---

BACKUS-Sheriff Tom Burch reported to the county board Tuesday Sentence to Service inmate crews and sheriff's deputies picked up 900 pounds of trash from Leech Lake over three days following Eelpout Days earlier this month.

The Sentence to Service crews spent 42 hours on the ice doing clean-up, Burch said.

John Ringle, environmental services director, also reported another 900 pounds of trash was collected and removed from the ice during the event.

The event promoter, Jared Olson, was required to submit $5,000 assurance with his event permit filed with the sheriff prior to the event, Burch said.

The sheriff now plans to submit a bill to Olson for $1,740 to cover the cost of work the Sentence to Service crew did. If Olson pays that bill, his $5,000 deposit will be refunded, Burch said.

On another clean-up program, Emergency Services Director Kerry Swenson submitted an update on costs for damage from the July 12, 2015, storm that hit southern Cass County.

So far, total cost for all government agencies affected in southern Cass has run $1,289,939.18.

East Gull Lake preliminarily estimated their damages at $217,500, but the actual cost ran $384,175.17. The state reimbursed $288,131.37 of that.

Lake Shore preliminarily estimated their damages at $36,000. Actual damages ran $12,575. The state reimbursed $9,431.55 of that.

Fairview Township preliminarily estimated their damages at $5,300. Actual costs ran $707,650.90. The state reimbursed $530,738.17 of that.

May Township had no preliminary damage estimate, but their costs ran $15,965.50. The state reimbursed $11,974.13 of that.

Minnesota Department of Transportation preliminarily estimated their damages at $123,500, but actual costs ran only $4,392.97. The state reimbursed MnDOT $3,294.73.

Damage claims for all those agencies are considered closed at this point.

The following agencies' cases for damage reimbursement from the state remain open:

Cass County: preliminary damage assessment was $166,800. Actual incurred to date is $185,537.71. The state has reimbursed $139,153.28 of that.

Sylvan Township: preliminary damage assessment was $40,000. Actual incurred to date is yet to be determined. None has been reimbursed yet.

Minnesota DNR: preliminary damage assessment was $46,700. Actual incurred to date is yet to be determined. None has been reimbursed yet.

Tuesday, the county board authorized paying Pratt's Affordable Excavating $500 in behalf of the county highway department, which rented a backhoe from Pratt's to pile up trees, stumps and brush at a drop location on County Road 18.

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

---