June 10, 2021 at 1:12 p.m.
Cass to participate in five-couty in-ground gravel resources study
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), division of land and minerals, would conduct the study if state lottery funds are allocated for the estimated $900,000 project.
Stevenson said 10 existing databases including such varying resources as a U.S. Department of Agriculture geological survey and data from well drilling records would be brought together into one document and verified by on-site soil borings on properties believed to have gravel within 50 of the surface.
Aggregate located in the final report would include not only public lands, but also on private land where landowners were interested in becoming part of the database, Stevenson said.
Other counties interested in participating include Beltrami, Becker, Douglas and St. Louis.
The board authorized Stevenson to explore whether there could be audit cost savings if Cass joined Crow Wing, Koochiching, Carlton, Clearwater and Beltrami Counties to seek a regional sustainable forest certification rather than to each seek such certification independently as is currently done.
Stevenson said he believes having wood grown on Cass land certified as sustainable helps the county sell all the wood it offers to loggers at sale each month, so he would like to continue getting certified either independently or try the regional system.
Cass County sold 6,296 cords of mixed timber and 15,400 board of pine saw logs at a May 31 auction. Loggers paid $35.10 per cord for aspen, up more than $5 from prices paid in recent months.
Prices ranged from $12.24 per cord paid for maple to $42.12 per cord paid for white spruce.[[In-content Ad]]
The board approved selling 160 acres of land in Walden Township that does not contain gravel resources to the public. Stevenson said the process for preparing an auction likely will mean the land will be sold sometime in 2013.
Cass commissioners approved a revised trail plan for Over the Hills Gang all-terrain vehicle club. The club is seeking DNR approval for a grant-in-aid-funded trail system.
Club members revised their plan in response to public, township and DNR comments and now will include a 56-mile system rather than 80 miles. The current trail plan crosses only two private property parcels.
It crosses Crooked Lake, Beulah, Thunder Lake and Smoky Hollow Townships in Cass County and Emily Township in Crow Wing County. It connects the cities of Emily and Outing and provides access to Northwoods Regional ATV Trail System and Moose River Trail System in Land O'Lakes State Forest.
If the DNR approves the trail routing, Over the Hills Gang would qualify for annual state trail maintenance funding.
Second publication rights after Brainerd Dispatch.
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