June 10, 2021 at 1:12 p.m.
Commissioners weigh increased parking spaces vs. cost
Tuesday, they tabled a proposal from Bolton and Menk of Baxter to design a paved parking lot at a cost of $11,070.
"If it doesn't significantly increase the number of parking spaces, it isn't worth the cost of paving it," County Administrator Robert Yochum said.
Bolton and Menk proposed to survey the existing gravel parking lot for underground utilities, determine the project boundary and identify any easements, then provide three optional paved parking layouts.
They would prepare a paving plan, report on existing and proposed runoff conditions, obtain permits required and meet three times with the city and county.
No water drainage changes or lighting systems would be part of the plan Bolton and Menk proposed.
"It seems to me what Bolton and Menk proposes to do does not meet the threshold of $11,000," Commissioner Neal Gaalswyk said.
It was the board's consensus that County Engineer David Enblom should develop a general estimate of the number of parking spaces that might be added by paving the lot before the county spends any money toward an engineered plan.
Enblom reported that environmental services department may be able to obtain clean water funding to address a water runoff system for the parking lot.
Kerry Swenson, emergency management director, introduced to the board two of the 17 high school students who have completed the TEEN CERT program through the sheriff's office.
They completed classroom training in a FEMA developed search and rescue program, then completed a hands-on search and rescue exercise to obtain certification. The plan is that these trained teens will assist the sheriff in emergency situations.
The sheriff already has called on some team members to help a couple near Pillager sandbag their house perimeter during recent flooding. One student's summer job employer gave him time off work to help, Swenson said.
The teens are students at Pillager, Northland Remer-Longville, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley and Bug-o-nay Gee Shig Schools. Three more students will finish training in July.
Swenson noted the county emergency management office has sandbags and bag filling equipment available for private property owners, but homeowners must purchase their own sand. To reserve bags or equipment, contact Swenson at (218) 547-7437.
The federal government will pay Cass County $591,996 payments in lieu of taxes this year. Of that, the county will retain $414,395 and will distribute to townships within the Chippewa National Forest $177,601.
Cass commissioners amended the county's requirements for general contractors the county hires to recognize changes in state law.
Statutes require hiring only "responsible contractors," whom the state defines as compliant with workers' compensation and unemployment insurance, registered with the Department of Revenue or Department of Employment and Economic Development if having employees, have a valid federal tax ID or Social Security number, have not violated any labor standards or laws and be compliant with independent contractor laws and construction codes and licensing laws for at least three years.
Cass's policy requires contractors and subcontractors to meet those standards, comply with the Minnesota Data Practices Act and, for construction contracts, must submit an IC-134 form to Minnesota Department of Revenue.
The county's requirements may be reduced on the level of insurance contractors are required to carry if the contract is less than $50,000.
Land Commissioner Joshua Stevenson reported the county sold five of seven tracts offering timber to loggers at a June 26 auction. Loggers paid $51,426 for 1,629 cords of wood and 29,500 board feet of red pine saw logs.
Aspen was up more than $10 per cord from prior months this year and sold for $38.04 per cord.
Northfork Boulders and Excavating submitted the low bid to win a contract to mow recreational trails for $ 5,700.
The trails include Cut Lake, Hiram, Snowflea, Mayo Creek, Vermillion, Thunder Hollow, Washburn, Old Grade and Homebrook Walking.
Waste Management has increased its charge to Cass County for disposing of garbage collected that the firm transports to a landfill at Elk River.
Sherburne County levied a $2 per ton tax on waste going into the Elk River landfill. Waste Management is passing on that tax to Cass County.
The $65.70 tipping fee Cass County charges garbage haulers at its collection site north of Pine River so far is slightly above the amount the county pays Waste Management to take the garbage from Pine River to landfills.
The county board approved paying Schrupp Excavating $5,200 to replace and insulate a sanitary sewer pipe serving the Pine River Post Office and county government office building. The line under the parking lot has been freezing in winter.
An additional cost is expected to replace pavement after the new line is installed.
Second publication rights after Brainerd Dispatch.
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