Cass awaits census data

WALKER -- Auditor-Treasurer Sharon Anderson told the Cass County Board on Tuesday that 2000 census reports should be received by April 1.

That information will be used over the next year to determine which county commissioner districts will have to be re-drawn and elections held in 2002.

Any district where the population has shifted 5 percent or more will necessitate changing district boundaries, she said. When boundaries change, elections must be held.

Tuesday, the board voted to support Minnesota Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer's proposal to improve the state's voting system on the condition that change will permit local governments like townships to use a central counting system at the county courthouse.

Anderson said many Cass townships do not have adequate electric service or climate control to support electronic vote couning equipment at their town hall.

The board voted to engage Brenda S. Shald and Associates of Worthington to conduct an audit of the county telephone service to determine whether the service is the lowest cost the county can obtain.

In her proposal to the county, Shald said she has been able to realize $500 to $12,000 in savings for rural cities, counties and hospitals after such an audit.

Anderson reported interest received on county investments so far this year is running ahead of last year and ahead of budget projections made at the beginning of this year.