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   WALKER — Chief Deputy County Attorney Nicole Cayko was presented with the County Excellence Award during the Tuesday, Apr. 2 board of commissioners meeting.

   This award is given to individuals who provide outstanding services to the County and its citizens by going above and beyond their normal duties. Chief Deputy Cayko was nominated for this award by County Planner Scott Wold, of the Environmental Services Department.

County Planner Scott Wold presents the Excellence Award to Chief Deputy Nicole Cayko at the Commissioners meeting. Photo Submitted.

   Wold stated how common it is for zoning violations to go unaddressed in many counties across Minnesota. This is because County Attorneys must prioritize and triage all matters that come into their Offices. This often means that serious criminal prosecutions like murder, assault and burglary can consume finite resources. Despite this general trend and the fact that the Cass County Attorney’s Office was short staffed for all of 2023, Chief Deputy Cayko made time to meet with the staff in the Environmental Services Department to discuss pending and new violations. She helped to resolve zoning violations by using non-litigious methods such as educating landowners, but also had the knowledge and capacity to take court action when necessary.

   Cass County Attorney Ben Lindstrom attended the Board meeting and echoed his appreciation for Chief Deputy Cayko’s service. When she rejoined the County Attorney’s Office in 2020, the legal profession was in the midst of navigating the statewide restrictions imposed by the pandemic. Chief Deputy Cayko met those challenges head on and took responsibility for much of the civil work that takes place in the Office. She has always sought to do more with less. She has increased not only her own efficiency, but that of the entire Office. And she does so while obtaining positive results.

   Environmental Services Department Director, Jeff Woodford reported Cass County saw another busy year for planning and zoning activity during 2023 with it being the busiest building permitting season on record. Even though there was a record number of permits issued, revenue did not increase by the same amount reported Woodford. It was stated this was due to projects being more remodeling focused rather than a large scale project. The majority of the increased activity was in the Woodrow, Shingobee, Sylvan and Crooked Lake townships, which all had more than 100 permits issued.

   Woodford then shared information regarding aquatic invasive species inspections stating a total of 27,670 inspections were conducted over 14,003 hours during 2023 at the county level. This number of inspections was higher than 2022 although the inspector hours were slightly lower overall. Woodford stated a total of 132 boats were stopped with plants present, five boats had zebra mussels attached, two boats were stopped with mud present and two boats were stopped with water present.

   The review of solid waste showed the county disposed of 40,465,500 pounds of municipal solid waste, 11,234,760 pounds of recyclables and 3,599 gallons of used motor oil disposed of properly. For the full report  visit www.casscountymn.gov. 

   In other business, the county board: 

   • Recognized Katherine Pratt, Dispatcher for one year of service with Cass County.

   • Received the Presidential nomination primary summary, which declared the following as winners for Cass County: Donald Trump, Republican party; Joe Biden, Democtratic-Farmer-Labor Party and Vermin Supreme, Legal marijuana Party.

   • Adopted a resolution in support of reducing roadway fatalities and serious injuries on Cass County Highways.

   • Established a Safe Streets for All Task Force with Commissioners Bob Kangas and Scott Bruns serving on the committee.

   • Established a public hearing for the revocation of a segment of Whipholt Beach Road between 18th Ave NW and Plantain Trail NW to Pine Lake Township to be held Tuesday, May 21 at 6:00 p.m. in Pine Lake Township, 6724 17th Ave NW, Walker.

   • Acknowledged the intent to convene the Workforce Housing Committee of the Board after the April 16, 2024 regular Board meeting, as a committee of the whole, to develop criteria for use of Statewide Affordable Housing Aid and Local Homeless Prevention Aid

   The next meetings are as follows: Commissioner’s board meeting, 9 a.m. Tuesday, Apr. 16 at the Land Department meeting room in Backus and commissioner’s board meeting, 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 7 at the boardroom in the courthouse annex in Walker.

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