June 10, 2021 at 1:12 p.m.
Cass County to ask for $500,00 in federal forest funds for two road improvement projects
As part of the federal payment in lieu of taxes, the federal government passed the Secure Rural Schools Act in 2008 targeting money for roads to facilitate getting school buses to rural residents.
The Chippewa National Forest has been allocated $800,000 under the program to spend in Cass, Beltrami and Itasca Counties. Its Forest Resource Advisory Committee will select which projects will be funded.
Cass will ask for $150,000 to correct a washout area on a hill on County Road 161 by Pug Hole Lake in Thunder Lake Township and for $350,000 or half the cost to replace a bridge over the Boy River on County State Aid Highway 8 where the county and Leech Lake Tribal Council would like to include a pedestrian walkway in addition to vehicle driving lanes.
County State Aid money and tribal funds are proposed to pay the other half of that bridge work. The bridge lies off the southeast corner of Leech Lake and is used as a popular fishing pier, though there currently is no provision for pedestrians.[[In-content Ad]]
"It's a disaster waiting to happen," Commissioner Jim Dowson said.
Cass commissioners approved a two-year lease extension through June 2013 to enable the U.S. Postal Service to continue operations in the county-owned building at Pine River. The $37,125 per year lease is set in six-month increments, the only terms under which postal officials told the county they are permitted to sign a "temporary" lease.
In order to convert the lease to "permanent", the Postal Service will have to "provide the public with an opportunity to suggest potential permanent locations," Garry L. Mattox, Western Facilities Service Office real estate specialist, told Administrator Robert Yochum in a February e-mail.
Sheriff Tom Burch reported the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension will provide the county under a lend/lease agreement a new DATAMaster DMT-G to replace the county's Intoxilizer 5000 for administering drunken driver breath tests. The new device will enable direct transmission of tests to the BCA over a secure network. It also will be able to receive updates directly from the BCA.
The county's 2011 Boat and Water Safety grant from Minnesota DNR will be $57,540.
Turtle Lake Township donated $2,000 to Lakes Area Dive Team, which provides water rescue and recovery services.
Jamie Richter, Cass public health manager, outlined improvements she has seen here resulting from the Statewide Health Improvement Program. We are trying to set up programs so they can keep going even if the grant money goes away, she told the board.
Five restaurants have or are in the process of labeling calories on their menus and offering low calorie options. Four Cass farmers markets were open in the county in 2010. One business, Pine River/Backus School and Cass County have initiated workplace wellness programs for employees.
Four school districts have started walking programs and increased physical activity for students. Walker started a healthy snacks after school cart that has been selling out, Richter said.
Teachers have been reporting these programs not only have helped students lose weight and feel better, but has also increased socializing and improved student confidence, Richter reported.
Second publication rights after Brainerd Dispatch.
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