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REMER - Cass County will use $230,042 of the dividend received from Minnesota Counties Intergovernmental Trust this year to increase the county's designated fund for uninsured losses from $500,000 to $730,042.

Chief Financial Officer Larry Wolfe told the board he believes the county ultimately should be trying to increase the uninsured liabilities fund to $1 million as future MCIT dividends accrue. The county's potential liabilities have increased since that fund first was established, Wolfe said.

The county currently faces a lawsuit MCIT does not cover. In that lawsuit, property owners in Whipholt claim the county and its road construction contractor Reierson Construction failed adequately to protect their properties from water damage during a downpour when roads were being repaved in Whipholt.

The board voted Tuesday to hire Iverson Reuvers law firm to represent the county in that case. The firm had previously represented the county in behalf of MCIT coverage until it was determined the county's insurance with MCIT does not apply.[[In-content Ad]]County Attorney Christopher Strandlie recommended engaging Iverson Reuvers.

The board voted Tuesday to approve 2011 scope of service plans for the five family centers and set county support for the family centers not to exceed $75,000.

Medical Examiner M. B. McGee reported the county had 31 deaths the first half of this year, with private physicians signing death certificates for 16 or those people. Of the 15 cases the medical examiner accepted for review, he did a complete autopsy with toxicology on 11 decedents.

Of the 31 deaths, 24 were from natural causes, five from accidents, one suicide and one undetermined.

The county accepted Gull Lake Glass's $9,686.20 low bid to install five automatic handicap door openers on the Pine River Government Facility. These doors serve both the portions of the building county offices occupy and those leased to the U.S. Postal Service.

Frank Schaap, adult social services supervisor, announced his Dec. 3 retirement. This follows an announcement last month that Health, Human and Veterans Services Director Ane Rogers will retire in 2011.

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