More timber sold

WALKER - Land Commissioner Norm Moody informed Cass County commissioners Tuesday the county actually is selling more timber to loggers this year than last.

Though prices paid for timber remain about half what they were year before last, volume of timber sold is rising, he said. The county sold 5,235 cords of wood March 27 for a total of $139,637.

Price paid for aspen remains at about the same level as paid the past year, about $30 per cord. Loggers paid $51.08 per cord for a small amount of white spruce sold on this auction. In 2005, loggers were paying $60 per cord for aspen.

The board waived the county's current hiring freeze to enable Moody to use a $10,000 DNR grant to hire a temporary employee this summer to conduct a survey on forest recreational use in Land O' Lakes State Forest. That person also will cruise and inventory timber.

Cass commissioners denied a request to provide a land easement access to Stevens Lake leased lots that originally were leased on the condition "water only" access would be provided.