The Cass County Board heard several annual reports from department heads and received a briefing on current projects at Camp Ripley during the April 2 meeting in Walker.
After the Pledge of Allegiance and the agenda was approved with one change, a couple county employees were recognized. Dispatcher Kat Pratt was presented with a one-year of service award, and Scott Wold presented Nicole Cayko with an Award of Excellence for her work as Deputy County Attorney.
Garrison Commander Colonel Troy Fink delivered a briefing on Camp Ripley, located in Cass, Crow Wing and Morrison counties. The Camp encompasses 53,000 acres and employs between 800 to 1,000 people, military and civilian. The economic impact to the three counties is estimated around $72.7 million.
Camp Ripley is a state-owned, Level II Training Center containing 18 miles of undisturbed Mississippi River, and including 45 live ranges and 23 non-live ranges.
It is involved in many ongoing community activities including hosting interagency partners, support of civilian authorities, construction projects (building a museum will be visible from Highway 371), military training exercises, partnering with state agencies, soldier and family outreach, community outreach, environmental programs, prescribed burns and handling unexploded ordinances.
The commissioners accepted the report and thanked Col. Fink for his service.
Health Human and Veteran Services Director Brian Buhlmann, presented his 2023 report, assisted by Veterans Services Director Kristy Smart. Buhmann, who took over from Michelle Piprude last August, reported a total revenue of $17,967,751.80, with the majority derived from property, federal and state taxes. The expenditures tallied $16,969,078.69, with the majority going to personnel and public assistance.
Of special interest is the hiring of a Public Health Planner Jamie Richter, who will oversee the progress of the county’s response to the opioid crisis.
A full report of programs, with highlights and financial statements can be found at casscountymn.gov.
Veteran Services Officer Kristy Smart reported on the Bemidji Veterans Home. The initial phase will admit 24 veterans until the home passes a recognition survey from the Federal Department of Veterans Affairs. After that, veterans and spouses — up to a maximum of 72 — will be admitted. Nearly 300 area veterans are on the waiting list.
Challenges persist in maintaining a crew of volunteer drivers for the Free Veteran Ride Program, a result of the pandemic when many older volunteers dropped out and did not return.
Election Administrator Pam Smith delivered the Presidential Nomination Primary summary. Turnout was low at 22, and the winner was Donald Trump.
Environmental Services Director Jeff Woodford and Cass County Planner Scott Wold delivered the annual ESD report. This was one of the busiest building permitting season on record with 65 variances processed, 25 conditional use permits, as well as four million pounds of trash processed. Three new staff members were added: two new SWCD supervisors and two new planning commission members.
There were 27,670 AIS boat inspections performed in 2023, utilizing 36 inspectors that were employed by WaterGuards and contracted by Cass County, which was an increase of four over 2022.
Highlights include building permits dramatically increased in 2023 with Woodrow Township generating the most. Shingobee Township generated the most dollars.
There were 434 septic systems installed in 2023 with 159 replacement systems that resulted in the discontinuance or removal of a failing part of an existing system. There was a total of 529 compliance inspections completed on existing septic systems.
Cass County continues to see record amounts of solid waste and recyclables processed through the Pine River Transfer Station. Municipal Solid Waste disposal saw another record year with 40,565,500 pounds processed. An additional 11,234,760 pounds of materials were recycled and diverted from the landfill.
A full report of programs, with highlights and financial statements can be found at casscountymn.gov.
The Barg family was selected as the SWCD Conservationist of the Year. They have worked with Cass SWCD and the NRCS on several projects to continuously improve farming practices. These conservation practices help improve soil health, decrease erosion and decrease E. coli contamination in streams and rivers.
Highway Engineer Darrick Anderson, presented two items to the board. The first was to adopt a resolution in support of reducing roadway fatalities and serious injuries on county highways and to establish a Safe Streets for All (SS4A) Task Force with two commissioners. This would be the first step in reducing highway deaths by 20 percent by 2030 and to zero deaths by 2040. Commissioners Bob Kangas and Scott Bruns volunteered to be on the committee.
The second motion was to establish 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 for May 21 beginning at 6 p.m. in Pine Lake Township.
Starting Aug. 1, the county will no longer maintain this segment of Whipholt Beach Road for the township
The next Board meeting is set for April 16, 9 a.m., Land Service Building in Backus April 16 at 9 a.m., followed by the Workforce Housing Committee meeting at 11:30.
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