CSAH 1 through Pillager to become detour route during Highway 210 construction this summer

WALKER -- Cass County State Aid Highway 1 through Pillager will become the detour route during state Highway 210 construction this summer under an agreement between the county and state.

The state will pay the county $935 for anticipated wear on CSAH 1 from additional traffic using it.

Auditor-Treasurer Sharon Anderson reported to the county board Tuesday she expects interest earnings on county investments to drop dramatically this year because of low interest rates being paid nationwide. As longer term investments come due, reinvestment will be at much lower rates, she said.

The county invests the largest amount of its reserves in one year or less certificates of deposit to enable more ready access to funds as they are needed, she said. That currently is $7,712,206 or about 46 percent of the total.

About 17 percent is invested for one to three years. About 2 percent is in three- to five-year investments. Another 28 percent of funds are in five- to 10-year investments, and about 6 percent is invested for more than 10 years.

Besides certificates of deposit, Cass invests in Bankers Acceptance, Federal Home Loan Bank, money market accounts, FHLMC, repurchase agreements, commercial paper and FNMA, she said.

In addition to investing through local banks in the county, Cass also invests through banks and investment firms throughout the country and in Puerto Rico.

The county board presented a certificate of appreciation Tuesday to Elna Sumption of Longville. She recently retired from the Kitchigami Library Board for health reasons after more than 30 years of service.

Commissioners approved a job description for the county veterans service officer. They will advertise for applicants through March 15 to fill the vacancy created by John Reuter's retirement at the end of his appointment June 1.

Assessor Steve Kuha was appointed to the Association of Minnesota Counties newly formed 19-member statewide committee to review new technologies and applications and make recommendations to AMC and member counties.

Assistant County Attorney Karlene Melhus will resign, effective Feb. 22, to accept an appointment as a district court magistrate.