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PILLAGER-Longville ambulance personnel have been busy, the Cass County Board meeting learned at its Tuesday, June 19, meeting.

Kevin Lee, North Memorial Health, reported the Longville Ambulance Subordinate Service District had a significant increase in calls for service the first quarter this year compared with last year.

The service billed for 41 patients the first quarter of 2017 and for 75 patients the first quarter 2018. Lee said the increase has continued through May.

Higher calls for service resulted in a higher margin of 19.3 percent in the first quarter compared with budget expectations of 9.8 percent. Longville Ambulance received $196,194 in revenue the first quarter of 2018 and spent $158,319, for a margin of $37,875.

Seven of the patients were transported by air. Though the service is licensed for part-time advanced life support, there were advanced life support personnel on every shift the first quarter.

In other business, the board:

Approved an updated list of people to contact to request information from the county, with newer employees added to the list.

Set the 9 a.m. July 3 regular board meeting at the courthouse in Walker to reconvene the public hearing on proposed changes to the land use ordinance.

Learned from Administrator Joshua Stevenson the proposed change order requesting more payment at the last county board meeting for those working on the Leech Lake One Watershed One Plan was referred to the Soil and Water Conservation District Board for approval, because that board is the fiscal agent for that grant, not the county board.

The SWCD Board approved that change order, he said.

Approved vacating a former part of County Highway 42 north of Pine River. That short section of road has not been used since 1982, when the corner where County Highway 42 meets 24th Avenue was rounded to make a 50 mph curve.

Accepted the lower quote of two to award a contract for $34,794.80 to B&P Weed Control to spray for noxious weeds along county roads. Northfork Boulders submitted the lowest quote of three to mow cross-country skiing and hunter-walking trails, along with parking lots for $7,220.

The trails include Cutlake/Hiram, Snowflea/Mayo Creek, Vermillion/Thunder Hollow/Washburn/Old Grade and Homebrook.

Remanded to the planning commission Scott Sheldon's request a for a land reclassification for 4.57 acres in Pine River Township from agricultural/forest to Rural Residential 2.5.

Gave final approval for a classification change following the planning commission's approval May 14 for Loren Properties LLC platted property.The change was from shoreland residential to water-oriented commercial for the site is in Wabedo Township.

Heard from Karen Flier, chief deputy treasurer, who reported the county earned 49 percent of the budget projected interest income after only five months of the year.

Cass received $480,761.22 interest on its investments through May this year. That compares with $299,425.09 in 2017.

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