Cass County Board: County Department heads deliver annual reports

   DEEP PORTAGE — Cass County department heads met for the county’s annual planning meeting Friday, June 10 and shared the market trends of 2022, a legislative update and foreseeable issues for 2023. The challenge it seemed most departments reported was the recruitment and hiring of qualified candidates.

   The following are departmental reports:

Budget Update

   County Administrator Josh Stevenson shared an update on the 2022 budget with the county commissioners and department heads stating due to Covid money received the county will be spending approximately $9.7 million more than spent in 2021. It was also mentioned the property tax levy has increased 2.99 percent over the previous year and the county’s Local Option Sales Tax brought in $3.7 million in 2021. Stevenson did state this was partially due to recently completed Enbridge project, therefore this number will go back to similar levels seen in previous years.

Administrator

   Joshua Stevenson shared in his report the county is continuing to experience growing pains with many people moving up to the area and requesting special ordinances be considered similar to what they were accustomed to prior to moving. With the influx of requests the department is continuing to deliver the service people have come accustomed to with calling back retirees and hiring temporary employees to assist.

   Stevenson shared a special state legislative session is needed due to no bonding bill being passed. Without a bonding bill, the federal transportation funds the county receives is at risk without a 20% match from the State. This also includes the funding of the transfer station rehabilitation project the county has scheduled.

Assessor

   Assessor Mark Peterson reported property market values continue to rise, with the county’s overall estimated market value up over 28 percent excluding new construction.

   New construction value is up 65 percent, new home starts are up six percent, real estate sales decreased by 20 percent for the first quarter of 2022 and foreclosures were noted to be down 25 percent for the first quarter.

   Peterson mentioned with the increases in property value the Local Board of Appeal and Equalization appeals were up 319 percent with a total of 411, normally the county only receives approximately 15 appeals in any given year. The department sent out statements over a four week period and was receiving 200 to 400 inquires per day for five weeks straight.

   In legislative activity, it was noted that no tax bill was passed in regular session, but if a special session is held there are possible changes for that may affect homestead taxes positively.

   Peterson mentioned it still remains hard to find qualified and licensed people to apply for positions within the department. 

County Attorney

   Attorney Ben Lindstrom reported it seems that court operations will continue to be operated with remote court appearances. It was stated there are both advantages and disadvantages to this method. One advantage is the ease of appearing at trial as you don’t have to take the time off work to travel and wait around to testify. A disadvantage mentioned was offenders sometimes don’t understand the severity of the charges until their trial and they may have never met the attorney. 

   A few issues Lindstrom foresees in 2023 is the potential of the current case management system becoming obsolete and increase in costs of the electronic alcohol monitoring system.

Central Services

   Director Tom Buhl shared that network security still remains a top priority and staff is continuously monitoring the server and upgrading the firewalls to make sure they are not compromised. Buhl also mentioned a broadband funding bill was passed in legislature to assist in providing area residents with better internet access.

   The issues for 2023 Buhl foresees involves the increased costs to secure and maintain the network infrastructure and maintain and upgrade older County buildings. The ability to acquire equipment needed and find qualified employees is also another challenge Buhl sees for the upcoming year.

Chief Financial 

Officer

   Sandra Norikane shared information on the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), stating the grant has provided $1.85 million in funding to Cass County with another $1.64 million being committed from the expected second payment of $2.8 million. Norikane also mentioned with 2022 being a mid-election year a new hire was acquired, with this hire already having experience. Also, a primary will be held in August due to three candidates running for one position.

   In a legislative update, Norikane shared a bill was passed in legislation changing the information required for Truth in Taxation notices. Due to this change the department is working on being able to comply with the requirements, but may not have enough time before the deadline. Other options were being considered with one option to allow residents to access the information from the Cass County website. If this were available, that would give citizens more information than is required to be put on the notices.

   Norikane mentioned that the county’s insurance program was going to have another possible rate increase for employees and retirees.

Court 

Administration

   Kayla Litter mentioned that most court cases are continuing to take place via Zoom unless it is a jury trial, and this seems to be the way trials will take place for the foreseeable future due to convenience. Litter also shared there is still a backlog of court cases due to the pandemic. Typically the county would have around 180 – 200 cases open, with the current open cases being approximately 285.

   With upcoming retirements and advancements by current staff, Litter has a concern of being able to recruit qualified candidates. One possibility mentioned was to allow staff the option to work from home more, which was felt would entice more candidates.

Environmental 

Services

   Director John Ringle reported, in his last meeting as director, that planning and zoning activities were actually down in the first quarter of 2022, but the department is seeing a late spring surge. However, it was noted solid waste activity is comparable to the first five months of last year, with the department seeing a surge during the month of June.

   With not much happening during legislative this past spring, the department is hopeful for continued funding to Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

   Deputy Director Jeff Woodford shared the upcoming issues for the department with one challenge being able to renegotiate contracts due to fuel prices increasing drastically. Another challenge the department is seeing is possible ordinance revisions. With more people making Cass County their permanent residence instead of a vacation destination, people are wanting things to be consistent with where they use to reside.

Health, Human, 

Veterans Services

   Director Michele Piprude stated there was a funding increase of $2 million for school linked behavioral health. It was also mentioned that there is still inadequate services and settings for the rising needs of mental health services and continued needs for homelessness.

   In the legislative update, Piprude shared that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program income eligibility has been modified by increasing the poverty level to 200 percent. With this increase it will allow more families to obtain the assistance they need to feed their families.

   One issue for 2023 is finding additional volunteers for the Volunteer Driving Program. With the increase in fuel costs plus people still unsure of Covid, the county is having a hard time obtaining volunteers. One positive thing the county offers with this program is the fact that volunteers receive payment for all mileage driven and not just the mileage of taking the person to and from their destination.

Highway

   County Engineer Darrick Anderson reported the 2022 county state highway funding program saw an increase in funding of $880,000 for construction and $587,000 for maintenance.   

   In the legislative update, Anderson shared the county was awarded $125,000 in 2021 for the Local Bridge Replacement Program on County Road 103, was awarded $115,000 in 2021 for the State Park Road Account on Country Road 139, awarded $341,000 in 2022 for the State Park Road Account on Country Road 161 and was awarded $1.2 million for the 2026 Surface Transportation Block Grant Program on County State Aid Highway 11. 

   Moving forward there is project development for larger projects on CSAH 37, which is being contested by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and CSAH 70 in 2023.

   The highway department continues to look for ways to partner with the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, U.S. Forest Service, townships, cities and neighboring counties.

Human Resources

   Kelsey Schwartz, payroll and benefits and human resources official, shared with the board that there was a continued need to allow remote work for staff. The department is continuing learning processes on the new payroll/human resources system.

   Schwartz shared with the recently passed act for frontline worker pay, there was an obligation to inform employees, which has been obliged.

   The 2023 issues are going to involve getting ready for labor negotiations for 2023 as current contracts are up in 2022 and negotiating health insurance premiums. One project that Schwartz mentioned to help possibly entice future employees is the possibility of offering training online and developing wellness programs to get staff socializing with other departments.

Land

   Land Commissioner Mark Gossman reported tax forfeit land sales remain positive along with timber sales. It was also shared that although there have been some challenges, the new OSB mill in Cohasset is slated to open in late 2023. 

  Some issues Gossman states is with rising fuel costs there may be an impact on the markets. Gosman also continues to monitor the threatened and endangered species of the Northern Long Eared Bat, Monarch Butterflies and the rusty patched bumblebee.

Probation

   Director Jim Schneider stated that caseloads for drug and gross misdemeanor assault offences has increased along with the number of people on pretrial supervision. The caseload increase is due to the State of Minnesota stating that they were going to charge the county if they don’t increase their case load, beginning July 1 of last year.

  Schneider mentioned he foresees staffing issues in 2023 due to the increased caseloads. It was noted there are a couple of grants up for renewal in 2023, the Community Crime Prevention grant for $100,000 and the Cass County/Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Wellness Court grant in the amount of $103,000.

Recorder

   Recorder Katie Norby reported that volumes of documents and e-recordings are down from 2021, but still ahead of 2020. However, e-documents are still above 60% overall.  It was also stated that currently the amount of properties for sale has gone up, but with the rising inflation and interest rates also rising this may have a negative impact on the Real Estate industry. Also, there may be a concern for more foreclosures with these increases.

Sheriff

   Sheriff Tom Burch stated that recreational vehicle misuse, both all-terrain vehicles and boats, is still an issue. The department is also seeing an increase in calls for service since the pandemic ended and is having a hard time meeting demands with staffing. Unfortunately, Burch stated with these demands the sheriff’s department may have to decline assisting other departments with tasks.

   A continued issue Burch sees in 2023 for the department is finding qualified citizens willing to work for the department. Other issues/challenges will be the implementation of the new body camera/squad camera system having ample storage, along with increased cost of goods/supplies. One question arising was with the cost of fuel would it limit the service provided. Burch stated that citizens expect deputies to be there when needed and the department would not fail those expectations.

2023 budget 

schedules

   Cass County’s five citizen appointees and two county commissioners (budget committee) will receive departmental requests and prepare a proposed 2023 county budget and levy this summer.

   The county board then sets a preliminary levy in September before the budget committee makes additional budget changes in October. The board will hold a public hearing before adopting a final budget and levy in December.

   That schedule is as follows:

   • July 8 — Preparation packets released

   • July 29 — Departmental requests due

   • Aug. 19 and 26 — Budget committee reviews requests and prepares the preliminary budget and levy,

   • Sept. 6 — County Board sets preliminary levy,

   • Oct. 7 and 14 — Budget committee makes additional budget changes,

   • November — Truth in taxation notices mailed to taxpayers,

   • Dec. 8 — Public hearing on proposed budget,

   • Dec. 20 — County board sets final levy and budget