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   WALKER —  During the regular Cass County Commissioners meeting Tuesday, Apr. 1 Board Chair Rick Haaland opened a public hearing regarding the moratorium placed on digital signs in July 2024. This moratorium was put into place so a study could be conducted on digital and electronic signs and their placement for safety.

   County Planner Scott Wold presented the findings during the public hearing and explained the difference between the two classes of signs in the updated Land Use Ordinance. The ordinance refers to the electronic message Centers/Digital Billboards as Dynamic Display Signs with having two class types. One is a Class A, which is on-site, and the second is Class B, which is off-site. These Dynamic Display signs utilize computer-generated messages  that change copy and utilize incandescent lamps, LEDs, LCDs or a flipper matrix. Several resources were utilized in making the recommended changes to the ordinance, including  Minnesota Statute 173 – highways; Federal Highway Administration – 2009 report “Safety impacts of the Emerging Digital Display Technology for Outdoor Signs”; International Sign Association – 2016 report “Night-time brightness level recommendations for on-premise electronic message centers”; Outdoor Advertising Association of America – “About digital billboard technology” and Pozan University of Technology Institute of Electrica Engineering and Electronics, Poland 2011 paper “Digital Billboards and road safety”.

   The proposed changes to the ordinance state that Dynamic Display Signs can be either a Class A or Class B sign. However, Class B signs are not allowed on any township or County road and are limited to the following locations: within one mile of the junction of Trunk Highway #200 and Trunk Highway #371 and located southeast of Walker between mile marker 128 and mile marker 129 on Trunk Highway #200. Class A signs will not be allowed on any Township roads. Other restrictions for these Dynamic Display Signs are that it must display each screen for intervals of at least six seconds per image; no animated, flashing, scrolling, intermittent, or full motion video elements are allowed;

there shall be no delay and no visual effect when changing images and message sequencing is prohibited, therefore, no message may be spread across more than one advertisement.

   Another restriction is that the Dynamic Display signs must not be dimmed or brightened, outside of meeting the luminance requirements as stated in the ordinance and shall be programmed to automatically dim according to ambient light conditions. For more information regarding the ordinance change visit www casscountymn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2289/Land-Use-Ordinance-2022-02-PDF. 

   Commissioner Rusty Lilyquist mentioned he had one citizen from Birch Lake Township reach out with a concern and asked Wold if they answered that question, which was confirmed by Wold he answered the concern. Also, County Administrator Josh Stevenson stated he received one formal comment from the attorney which those questions were also resolved. One question that did arise from the commissioners was if this ordinance would have jurisdiction over State Highways and within City Limits. Wold confirmed the ordinance would apply to State Highways, but will not affect any current or future signs within City Limits. A motion was made to approve the ordinance   by Commissioner Neal Gaalswyk, seconded by Commissioner Scott Bruns and approved unanimously.

   Elections Administrator Pam Smith shared information and the time line regarding the Special Election to fill the vacancy in the office of Minnesota Senate District 6 with the board. Smith stated with currently having approximately eleven candidates filing, there will be a Special Primary Election to be held Apr. 15. Absentee voting will begin on Apr. 9, with ballots being sent to the mail ballot precincts shortly. Smith recommended with the short time line, ballots should be dropped off at the designated in-person county court house.

   The Special Election will be held Apr. 29, with absentee voting beginning Apr. 23. Smith reiterated that due to the short time line, ballots should be dropped off at the designated in-person county court house. Smith noted all of these time frames are established by the State and the county is working the best they can to get citizens their ballots in a timely manner. However, with some citizens being snowbirds or being on active duty, they will not receive their ballot in time to vote.

   In other business, the county board:

   • Recognized both Madison Carlson, County Agency Social Worker and Kris Olson, Technical Support Specialist for one year of service with Cass County.

   • Approved the service agreement with USI for marketing Cass County’s 2026 medical plan in the amount of $20,000.

   • Approved the pavement management software proposal from GoodPointe Technology for their ICON Pavement Software for the annual amount of $2,575 and a one-time startup fee of $4,000. This software will aid the Highway Department in analyzing data received from the Minnesota Department of Transportation regarding the highway analysis conducted.

   • Heard the 2025 construction program update, which included delays on some projects for 2025 and advancement on projects not anticipated to be completed until 2026.

   • Approved a bid from Asphalt Surface Technologies Corp in the amount of $186,600 for the bituminous crack sealing on approximately 43.3 miles of County State Aid Highways (CSAH) and County Roads (CR), to include portions of CSAH 1, CSAH 5, CSAH 33, CSAH 40, CSAH 67, CSAH 204, CR 103, CR 121, CR 122  and CR 126.

   • Approved the joint powers agreement with Pike Bay Township for improvements on 160th Street NW (old CR 151) and 65th Ave NW.

   • Approved final payment to Anderson Brothers Construction  Company for the Walker Highway Department project in the amount of $650,648.26.

   The next meetings are as follows: commissioner’s board meeting, 9 a.m. Tuesday, Apr. 15 at the Land Department meeting room in Backus and commissioner’s board meeting, 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 6 at the boardroom in the courthouse annex in Walker.

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