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   WALKER— Cass County Commissioners met Tuesday, May 2 for their regular meeting with little business to approve. First on the agenda was a request from Chief Financial Officer Sandra Norikane to establish a public hearing in order to adopt the 2023 Cass County Capital Improvement Plan. 

   Norikane stated the beginning capital projects fund balance is higher than previously expected due to a roll-over from the Sheriff’s department and the inability to purchase vehicles as planned due to lack of availability. Another item noted was the amount for the Pine River Household Waste, Municipal Solid Waste and Recycling Campus construction. Norikane mentioned this amount keeps getting pushed to future years due to lack of funding from the State, but the project is ready to begin when that funding becomes available. 

   A motion was made to set the public hearing for June 6 during the regular board meeting at 9 a.m. in Walker at the courthouse annex, with all board members approving the motion.

   Kris Lyytinen, maintenance engineer, presented the results for the bids to perform bituminous crack sealing on approximately 46.6 miles of County State Aid Highways (CSAH). The CSAH’s included are CSAH 1, CSAH 18, CSAH 20, CSAH 23, CSAH 24, CSAH 29, CSAH 58, CSAH 75 and CSAH 78. Lyytinen stated three bids were received with Northwest Asphalt & Maintenance having a low bid in the amount of $280,430. A motion was made to award the contract to Northwest Asphalt & Maintenance, with all board members approving the motion.

   Environmental Services Director Jeff Woodford requested the board open the public hearing for the third reading of the Cass County Land Use Ordinance. Woodford stated Commissioner Neal Gaalswyk requested a few changes be considered to the ordinance by the Planning Commission at the previous public hearing. The planning  commission met on April 10 and altered the Land Use Ordinance with the noted changes from commissioner Gaalswyk regarding agricultural structures and activities in section 1104 A & B, land alterations related to agriculture in section 501 A and regarding additional fees charged in section 800 D.

   County Administrator Josh Stevenson stated no written comments or phone calls were received concerning the public hearing. Therefore, the public hearing was closed and a motion was made to adopt the  Cass County Land Ordinance to be effective June 1, 2023, with all board members approving the motion.

   The final item on the agenda was a request to approve a 4.5% solid waste tip fee increase for municipal solid waste (MSW) at the Pine River Transfer Station. Woodford stated with recent increases in expenses, it is necessary to also increase the tipping fee charged to haulers who drop off MSW at the Pine River Transfer Station. Currently the tipping fee is $85.03 per ton and the proposed rate would be $88.86 per ton effective June 1, 2023. A motion was made to increase the tipping fee, with all board members approving the motion.

   The next meetings are as follows: commissioner’s board meeting 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 16 at Ottertail Peninsula Township Townhall, 122325 W Shores Rd. NW, Cass Lake, commissioner’s board meeting 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 6, at the boardroom in the courthouse annex in Walker and annual planning work session 9 a.m. Friday, June 16 at the Land Department meeting room in Backus.

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