---

WALKER - Construction has finally picked up this year in Cass County after a slow recovery from the recession. Environmental Services Department (ESD) Director John Ringle reported to the county board Tuesday ESD issued 194 land use permits for new buildings and private sewer systems the first quarter of 2015, compared with 141 in 2014 and 136 in 2013.

Environmental Services Department revenue to operate the department from those permits rose from $21,117.47 in 2014 to $38,323.40 in 2015. The department also saw a jump in variances issued from four in 2014 to 19 in 2015. Conditional use permits rose from one in 2014 to four in 2015. Shoreland alteration permits doubled from 2014 to 2015, with 32 issued the first quarter this year. There have been no minor subdivisions of land the last two years. Only one new plat was filed in 2014, and none, this year.

Woodrow Township, located between Hackensack and Longville, continued the first quarter this year to generate the highest number of new land use permits, with 19 issued there. Other townships having double digit new permits issued include Sylvan by Pillager with 15; Wabedo and Kego by Longville and Crooked Lake by Outing with 12 each; and Hiram by Hackensack with 10.

The Environmental Services Department issued about the same number of permits the first two months of the second quarter this year as were issued in all three months of the second quarter 2014, Ringle said. Despite the work increase, he said his current staff has been able to keep up with the increased permit applications.

Second publication rights after Brainerd Dispatch.[[In-content Ad]]

---