June 10, 2021 at 1:12 p.m.
County earns more than expected on investments
The county earned $977,057.39, while the budget expected earnings to be $900,000. Earnings also exceeded 2014 earnings of $867,340.26.
The county board approved hiring again this year the state auditor's office to do the county's annual audit even though new state legislation permits counties to choose a private business for their audit.
Chief Financial Officer Larry Wolfe has advised the board at prior meetings since the law permitting options passed that Cass has had good service from the state in prior years.
Anderson informed the board, because Cass has received a petition to repair drainage Ditch 9, the county now annually must engage ditch inspectors to view the ditch to verify that a perennial vegetative buffer strip is maintained along the ditch.
Land Commissioner Joshua Stevenson obtained board approval to pay Itasca Moraine Chapter of the North Country National Scenic Trail to maintain a 1.3 mile section of that trail where it crosses 1.3 miles county administered land.
This is $110.42 per mile, the same rate the county paid other recreational clubs in 2015 to maintain hunter walking trails elsewhere in the county.
Stevenson told the county board the North Country Trail group had asked for a donation. He said he consulted with the county Soil and Water Conservation Board for their view.
Cass does not generally give donations, so SWCD recommended paying for the club's services with state grant in aid trails money as the county does with hunting groups, snowmobile and ski clubs for the length of trail crossing county land.
The full North Country Scenic Trail mileage over all land ownerships in Cass County is 70 miles.
The extremely warm winter until the last week has meant many loggers have been unable to get into the woods to cut wood where they have purchased timber on county auctions.
Stevenson said 34 permits will expire in March unless loggers can get an extension from the county. Tuesday, the county board authorized Stevenson to give loggers a choice between applying for an extension under the county's old policy or a new policy set last year.
Under the old policy, loggers had to pay the balance of the whole contract before getting an extension. Under the new policy, they must make a larger down payment, but will pay less toward the stumpage cost, Stevenson said.
Extensions are not granted when a sale is two years beyond the original expiration date for either the old or new policy.
Cass commissioners voted to release a recreational trail easement back to the landowners, because the trail has been moved next to a road right of way. The Leech Lake Riders Snowmobile Club and Walker Bike Club purchased a new easement near Highway 371 between Shingobee Island and the Y junction of highways 200 and 371.
Mardi Harder, regional University of Minnesota Extension director, reported to Cass commissioners that the county's 4-H director wages cost $12,000 less than budgeted in 2015, because an interim director worked only part-time between two full-time directors.
Tuesday, the commissioners authorized Harder to use $4,000 of those savings to make a short video to promote 4-H and encourage students to join a club and to spend $2,828 to purchase a new computer for the new 4-H director.
The video will feature the positive effect 4-H has had on club members here and will be available to clubs throughout the state, Harder said.
The board authorized paying the $17,500 budgeted for 2016 to the Initiative Foundation.
Cass probation department will receive $799.50 from Drive Right 365. This represents 30 percent of proceeds Drive Right 365 receives from victim impact impaired/distracted driving panels. Probation will use the money to offset electronic monitoring costs.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will provide $7,000 through June this year and another $7,000 through June 2017 to the sheriff's office to provide snowmobile safety enforcement.
Katie Norby, county recorder, obtained board approval to attend the National Association of County Recorders and Clerks and property Recorders Industry Association meetings in Savannah, Ga., in February.
Because the state of Minnesota pays local judicial employees' health care benefits under the county insurance program, the county has to be the reporting agency designated to report to the federal government that these employees have coverage compliant with the Affordable Care Act.
Cass County commissioners will attend an Association of Minnesota Counties legislative conference in St. Paul March 10 and 11.
Leech Lake Reservation has filed an application to remove from property tax rolls and place in trust for the band a 10-acre parcel of land on the east side of County State Aid Highway 75 in Pike Bay Township.
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