Energy-efficient changes studied

BACKUS - The Cass County Board will seek proposals by March 1 and consider awarding contracts March 2 for some or all of about $1,145,174 in energy and operating efficiency improvements to county buildings.

Proposed changes would convert the courthouse boiler system from steam to hot water, make room thermostats more automated, switch perimeter radiant room heat in the courthouse from electric to hot water, seal air leaks around doors and windows, install energy-efficient lighting, make boiler system repairs and monitor the effects of improvements.

Bids should be submitted to Central Services Director Tim Richardson, P.O. Box 3000, Walker, MN 56484. The county's building capital improvement fund would pay for any of these projects the board approves in March.

Tuesday, the board also authorized a county staff committee begin planning to implement the federally mandated ARMER emergency services radio communications system by the January 2013 deadline. The committee will begin seeking grants to help pay for the system, which is expected to cost Cass between $2 million and $3 million.

When operational, the radio system will serve 36 emergency service agencies in the county, including fire, police, medical and fire services. It also will enable more direct communications with neighboring counties' emergency services.

Sheriff Randy Fisher reported to the county board Tuesday the county continued in 2009 a trend of receiving fewer calls for service each year since 2006. There were 16,252 calls received in 2009, compared with 21,207 in 2006. In the years before 2006, the number of calls per year had escalated annually from 13,538 in 2002.

There was a comparable decline in number of calls in the late 1990s, with calls falling from 16,268 in 1996 to 13,931 in 1999.

Auditor-Treasurer Sharon Anderson obtained permission from county board Tuesday to switch service providers for credit card and electronic payments people make to the county for their tax or fee payments.

She said Federal Payments will charge taxpayer/users slightly lower fees than the county has been able to offer previously and will allow the county to customize Web pages and pick report formats.

Dr. Michael McGee, Ramsey County medical examiner who contracts medical examiner services to Cass County, reported he conducted 33 complete autopsies on people who died within the county in 2009 and signed death certificates for six more people without examination. Private physicians signed death certificates for another 38 people who died in Cass during 2009.

McGee reported 59 people died of natural causes, 16 from accidents. One death was suicide and one was homicide.

County Engineer David Enblom reported Cass townships will share $29,206 more in gas tax state aid revenue for road construction projects in 2010 than 2009. Total apportionment will be $368,339 this year. Those funds are divided among townships based on amount they levy within the township toward roads, number of miles of roads and township property valuation.

Northwestern Minnesota Juvenile Center at Bemidji reported 212 Cass County admissions of juvenile boys and girls to the center's treatment and detention facilities during 2009. Cass is one of eight member counties operating that facility.