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CASS LAKE - Cass County will receive $480,000 this year from the three-eighths cent state sales tax to purchase forested habitat land in the county.

Land Commissioner Joshua Stevenson said numerous property owners have approached the county to sell their land to the public.

Tuesday, the board authorized Stevenson to apply to the state for additional funding from the state's 2014 funding cycle.

The county has a list of parcels in 12 townships the land department already plans to purchase under this funding program. The purchases will be contingent upon approval from townships where the parcels lie.

The county board authorized Stevenson to add Cass to a list of seven neighboring counties planning to participate in a joint forest inventory program. Money from the Minnesota state lottery will pay Cass's share of that inventory.

Other participating counties include Aitkin, Beltrami, Carlton, Clearwater, Crow Wing, Koochiching and Pine.[[In-content Ad]]

In other business Tuesday, the board approved continuing to engage the state auditor's office to conduct the county's annual audit through Dec. 31, 2014.

A'viands LLC will continue providing food service to Cass County Jail July 1, 2012, through June 30, 2013, at a cost 3 percent over the prior year.

A majority of the county commissioners plan to attend the 6 p.m. county planning commission work session focused on proposed changes to the gravel extraction section of the county land use ordinance June 27 at the courthouse in Walker. That meeting is open to the public.

Second publication rights after Brainerd Dispatch.

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