A motion to adopt a resolution in support of Shingobee Township for the Shingobee Connection Trail underpass project south of Walker on Highway 371 was passed by the Cass County Commissioners during their recent meeting.
Highway Engineer Derek Anderson said this effort has been spearheaded by Steve Bilben of Walker, who is a bike enthusiast and a member of the Bike Friendly Walker and Shingobee Trail Task Force.
The Shingobee Township grant application with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Regional Trail Program calls for the construction of a pedestrian/bicycle tunnel underpass that will link two sections of the trail. Located just south of the new Lodge Restaurant, the underpass will enhance the safety of trail users.
Together with County Fund 73 matching grants and DNR grants, Bilben has amassed $1.1 million in funding.
The commissioners thanked Bilben for his tremendous tenacity in getting the project close to the finishing line. Bilben also thanked the commissioners for their cooperation and availability during the process that actually started in 2006 with the first 7 miles of the Shingobee Connection Trail that was completed in 2014.
Construction of the new tunnel would begin in the late summer of 2025 and should be completed by October.
The meeting began with a closed session as the commissioners met with lawyers regarding some ongoing litigation. About 15 minutes later the meeting was back in session.
Kayla Reidel from the sheriff’s office and Autumn Crawford with he auditor’s office were both recognized for having completed one year of service to the county.
Nathan Wesenberg, a member of the public, then spoke to the Commissioners about a concern he had about an easement he had on his property. Cass County has asked him to remove a gate he installed on a path that the County has legal access to. Mr. Wesenberg, who would like to keep the gate, stated that he has experienced harassment and perceived threats from unknown parties and even a break into his trailer home. Apparently, the County has been given a key to the gate lock.
Chairman Neal Gaalswyk thanked him for the additional information.
A resolution for an Emergency Declaration of the June 18 storm passed. Strong winds with a possible tornado occurred near Cass County 39 and Chippewa Dr. NW. The storm travelled NE and also affected Boy Lake and Vermilion Lake areas. Tree damage was observed along State 200 just east of Cass County 39. Tree damage also occurred near Boy Lake, Vermilion Lake and State Highway 6. Some area roads were blocked with downed trees and power lines, and many area gravel roads have washouts.
Roads were still passable following the storm, but some closures have occurred, mostly in the Boy River area. Crews went out to clear trees and are in the process of assessing the washout damage. Lake Country Power service area was also affected. The motion was approved.
Commissioner Gaalswyk then opened up a Public Hearing for the second reading and final adoption of the Cass County Interim Ordinance on Digital and Electronic Signs. With no public input the Public Hearing was closed, and discussion was heard. This item concerns freestanding electronic displays that are up to 300 square feet. These come with concerns for the public, given their brightness and potentially distracting nature along the roadways. This motion allows for an interim ordinance that can be drafted limiting the construction of such signs to allow staff time to research and develop new standards on the size, location, and other aspects of digital electronic signs. The motion was carried.
Elections Department Director Pam Smith talked about the State Primary Election Aug. 13 to nominate candidates for offices that will be voted on at the Nov. 5 General Election. A lengthy discussion followed as to who qualifies for an Absentee Ballot, and this was clarified by Smith as being citizens who cannot get to the voting booths in person — such as some elderly people and those who are out of the state during election time. No action was taken, and the update was filed.
Tom Buhl from Central Services asked that the Cass County Museum bathroom improvement project be approved for $23,870 with Hy-Tec Construction.
One of the bathrooms will remain as is, but the other bathroom would be completely refurbished to meet ADA compliance. The contractor was selected by the Sourcewell Cooperative Network with Commissioner Jeff Peterson questioning if local contractors might have been eliminated.
Chair Neal Gaalswyk and Anderson confirmed that stringent measures are taken by Sourcewell to keep the costs down and make the process fair. The motion passed and a decision to use Sourcewell as a clearing house for such projects was granted.
Anderson asked that resolution 38-24 approving the amendment to Cultural Resources Monitoring for Special Project be approved. This concerns the road project to construct a new alignment for County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 70.
The project will involve the closure of the current CSAH 70 crossing over the Corps Dam on the Gull River, and the construction of a new alignment of CSAH 70 that will extend south from the intersection with Gull Point Road, cross the Gull River and tie into County Road 105/Gull Lake Dam Road.
The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Tribal Historic Preservation Office requested cultural resources monitoring of the project due to the proximity of the project to the site of the Gull Lake Dam Burial Mounds and the potential to encounter displaced human remains.
The proposed amendment amount for the aforementioned cultural resources monitoring is $63,214, and the local share is 20 percent, which would be about $12,642.80 for Cass County.
This led to a request for updates on the Ah-Gwah-Ching Road construction, which went through a similar process. Anderson shared that he had no updates on this project.
The next Commissioner’s meeting is July 16 beginning at 6 p.m. at the East Gull Lake.
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