Cass County Board: Commissioners approve roof repair to Deep Portage Learning Center

   WALKER— County Administrator Josh Stevenson shared a report on the Deep Portage committee meeting recently held with the commissioner’s at their regular board meeting Tuesday, June 7.

   During that meeting the committee reviewed and discussed the reroofing project for Deep Portage Learning Center. It was noted an attempt to  address the poor design of the roof was made in 2000 by spending approximately $186,000 to replace the cedar shakes with asphalt shingles, and in 2011 when another $200,000 was spent on insulating the heat ducts. It was also shared, unlike most Environmental Learning Centers in the State, Deep Portage is not supported by a local property tax levy.

   HDC Development Companies, LLC was the lone bidder at $1,450,814.65. It was shared that the project was very labor intensive, with over $1 million of the bid being labor charges. 

   Funding options were then discussed at the meeting with it being reported the County has $1,472,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds uncommitted currently. Discussion was then held amongst the committee that the Deep Portage Foundation plans on raising money from donors and Deep Portage will have plenty of paying students  due to recent State of Minnesota tuition commitments, but there is still not enough cash available to fund the project in full. It was then noted with the Deep Portage  Learning Center being a county owned building the foundation cannot borrow against  it. Therefore, a funding structure was discussed with Cass County utilizing ARPA funds in the amount of $640,000 to pay for 40% of the project and provide financial backing to the foundation in the amount of $640,000 to be paid back over the next 50 years and in the amount of $320,000 to be paid back in five years, if needed, from donations the foundation receives. A motion was made to direct Stevenson to draft a resolution to memorialize the payment agreement for the project and to accept the bid from HDC Development Companies, LLC.

   Executive Director, Cass Lake Housing and Redevelopment  Authority Kenneth Moen presented a request for ARPA funds in the amount of $25,000. The request would utilize funds from the workforce housing category to assist in purchasing derelict properties, disposal of structures and make the site ready to build workforce housing within the city limits of Cass Lake. The organization has received ARPA funding previously which was used to purchase several houses, the demolition of one house and salary expenses over the next several years.

   Moen stated by receiving these funds the company is saving the county several thousands of dollars in tip fees, plus the county not having to wait the three years for lack of payment of taxes in order to present them at a tax sale. A motion was made to grant the application with all board members voting aye. Stevenson did state by approving this request, all funds in the workforce housing category have been exhausted.

   In other business, the county board:

   • Received a plaque from Enbridge representatives commemorating the completion of the Line 3 replacement project and thanking the board for their cooperation.

   • Opened the meeting for the public hearing to adopt the County’s Capital Improvement Plan. After hearing from Chief Financial Officer Sandra Norikane and no public comments were expressed, the public hearing was closed and the board approved the Capital Improvement Plan with a five year forecast.

   • Approved the 2022 Cass County Election Emergency Plan for filing with the Minnesota Secretary of State.

   • Awarded the contract for road work in Pillager on County Highway 1/River Street and County Highway 201 to Anderson Brothers  Construction in the amount of $915,522.45.

   The next meetings are as follows: the annual planning work session 9 a.m. Friday, June 10 at Deep Portage Learning Center, 2197 Nature Center Dr. NW, Hackensack; Cass County Board of Equalization 2 p.m. Monday, June 13 at the boardroom in the courthouse annex in Walker; AMC District 2 Meeting 8 a.m. Wednesday, June 15 at Beltrami County Board Room, 701 Minnesota Ave NW, Ste 102, Bemidji; commissioner’s board meeting 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 21 at Wilson Township Townhall, 3990 16th Ave SW, Pine River and commissioner’s board meeting 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 5 at the boardroom in the courthouse annex in Walker.