Cass County Board: Rep. Poston and Igo share legislative priorities for Cass

   BACKUS -- County Administrator, Josh Stevenson addressed the Cass County delegates on the 2022 legislative priorities at the county board meeting held Tuesday, Jan. 18. Some of those priorities included: transportation, solid waste, human services, tribal tax agreements, property tax classifications, public safety and tax forfeit lands. 

   Rep. John Poston and Rep. Spencer Igo were both in attendance to share information with the board and to hear the priorities of the county. Poston mentioned the top three areas legislature will be focusing on the beginning of session will be policies, bonding and redistricting. With the resent census results the state will need to redistrict area representatives, Poston mentioned currently there are four different map possibilities, but the parties cannot come to a consensus on how to redistrict. Therefore, the maps have been turned over to the Supreme Court with a decision expected by Feb. 15.

   Another high priority for Poston is with bonding and the over-taxation of the citizens. Poston mentioned he will be pushing to utilize the surplus money to pay for any bonding as to avoid paying interest on those bonds. Poston mentioned that he does not like to reference the state surplus as such, but as an over-taxation. 

   Stevenson then reported on the personnel committee meeting held recently by informing the board of the need to hire a senior engineer technician and an additional motor equipment operator. The current senior engineer technician plans on retiring in 2023 and the committee feels there needs to be an overlap of the position for training purposes and due to possible problems finding a qualified candidate in the current job market. The board approved a motion to advertise for these positions.

   In other business, the county board: 

   • Approved Bill Stearns as candidate for ballot on 2021 Sourcewell Board of Directors Election with a 3-2 vote.

   • Approved resolutions supporting Federal participation in advance construction and preliminary engineering for County State Aid Highway 70. Also for federal participation in right-of-way and advance construction for County State Aid Highway 70.

   • Approved the submission of an application for funding from the Help America Vote Act.

   • Heard from Land Commissioner Kirk Titus on the 2021 Forest Certification Audit Report. There were no major findings, two minor findings and one observation.

   • Approved the use of prior approved grant funds to include trail rehabilitation, reroutes, grooming equipment, bridges and other trail related improvement projects.

   The next meetings are as follows: Commissioner’s board meeting, 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 1 at the boardroom in the courthouse annex in Walker and commissioner’s board meeting, 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 15 at the Land Department meeting room in Backus.