Cass County Board: Three additional ARPA Grants approved

   WALKER -- Three American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Grant applications were discussed and approved at the regular Cass County board meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 7. 

   The Pine River-Backus Schools Business Manager, Jolene Bengtson presented the school’s request for $265,016 in order to assist in building a Health Services addition to the school. Bengtson stated currently the school’s nurses office is the size of a closet and during the pandemic there was no place to adequately quarantine sick students or a safe place for parents to pick them up. Another need the school has seen is for a private space for students to visit with a mental health provider, by building this addition it would allow for this opportunity. 

   The total project is expected to cost approximately $1,325,080 with the majority of the funding coming from various other sources. Bengtson stated the district plans to break ground on the project as soon as students are out of school for the summer.

   The second ARPA Grant request discussed was from Immanuel Lutheran Church and School. Todd Frybarger, President Board of Education, presented the Church and School’s request for $250,000 to assist in building an addition in order to expand child care capacity and early learning opportunities. Frybarger told the board, during the pandemic they had numerous people reach out to them to enroll their children into the parochial school due to them not in favor of e-learning. Unfortunately the current building restricts the school from accepting more students. 

   Frybarger stated they are planning on building an addition to house two more classrooms along with an additional bathroom. This would also allow for the hire of additional staff to assist in teaching the students. The estimated project cost is $500,000 with half of the cost being committed from other sources.

   The final ARPA Grant request was from the Federal Dam Volunteer Fire Department in the amount of $20,000 to assist in purchasing a new fire truck. Chief Kenny Raines explained to the board with the department being solely made of volunteers they do not have adequate funds to purchase a new vehicle. Recently the department, with funds received from Enbridge and Leech Lake Band of Ojibiwe (LLBO), they were able to purchase a tanker truck from the state which required painting and lights in order to be put into service. When responding to a fire recently they realized more repairs were needed to this vehicle, plus they have another truck break down at a previous fire. 

   Raines stated at the moment funding from Enbridge and LLBO  is not obtainable and with the department covering approximately a 100 mile area they would like to purchase another vehicle. Raines also told the board he has located a truck for purchase which will cost a total of $25,000.

   County Engineer, Darrick Anderson brought a request to the board to designate five feet of shoulder along County State Aid Highway 37 as a bike lane and to establish reduced speed limits along the highway. Anderson explained the implications of designating a bike lane on a highway along with the ways the county can reduce speed limits. It was stated if the county designates a portion of the shoulder as a bike lane that would only be allowed to be used as a bike lane. Therefore, if a car were to pull over and park in that area a ticket could be issued. This area would not even be allowed to be used as a walking path for pedestrians. However, if a bike lane was designated a reduced speed limit could be issued. 

   Another way the County could issue a reduced speed limit on an area County highway is by conducting a speed study to determine if there is justification to lowering the speed limit for reasonable and safe travel. Therefore, Anderson suggested the board conduct a speed study. Commissioner Neal Gaalswyk motioned to table adopting the resolution until a speed study was conducted with all commissioners voting aye.

    In other business, the county board: 

   • Discussed 2023 Legislative Initiatives with Cass County Delegates and offered assistance during legislation to help progress these initiatives.

   • Appointed Commissioners Bob Kangas and Jeff Peterson to the Cass County Historical Society Board.

   • Approved conducting the tax forfeit land sale on June 10, 2023 at 9 a.m. at the Cass County Courthouse.

   • Approved the Cass County network upgrade in the amount of $68,000.

   • Adopted a resolution authorizing Cass County Highway Department to enter a Local Road Improvement Program Grant Agreement with the Minnesota Department of Transportation in order to facilitate funding that was obtained for the County State Aid Highway 37 project.

   • Awarded a contract for the construction of County State Aid Highway 37 from Trunk Highway 34 to Trunk Highway 371/200 south of Walker along with the reconstruction of a leg of County State Aid Highway 50 off Trunk Highway 34 to Casper Construction in the amount of $3,488,000.

   • Awarded a contract  for the removal of existing buildings on the former Terry Fischer property to prepare for the County State Aid Highway re-alignment project in East Gull Lake to TNT Construction Group LLC in the amount of $35,250.

   • Appointed Commissioner Rick Haaland to the Mississippi River-Grand Rapids One Watershed One Plan Policy Committee.

   The next meetings are as follows: Commissioner’s board meeting, 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21 at the Land Department meeting room in Backus, AMC Legislative Conference from Wednesday, Feb. 22 through Thursday, Feb. 23 at the Intercontinental Hotel, St. Paul and commissioner’s board meeting, 9 a.m. Tuesday, Mar. 7 at the boardroom in the courthouse annex in Walker.