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   BACKUS — With most people back to normal work habits the planning and zoning department has seen a decrease in activity across the board except for zoning permits which showed a slight increase over 2021 numbers, stated Environmental Services Department Director, Jeff Woodford Tuesday, Mar. 21 to the board of commissioners.

   Even though there was a grand total decrease of 43 permits from 2021, the planning and zoning department processed 241 more permits during 2022 than 2020, with a revenue increase of $33,479.70. Woodford stated that the department saw an increase of 101 zoning permits issued,  but issued 113 less shoreland alterations in 2022 than 2021. The department also saw a decrease  from 28 to 16 in reclassification applications, but it was still more than the department saw in 2020, which was 8.

   The majority of the increased activity was in the Woodrow, Sylvan, Shingobee, Crooked Lake, Fairview, Wabedo, Ponto Lake and Meadowbrook townships, which all had more than 60 permits issued.

    
  

   Woodford stated the department expects another season of increased construction activity for 2023.

   Commissioner Jeff Peterson had requested the consent item to approve a grant application to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture in the amount of $4,950 to be utilized to purchase beetles to assist in the spread of purple loosestrife infestation be moved to the regular agenda for further explanation. Peterson’s main question was what type of beetle was being purchased and if it was the same type as what is in most peoples homes. Woodford stated it is a different type of beetle as the one that would assist in controlling purple loosestrife is a water beetle. It was also stated these beetles have been previously used on Town Line Lake in a collaborative attempt to control purple loosestrife with the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, and showed some success. After the explanation and discussion the grant was approved by the board members.

   In other business, the commissioners:

   • Approved the summer “road show” meeting schedule with the following dates and locations: May 16 at Otter Tail Peninsula Township; June 20 at Sylvan Township; July 18 at Homebrook Township; August 15 at Crooked Lake Township and Sept. 19 at Pine Lake Township with all meetings beginning at 6 p.m.

   • Adopted a resolution authorizing County Administrator to execute all necessary documents to ensure participation in the Multistate Settlements relating to Opioid supply chain participants and in the amended Minnesota Opioids State-Subdivision Memorandum of Agreement.

   • Heard a report back from the ATV Ordinance committee with no current recommendations to the board and the next step is to meet with local ATV and Snowmobile clubs for input before meeting with local Township boards.

   • Awarded a contract for aggregate surfacing on County State Aid Highways 25, 30 and 41 and County Roads 106, 117 and 156 in the amount of $323,261.40 to Swenson Aggregates & Construction LLC

   • Awarded a contract in the amount of $793,618.25 to Knife River for the final phase of County Road 103 project in and East of Leader.

   • Approved the final payment to Anderson Brothers Construction Company in the amount of $4,111,391.01 for the contract consisting of the pavement replacement on County State Aid Highways 33 and 67 and County Road 106, as well as a mill and overlay on County State Aid Highway 32.

   • The next meeting are as follows: AMC Leadership Summit, noon Wednesday, Mar. 29 through Friday, Mar. 31 at Grand View Lodge in Nisswa, commissioner’s board meeting 9 a.m. Tuesday, Apr. 4 at the boardroom in the courthouse annex in Walker and commissioner’s board meeting 9 a.m. Tuesday, Apr. 18 at the Land Department meeting room in Backus.

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