Crow Wing fails to hear from townships in regard to dog ordinance

Silence was the overwhelming response from townships Tuesday in the latest round of debate about the Crow Wing County dog ordinance.

Commissioners agreed to extend the county dog ordinance through July 1. A public hearing brought a handful of concerned residents to the board room, but commissioners said they did not hear from township boards by the date as requested.

At issue is recovering costs from enforcing the existing ordinance that covers stray and nuisance dogs. The county board's previous action was to discontinue the ordinance after May unless other action was taken. Representatives of Woodland Beach Resort, Deerwood, urged the commissioners to continue the ordinance, noting a resort guest had their leashed dog killed by a local loose dog in front of the family's daughter.

County Board Chairman Terry Sluss said the board supports the ordinance but the question is whether the entire county pays or if payments come from the townships where the dogs are picked up.

The board voted to try a committee to gain township input and talk about funding as Commissioner Dewey Tautges suggested. Commissioners Tautges and Ed Larsen will serve on the committee.

"We are not throwing out the ordinance at this point," Sluss said.

In other business, the county board:

Set a 1 p.m. May 11 meeting with the DNR to talk about the comprehensive plan, Camp Ripley, shoreland and other issues.

Noted Lucy Nesheim was appointed to the Community Health Services Advisory Committee.

Approved a contract extension for septic inspection for Round Lake.

Heard an update on negotiations with Matt Mallie in regard to relocation of his office. After the meeting County Attorney Don Ryan said information he provided to the board will be updated at the next regular meeting in two weeks.

At the meeting, Ryan said the building tenants, which include Mallie and Tom Fitzpatrick, Brainerd city attorney, are to move out of the building by May 29. In the eminent domain proceedings a court order was obtained for condemnation of the office building, which is owned by Craig and Clare Williams.

The board authorized a second payment of $26,000 for Fitzpatrick for relocation costs. The money will come off the top of any financial settlement for the relocation.

Approved out-of-state travel for Janine LePage, assistant county attorney, for a conference on shaken-baby syndrome. LePage offered to pay her air fare of about $265.

"She is one of the most committed assistant county attorneys you'll find in the state of Minnesota," Ryan said.

Commissioners said the county will pay the airfare.

The board also authorized a health department request for an employee to travel to New York City for a Susan G. Komen conference. Travel cost, food and the stay will be paid by the Susan G. Komen Foundation and employee time can be billed back to a grant the county received.

Authorized participation in a cooperative contract with the DNR and Express Forestry of Leslie, Ark., as the low bidder for tree planting at $35.40 per acre for 177 acres of Norway pine, white pine and white spruce. In similar arrangements, the board approved a disk trenching bid with D&M Forestry, Shevlin, the low bidder for five county sites at $61 per acre for a total of $2,013. And commissioners approved a herbicide application bid with Future Forests Inc., Askov, the low bidder for eight county sites for a total of $10,039.

Heard an update on the household hazardous waste facility at the county landfill. Summer operations start April 28. The facility is open the second Saturday and Wednesday of each month until October.

The solid waste office is coordinating an event Friday to assist government agencies and area businesses in proper management of used electronic equipment. The household hazardous waste facility is the drop-off location.

Heard area cleanup days are set -- Pequot Lakes Cleanup by the chamber, April 24; annual Kiwanis Cleanup Blitz, May 1; Crosby cleanup day, May 15; Brainerd residents associations on the city's north and northeast sides, May 22; Garrison cleanup day, June 5; Cinosam cleanup day, Aug. 28; Emily cleanup day, Sept. 18.

Agreed to a health week event that will cover prevention issues with 30 women employed with the county. Employees, who will be charged $20 to cover costs, will be able to learn cholesterol, blood pressure, blood glucose and other items in a health check lasting about a half hour. A session for men is planned at a later date.

Agreed to a van purchase for the sheriff's department as earlier requested after the department offered more information for the expenditure's need. The van will allow the sheriff's department to haul more inmates in one vehicle in a more secure environment and replaces two older vans. And commissioners heard the reason behind a desire to sell a boat used by the water patrol. Lt. Neal Gaalswyk said the boat has 1,000 hours on it but it was a mistake to buy it as it is smaller than needed.

Met in closed session for about a half hour for pending litigation in relation to Siegfried Stier, former county human resource coordinator who was fired in 2002. Ferrari did not attend.

Met in joint session with the highway advisory committee in the afternoon.