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PINE RIVER - Cass County Commissioners passed a resolution Tuesday night, July 17, at the regular meeting in Pine River Township Hall to seek a new Minnesota Department of Transportation study for speed limits on County Highway 77.

The city of Lake Shore requested a speed study through that city.

The county resolution, however, covers from about 780 feet east of the west junction of Highway 77 with Miller Lane to the east Cass/Crow Wing line. A cooperative study will be asked for the Crow Wing portion of the road as well.

County Engineer Darrick Anderson said the last speed study done on this road section was in 1995. It includes the portion where the speed currently is posted at 50 mph.

Anderson said it usually takes MnDOT about nine months to move through its list of speed study requests, so he expects current rebuilding on Highway 77 to be completed before MnDOT does its new study.

Cass commissioners accepted low bids totaling $890,057 to begin constructing the new county highway garage at Longville and an attached garage for Longville Ambulance Service.

Two to four bidders sought each portion of the project.

Srock Construction will put up the steel building and provide some interior items for $435,363. Vercon Construction will provide concrete items for $107,100. Pipe Dreamz Plumbing and Heating will provide plumbing items for $71,720 and heating and cooling items for $176,625. RW Electric will install electrical items for $99,249.

The county will pay $533,460 for the highway garage portion, plus an extra bay with bathroom and office for use by other county departments. Longville Ambulance Service will pay $356,597 for its portion of the building.

Anderson said the ambulance service has more than will be needed to cover the bids for its share in a fund it has been setting aside toward a future building replacement.

Longville Ambulance Service is funded by a special levy from taxpayers living in its service district.

In other business Tuesday, the county board:

Voted to stop allowing nine Minnesota County Information System employees to be covered under the Cass employee insurance program and to stop providing fiscal agent services to MCIS, effective in 2019.

That multi-county supported organization provides property tax and payroll software to Cass County.

Accepted County Planner Paul Fairbanks letter of intent to retire, effective July 31.

Approved Sheriff Tom Burch's plan to create a new lieutenant position in charge of public information. The position will not require an additional employee or create the need to increase the 2018 sheriff's budget, Burch said.

Approved a law enforcement agreement between the sheriff's office and Moondance Jam to provide law enforcement services July 19-21 for the annual music event east of Walker. Moondance Jam Inc. will pay the sheriff's office overtime pay rate, fringe benefits, vehicle expenses and administrative costs for the service.

Approved a memorandum of understanding to join Camp Ripley Veterans State Trail partnership toward creating a multi-use trail system through portions of Camp Ripley Sentinel Landscape and portions of Morrison, Cass and Crow Wing counties.



Referred to the planning commission a request from David Williams to reclassify 19.55 acres in Birch Lake Township from water-oriented commercial to shoreland residential.

He plans to split the property into two lakeshore lots and one offshore lot.

Referred to the citizen budget committee the Initiative Foundation's request for $17,500 county support in 2019. Second publication rights after Brainerd Dispatch.[[In-content Ad]]

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