Public comment invited on updated management plan for Cass County's tax-forfeited lands

WALKER - The Cass County Land Department is conducting meetings to gather public input on a proposed update to the "Cass County Long Range Resource Management Plan," which provides direction to use and management of roughly 254,000 acres of county-administered tax-forfeited land. The proposed plan updates one adopted in 2003.

Land Commissioner Josh Stevenson said "this plan affirms Cass County's long-standing commitment to responsible management of its public lands." He added that the proposed update "adjusts forest management to ever changing conditions so as to ensure a sustainable resource and flow of products from the forest."

Two meetings will be conducted to solicit public comment. The first will be 7 p.m. March 16 at the Cass County Land Department in Backus. The second will be 7 p.m. March 23 at the Cass County Courthouse, Commissioners Meeting Room, in Walker.

Copies of the draft document are available at the land department's office in Backus or online at the county's Web site, www.co.cass.mn.us. Comments can be offered at the public meetings, by mail to P.O. Box 25, Backus MN 56435 or e-mail to josh.stevenson@co.cass.mn.us.