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WALKER - State demographer figures released July 15 for the estimated 2009 census indicate Cass County will have to re-draw commissioner district lines before the 2012 elections.

The difference between four of the five districts exceeds a 5 percent differential from equal populations in each district. Final determination will be made after the 2010 census figures are released in July 2011.

The 2009 figures indicate the first district (farthest south) has 15 percent excess population, the second district 8.04 percent excess population, the third district 8.48 too few people, the fourth district 3.29 percent too few people and the fifth district (farthest north) 11.27 percent too few people.

The county also had to redistrict in 2001 after receiving 2000 census numbers.

Cass commissioners Tuesday set the annual county auction of excess county property for Aug. 21 at the county highway garage in Walker and selected the lowest quote from Frisk Auction Services of Pillager to conduct the auction.

They adopted a countywide social host ordinance to take effect in 30 days, making anyone who hosts a party where underage drinking occurs guilty of a misdemeanor criminal offense.

County Attorney Christopher Strandlie said $53 billion is spent annually in this country because of underage drinking. He said he hopes this will create one more means to decrease underage drinking here.

Environmental Services Director John Ringle reported to the board the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe has brought its account with the county for solid waste disposal services up to date in the last two weeks, paying the $41,563 past due amount.

A private garbage collection service that until recently owed about $50,000 has paid all but $14,000 and has made arrangements for $5,000 weekly automatic withdrawal from their bank account to bring the balance owed the county up to date, Ringle said.

The board asked Ringle to require a bond from all garage haulers, beginning when they next renew their hauler license with the county. Ringle said he will begin enforcing the county policy to put any hauler on a cash on delivery status if their account gets 90 days past due in the future.

He reported the number of land use permits for new construction and sewers increased during the first half of the year from 233 in 2009 to 425 in 2010, but most of those permits were for smaller projects like additions or garages rather than for whole new houses or business buildings.

The number of variance applications increased from 33 in 2009 to 48 in 2010, but conditional use applications declined from 21 to seven. Shoreland alteration applications also dropped.[[In-content Ad]]

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