Cass County Board: Subsidy increase needed for Longville Ambulance

   BACKUS — Kevin Lee, ambulance services manager for North Memorial Health, joined the Tuesday, Nov. 15 commissioner’s meeting via Zoom to give the third quarter Longville ambulance report. Volumes continue to show a slight increase with the ambulance servicing 229 patients, compared to 222 during the same period last year. Even though there is an uptick in billable patients, Lee reported, the net margin is at a negative 2.9%, with the goal net margin being 10%. Lee also mentioned due to salary expenses being significantly higher since the last subsidy increase in 2017, there has been a request for  a subsidy increase for 2023 to meet the margin goal of 10%. 

   Mark Gossman, Land Commissioner, requested the board approve the Munroe Turntable - Roundhouse Phase 2 Grant from the Minnesota Historical Society in the amount of $48,080 and to send out requests for quotes to qualified archaeologists. The commissioners previously approved a grant application in Dec. 2019 for Phase 1 of the project with that phase being completed in Apr. 2020. During that study archeologists discovered logging camp relics along the late 19th century Brainerd and Northern Minnesota Railway at the Munroe turntable-roundhouse site. The site is approximately 10.6 acres and located in the SW part of Cass County.

   In Apr. 2022, the Land Department was approved to apply for another survey to be conducted in order to determine if the site qualifies for eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places. In Nov. 2022, Cass County was awarded the grant, with the county required to provide a $5,680 match and subject to approval from the board. Commissioner Jeff Peterson expressed concern if this area is determined to be of historical value, many other areas may be looked at similarly and may hinder the future of logging and development in Cass County. Gossman  stated that by approving this study it would represent the county’s commitment to the Forest Stewardship Council. A motion was made to accept the grant and request quotes from area archaeologists, with all board members approving the motion.

   Environmental Services Director, Jeff Woodrow then requested the board approve a bid from Tyler’s Backhoe Service in the amount of $4,800 to transport loose brush and wood waste from the Walker-Hackensack Transfer site to the Old Cass County gravel pit. Peterson mentioned the commissioners consider opening the old gravel pit up year round for the public to dispose of brush and wood waste there instead of at the transfer site and the county having to pay to relocate it every year. It was noted sometimes when opening up an unsupervised site to the public people tend to leave unauthorized items at the location, even if signs are posted not to dispose of trash. Tyler’s Backhoe Service was awarded the contract to haul the brush.

   Woodrow also informed the board of possible changes in the future of recycling county cardboard. Due to the closure of one of only two companies that accept cardboard recycling, the County’s  current contractor stated they no longer want to accept paper from the County due to having more than enough cardboard. Therefore, the County may need to find an alternative option for paper recycling.

  During the confirmation of the upcoming meetings Commissioner Neal Gaalswyk mentioned a meeting he will be attending Nov. 16 concerning current issues surrounding the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and the possible future and outcome from a Supreme Court ruling. ICWA was an act created in 1978 that aimed at preventing Native American children from being separated from their tribes and culture. Gaalswyk mentioned depending on the ruling from the Supreme Court, the State of Minnesota may create their own version of the ICWA.

   The next meetings are as follows: Commissioner’s board meeting, 3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8 at the boardroom in the courthouse annex in Walker, along with the 2023 Cass County Fee Schedule, Budget and Property Tax Levy beginning at 6 p.m.; joint meeting with the Leech Lake band of Ojibwe, 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 8 at Northern Lights Casino, 6800 Y Frontage Rd NW, Walker and commissioner’s board meeting, 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20 at the Land Department Meeting Room in Backus.