he had money in the land department budget to purchase a replacement snowmobile if one of the department's broke down. So far, the snowmobiles are in good shape, he told the county board, but one ATV the foresters use did break down. Therefore, the snowmobile fund will be used to purchase the ATV, he said.
Cass sold all 10 tracts of timber offered on an April 28 timber auction. Aspen sold at $45.23 per cord, up about $15 from recent averages. Red oak sold for $53.93 per cord.
Cass County Sheriff's Office will receive $12,625 supplemental federal boating safety patrol grant to enable additional patrol hours this summer.
Cass health services will receive $34,224 in the fifth budget period for public health emergency preparedness planning. These are federal funds, channeled through the state.
Commissioner Scott Bruns did not attend Tuesday's meeting.
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